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ugh the whole system is so frustrating! I've been trying to get through to someone at NYS Department of Labor for weeks about my own attendance-related firing and their phone lines are always busy. Does anyone know a better way to actually talk to a real person there?
I had the same problem with getting through to NYS Department of Labor until someone told me about Claimyr. It's a service that helps you actually connect with unemployment agents without sitting on hold forever. I used it last month when my claim got stuck in adjudication and was able to speak with someone the same day. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Honestly saved me so much frustration - you can check it out at claimyr.com.
I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Been trying to call for almost two weeks and keep getting stuck on that "personal identification" requirement. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea they meant things like PIN numbers and claim IDs when they said "personal identification." It's so frustrating that they use such vague language instead of just telling you exactly what documents or information they need upfront. I'm definitely going to try calling again tomorrow morning with everything ready: my SSN, PIN from when I first filed, claim ID number, driver's license number, exact filing date, and mailing address. Hopefully that will finally be enough to get past their verification process! Thanks to everyone who shared what worked for them - this gives me so much more confidence going into my next call attempt.
I'm in the exact same boat! Just started dealing with unemployment claims this month and that "personal identification" phrase had me completely stumped too. I kept thinking they wanted me to send them a copy of my driver's license or something official through the mail! It's really reassuring to see so many people had the same confusion - makes me feel less like I was missing something obvious. Based on everyone's advice here, I'm making a checklist with all the possible info they might ask for: SSN, PIN, claim ID, license number, filing dates, address, bank info, etc. Definitely calling first thing in the morning when the lines hopefully aren't as busy. Good luck tomorrow - sounds like we're both much better prepared now thanks to this community!
This thread has been so helpful! I'm currently dealing with the exact same "personal identification" runaround and was getting nowhere until I found this conversation. I've been calling for over a week and getting frustrated because they keep saying my SSN isn't enough but won't specify what else they need. After reading everyone's experiences, I realize I was missing key pieces like my PIN and claim ID number. It's really annoying that they use such confusing terminology instead of just saying "we need your SSN, PIN, and claim ID to verify your account." I'm going to call back tomorrow with everything ready: SSN, PIN, claim ID, driver's license number, filing date, and address. Fingers crossed this finally gets me through to someone who can help with my delayed benefits! Thanks everyone for sharing your actual experiences - this is way more useful than anything on the official NYSDOL website.
You're absolutely right about how confusing their terminology is! I'm also new to this whole unemployment process and spent way too much time thinking they wanted some kind of official document when they said "personal identification." It's really frustrating that they don't just give you a clear list upfront of what they need to verify your account. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a relief - at least now I know I wasn't the only one completely lost by their vague requirements! It sounds like you've got a solid plan with all that info ready. I'm planning to call soon too and I'm definitely going to have my PIN and claim ID ready this time. Hope your call goes smoothly tomorrow!
Just wanted to add my perspective as someone who recently navigated this mess successfully! I was in the exact same boat as @Lindsey Fry about 6 weeks ago and here's what I wish someone had told me: The key thing to understand is that NY has basically NO extended benefit programs running right now (unlike during COVID when there were multiple federal programs). So if you've hit your 26 weeks, your only option is usually waiting for your benefit year to end and filing a new claim - which sucks but that's the reality. However, before you panic, double-check these things: ⢠Your actual weeks used vs weeks remaining (sometimes the system glitches) ⢠Whether you have any "partial weeks" that might not have counted fully ⢠If you had any overpayment issues that reduced your balance I ended up finding out I had 3 weeks left that weren't showing up properly due to a system error. Only discovered this after finally getting through to a rep (took the 8am strategy + calling on a Tuesday). One more tip - if you do end up having to wait for your benefit year to end, start gathering ALL your employment documents now. Pay stubs, W-2s, separation notices, etc. The new claim process goes much smoother when you have everything ready. Good luck everyone! š
@Ava Garcia This is exactly the kind of real-world insight I needed to hear! Thanks for mentioning that NY doesn t'have extended programs running right now - that s'such important info that s'hard to find anywhere official. The tip about partial weeks and system glitches is really smart too, I definitely wouldn t'have thought to check for that. Your point about gathering documents early is spot on. I learned that lesson the hard way with my initial claim - scrambling to find everything at the last minute was so stressful. Better to be over-prepared than caught off guard. It s'honestly both reassuring and frustrating to see so many people going through the same confusing process. At least we can help each other figure it out! Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here š
I'm going through this exact same situation right now and it's been such a confusing process! Reading through all these comments has been incredibly helpful though - I had no idea about the difference between hitting your 26-week limit versus your benefit year ending, and that's clearly a crucial distinction. The phone situation is absolutely ridiculous. I've been trying to get through for over a week with no luck. Based on what everyone's saying here, I think I'm going to try that 8am sharp strategy tomorrow, and if that doesn't work, maybe give that claimyr service a shot. I hate that we have to pay extra just to access our own benefits, but at this point my time and sanity are worth something too! @Ava Garcia - your point about NY not having extended programs right now is super important info that I couldn't find clearly stated anywhere official. And the tip about checking for partial weeks/system glitches is brilliant - I definitely need to look into that. Thanks to everyone for sharing your real experiences and practical tips. It's both reassuring and frustrating to know so many of us are dealing with the same broken system, but at least we can help each other navigate it! š¤
@Jasmine Quinn I m'so glad this thread is helping you too! I just went through this whole ordeal myself and honestly, finding this community discussion would have saved me weeks of confusion. The 8am strategy really does work - I finally got through last Tuesday doing exactly that. One thing I d'add to what everyone s'already shared: when you do get through to a rep, have a list of specific questions written down beforehand. I got so flustered when I finally reached someone that I forgot half the things I wanted to ask! Also, don t'be afraid to ask them to repeat or clarify anything - they deal with this stuff all day but it s'completely new to most of us. The system really is broken when we re'all here sharing workarounds just to access basic services, but I m'grateful we can at least help each other figure it out. Hope you get some answers soon! š¤
I want to add some practical advice based on what I've learned from researching this topic. When you're preparing your documentation, make sure your mental health provider specifically addresses how your condition impacts your ability to perform your job functions - not just that you have anxiety/depression. The NYS DOL needs to see the connection between your mental health condition and your work capacity. Also, if you do decide to quit, try to frame it as "constructive discharge" if your employer failed to provide reasonable accommodations after you disclosed your mental health needs. Keep detailed records of any conversations with HR or your supervisor about your condition. The appeals process exists for a reason, so don't be discouraged if you get an initial denial. Many mental health-related claims are approved on appeal once all the documentation is properly reviewed.
@Kaylee Cook This is incredibly helpful - thank you for breaking down the practical steps! The distinction between having a mental health condition versus showing how it specifically impacts job performance makes so much sense. I hadn t'thought about the constructive "discharge angle" either, but that could apply to my situation since my employer hasn t'been accommodating at all. Do you know if there s'a specific timeframe for documenting these conversations with HR/supervisors, or should I start keeping records from now forward? I m'realizing I should have been documenting things from the beginning, but better late than never I suppose.
As someone who works in mental health advocacy, I want to emphasize that what you're going through is completely valid and you have every right to seek the support you need. The fact that your therapist is recommending time off for treatment shows this is a legitimate medical situation, not something you're making up. One thing I'd add to the excellent advice already shared - consider reaching out to your local NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) chapter. They often have resources and can sometimes provide guidance on navigating unemployment systems with mental health conditions. They might even have volunteers who've been through similar experiences. Also, don't be afraid to use words like "medical condition" and "treatment plan" when describing your situation to the DOL - mental health conditions are medical conditions, full stop. You deserve the same consideration as someone with any other health issue that impacts their ability to work.
Nathaniel Stewart
Great to hear you got it resolved! This is a really helpful thread for anyone dealing with mobile certification issues. For future reference, I've found that clearing your browser cache before certifying on mobile can help prevent these submission failures. Also, if you're on a spotty connection, it's worth waiting for better signal or switching to wifi before starting the certification process. The system doesn't always give clear error messages when the submission fails partway through.
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Caden Nguyen
ā¢Thanks for those tips! I'll definitely remember to clear my cache and check my connection before certifying in the future. It's frustrating that the mobile site doesn't give better error messages when something goes wrong, but at least now I know what to watch out for. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - this thread probably saved me a lot of stress and time!
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Olivia Evans
This is such a common issue with the NY unemployment system! I had the exact same thing happen to me about 6 months ago. The mobile site is notoriously glitchy - sometimes it looks like everything went through but the certification never actually gets recorded in their system. I learned to always screenshot the confirmation page now, just in case. The good news is that they can absolutely fix this retroactively. When you call, make sure to have the exact dates ready and explain that you completed the certification process but it didn't register. They have special procedures for these "lost certifications" and can manually enter it for you. It might take a few tries to get through to someone who knows how to handle it, but don't give up! You're entitled to that payment if you were eligible during that week.
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James Martinez
ā¢That's really smart to screenshot the confirmation page! I wish I had thought of that. It would have made explaining the situation to the rep so much easier when I could show that I actually completed the process. Definitely going to start doing that for all my certifications going forward. It's crazy how common this issue seems to be - you'd think they would have fixed the mobile site by now given how many people rely on it.
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