I'm so sorry you're going through this - the ID.me to payment timeline is absolutely brutal and unpredictable. I went through the same thing earlier this year and it's maddening how the system just leaves you in limbo with zero communication. Here's what I learned from my experience: ID.me verification is just the first hurdle, not the finish line. There are often multiple holds on accounts that only phone reps can see - things like employer disputes, secondary identity reviews, or random system flags. The "pending" status you're seeing doesn't tell you anything useful about what's actually blocking your claim. Given that you got that email about potential identity compromise, there's probably a fraud investigation hold on your account that's separate from the ID.me verification. This can take months to clear unless you get a human to manually review it. My advice: Don't wait any longer. Use every avenue people have mentioned here - the claimyr service to get through phone lines, contact your state senator's office through nysenate.gov, and call 211 for emergency rental assistance while you're fighting this. The senator route especially seems to work fast based on what others are saying. The system is designed to exhaust you into giving up, but you're entitled to those benefits. Keep certifying weekly so you get all the backpay when this finally gets resolved. You've got this!

Wow, reading through all these responses really shows how broken the NY unemployment system is. I'm dealing with something similar - ID.me verified me back in June and I'm still stuck in "pending" hell. It's insane that we all have to become experts in navigating bureaucracy just to get benefits we've paid into. From what everyone's saying, it sounds like the ID.me verification is just step one, and there can be multiple invisible holds on your account that only phone reps can see. Since you got that email about potential identity theft, you probably have a fraud flag that needs manual review. I'm definitely going to try that claimyr service everyone keeps mentioning - seems like it's worth the cost if it actually gets you through to a human. Also had no idea about contacting state senators until reading this thread. OP, don't give up! The system wants us to quit but we're entitled to these benefits. Keep certifying weekly and try every avenue people have suggested. This thread has been more helpful than months of trying to navigate the DOL website. We're all in this together!

Don't forget about the federal unemployment tax too - that's separate from what you pay to NYS Department of Labor. It's like 0.6% on the first $7,000 of wages per employee if you're current on your state taxes.

Be prepared for your rate to go up after those layoffs. The experience rating system means companies that have more claims pay higher rates in future years. It's not immediate but it'll hit your renewal.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now - 24 weeks in and getting really anxious about what happens next. One thing I found that might help is checking if you qualify for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) if your job loss was due to foreign trade or outsourcing. It can extend benefits and provide retraining funds. Also, some people don't know about the Work Sharing Program - if you find part-time work, you might still be able to collect partial benefits. Definitely worth looking into! Stay strong, we're all in this together 💪

I'm in a similar situation - just hit week 22 and starting to panic. One thing that's helped me is connecting with my local One-Stop Career Center. They have job search workshops and sometimes know about programs that aren't widely advertised. Also, if you're over 50, check out the SCSEP program (Senior Community Service Employment Program) - it provides training and work experience while you job hunt. Don't give up! I know it's scary but there are more resources out there than we realize. Keep documenting all your job search activities too - you never know when that info might be useful for additional programs.

I'm glad you're going to appeal! Just wanted to update that my appeal took about 5 weeks from filing to getting a decision. It was stressful waiting, but worth it in the end. Make sure you submit your appeal request through your NY.gov account and keep checking for updates or requests for additional information. For the Partial Unemployment question - it's for people who are working reduced hours (less than 4 days and earning less than $594 per week in 2025). It wouldn't apply if you're completely unemployed, but it's useful for people with very part-time work. Good luck with your appeal! Let us know how it goes.

Just wanted to jump in here as someone who went through a similar situation last year. The fact that you were able to get through to someone via social media messaging is actually huge - that alone shows persistence that will help you in the appeal process. One thing I'd suggest is requesting your "Statement of Claimant Account" (it's in your NY.gov portal) which shows exactly what wages they have on file for each quarter. Sometimes employers don't report wages correctly or there are delays in the system. I found out one of my employers had reported my wages to the wrong quarter, which threw off my entire calculation. Also, don't let that agent's vague answer discourage you. Many of the phone reps aren't fully trained on the specific monetary requirements and will give incomplete information. The appeals officers are much more knowledgeable and will actually calculate your eligibility properly. Given that your total earnings and highest quarter amounts seem to meet the basic requirements that others have mentioned, there's likely something else going on that an appeal can resolve. Definitely worth the effort!

Just apply and see what happens. Worst case they deny you but at least you'll know for sure. Make sure you mention the light duty restrictions and that your employer has no suitable work available when you file.

I went through something similar about two years ago when I was on light duty after a shoulder injury. The NYS Department of Labor told me that you can potentially qualify for partial unemployment benefits if your employer can't accommodate your work restrictions, even if you're still technically employed. The key factors they look at are: 1) whether you're able to work within your medical restrictions, 2) whether your employer has suitable light duty work available, and 3) your reduction in hours/wages. Since you're only getting 60% from workers comp and no wages, you should definitely apply. Just be upfront about everything - your restrictions, the workers comp payments, and that your employer said no light duty positions are available. They'll make the determination based on your specific situation.