try contacting your state representative or assemblyperson! sounds crazy but they can actually help with unemployment issues. i was stuck with verification problems for months, called my assembly member's office, and they had it fixed in 2 days. they have special contacts at nysdol.

I went through this exact nightmare last month! After weeks of failed attempts, here's what finally worked for me: 1) Make sure you're using the EXACT same name format across all documents (including middle initial vs full middle name), 2) Take your selfie in natural daylight near a window - the lighting makes a huge difference, 3) If you have any old addresses associated with your credit report, ID.me might be pulling those for verification questions. I had to temporarily lift my credit freeze like someone mentioned above, and that was the key! Also try using a different device entirely - sometimes their system gets glitchy with certain browsers/phones. Don't give up, it's incredibly frustrating but there IS a solution that will work for your specific situation.

Just went through this same situation last week! @Skylar Neal you definitely don't need the employer UI account number to file your initial claim. I was panicking about the same thing but it turns out the NYS system just needs your employer's exact business name, their address, and your employment dates. Make sure you use the EXACT name from your paystubs - don't abbreviate anything. The Department of Labor will handle the matching on their end. I was able to file successfully without any employer account numbers. Don't stress about the deadline - as long as you have your basic employment info, you should be good to go!

I went through this exact same headache a few months ago when I got laid off from my retail job. Like everyone else is saying, you definitely don't need that employer UI account number to file your initial claim. The NYS system can be really confusing because some of the older help pages still mention it, but the current online filing process at my.ny.gov just needs your employer's business name exactly as it appears on your paystubs, their address, and your employment dates. I made the mistake of trying to abbreviate my company's name the first time and got an error, but once I put in the full legal name it went through fine. Don't let this delay your filing - you've got enough to worry about after being laid off without stressing over information you don't actually need!

Pro tip for everyone struggling with the NY unemployment website - if you're using an older browser or have strict privacy settings, some of the navigation elements might not load properly. I had this issue where the Payment History section wasn't showing up at all until I switched to Chrome and disabled my ad blocker temporarily. Also, make sure you're fully logged out and back in if you've been on the site for a while - sometimes the session gets wonky and certain pages won't display correctly. The website definitely has its quirks but these tricks usually help when things aren't working as expected!

Just wanted to add that if you're still having trouble finding these documents, you can also request them by mail if needed. I had to do this once when the website was down for maintenance during tax season. You can call the NYSDOL customer service line and request they mail you a paper copy of your 1099-G and payment history - it takes about 7-10 business days to arrive, but it's a good backup option if you're running into technical issues with the website or need official hard copies for your records.

I'm in a similar situation and have been trying to call the NYS Department of Labor for weeks to ask about benefit amounts but can never get through! The phone lines are always busy and when I do get in the queue I get disconnected. Has anyone found a better way to reach them? This is so frustrating when you're trying to plan your finances.

just a heads up the weekly amounts change every year so make sure youre looking at 2025 rates not old info. also in nyc the cost of living is crazy so even the max barely covers rent but its better than nothing i guess

same boat here, filed last month and still waiting. at least you know what to expect now. the waiting is the worst part but once it gets going the payments come regularly

Don't panic - you're actually in a pretty normal spot right now! The "claim pending" status is typical for the first week or two. Here's what helped me when I went through this process: 1) Set up email/text alerts in your my.ny.gov account so you don't miss any requests for documents, 2) Start keeping a job search log RIGHT NOW even before approval - I use a simple spreadsheet with company name, position, date applied, and contact method, 3) File your weekly claim this Sunday regardless of pending status (this tripped me up initially), and 4) Be patient with the determination letter - mine took about 10 business days. The system is slow but it does work eventually. You've got this!