Just wanted to add that if you're working for a nonprofit and planning to file for unemployment in the future, make sure you keep good records of your employment. Some smaller nonprofits aren't great with their NYS Department of Labor paperwork and you might need to provide extra documentation when you file your claim.

As someone who works in nonprofit administration, I can confirm what others have said - most nonprofits in NY are definitely covered under unemployment insurance. One thing that might help clarify the situation for you is to check your most recent pay stub more carefully. Even if your employer uses the reimbursable method (so no UI deductions from your pay), they should still be reporting your wages to NYS Department of Labor quarterly. You can also ask your HR person or whoever handles payroll to confirm which method your organization uses. If they seem unsure about their obligations, that might be a red flag that they need to get their compliance in order with the state.

This exact same thing just happened to my neighbor last month! She got a Wisely card out of nowhere and panicked thinking someone stole her identity (which they did). The most frustrating part is how impossible it is to reach anyone at NY unemployment - she literally took days off work just to sit on hold. What finally worked for her was filing complaints with multiple agencies at once: the FTC identity theft report, a police report, AND contacting her state assembly member's office. The assembly member's office actually has a direct line to the unemployment fraud department and got her case escalated within 48 hours. Don't just rely on one approach - hit them from all angles! Also keep that Wisely card as evidence but definitely don't activate it.

This is absolutely terrifying - I can't imagine how stressful this must be for you! I haven't dealt with this personally but my coworker went through something similar last year. She found out that the scammers had somehow gotten hold of her W-2 information from a data breach at our previous workplace that happened like 2 years ago. The company never even notified us properly about it! One thing she mentioned that really helped was keeping a detailed log of every single phone call, email, and document - dates, times, reference numbers, who she spoke with (if anyone). When she finally got through to someone, having all that documentation made the process go much faster because she could prove she'd been trying to resolve it for weeks. Also definitely check with your current employer's HR department to see if they've had any security incidents. Sometimes companies don't announce breaches right away or they bury it in some random email you might have missed. The scammers are getting this info from somewhere and workplace data breaches are super common now unfortunately 😞 Hope you get this sorted out quickly! Keep us updated on how it goes.

Eligible redetermined means they've completed their review and you qualify for benefits. The 'redetermined' part usually happens when there was some initial question about your eligibility that required additional review. Since you filed 6 weeks ago, they probably needed time to verify your employment history or wage information with your former employer.

I went through this exact same thing! "Eligible redetermined" is actually great news - it means they've finished reviewing your case and confirmed you're approved for benefits. The delay you experienced is pretty normal, especially with the 6-week timeframe. In my case, I got my first payment (including all the back payments) about 5-7 business days after seeing this status change. Just keep doing your weekly certifications and check your account regularly. You should see the payment hit your direct deposit or debit card soon!

Had this exact same issue last year when I switched carriers! The MFA lockout is so frustrating. One thing that helped me was having all my documents ready before calling - not just SSN and old phone number, but also your last few weeks of claim confirmations if you have them. The tech support person asked for those to verify my identity. Also, if claimyr doesn't work out, try calling right at 7:59 AM - sometimes you can get in the queue before they officially open. The system is definitely broken but you'll get through eventually!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Changed my phone number last week and completely forgot about the MFA setup until I tried to log in yesterday. Been trying to call since then but keep getting the busy signal. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here - definitely going to try the claimyr service and the early morning calling strategy. It's so frustrating that there's no way to update your phone number online, especially when that's literally the thing preventing you from accessing your account. Hopefully I can get this sorted out soon, really need to certify my benefits this week! 😅

Had major issues trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor when I filed last year. Their phone lines are constantly busy and the online system can be glitchy. If you run into problems reaching them for questions about your claim, I had success using claimyr.com - it's a service that helps you get through to actual agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting hung up on.

wait i thought you had to be unemployed for like 2 weeks before filing?? this is confusing lol