The funding structure is pretty straightforward once you understand the different types. Regular unemployment insurance (what you get through NYS Department of Labor) is funded by employer taxes collected by the state. Supplemental Unemployment Benefits (SUBs) are usually funded by collective bargaining agreements - so union dues and employer contributions under union contracts. Private company supplemental programs are funded directly by the employer. Federal supplemental programs (like we had during COVID) come from federal appropriations. Each has different eligibility rules and payment structures.

Just wanted to add that if you're looking for supplemental benefits, it's worth checking if your former employer participates in any state-specific programs too. New York has some lesser-known workforce development programs that can provide additional support beyond regular UI from NYS Department of Labor. Also, if you worked for a company with multiple locations across states, they might have different supplemental benefit policies depending on where you worked. I'd suggest calling your former employer's benefits department directly and asking specifically about "supplemental unemployment benefits" or "SUB plans" - use those exact terms because HR will know what you mean.

just pay the taxes its not that hard lol. i've been doing payroll for 15 years and employers always overthink this stuff

One thing to watch out for - make sure you're classifying workers correctly as employees vs contractors. I got audited by NYS Department of Labor because they thought I was misclassifying people to avoid paying unemployment taxes. Cost me way more in penalties than I would have paid in the first place. When in doubt, classify them as employees.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! I've been hesitant about ID.me for weeks because I'm really uncomfortable with biometric data collection. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been super helpful - it's good to know there are actually alternatives even if they're not well-publicized. I think I'm going to try calling and requesting the "alternative identity verification accommodation process" like others mentioned. Even if it takes longer, having control over my personal data feels worth the wait. Has anyone who went the paper route had any issues with their documents getting lost in the mail? I'm thinking of sending everything certified mail with return receipt just to be safe.

I just went through this same process last week! After reading all the advice here, I called using the phrase "alternative identity verification accommodation process" and got through to an agent who was really helpful. She explained that while the paper route takes 4-6 weeks longer, it's completely legitimate and they process these requests regularly. One thing I learned that might help others - the agent told me that if you're currently unemployed and need benefits urgently, you can actually start the paper verification process AND still use ID.me later if you change your mind. The paper application doesn't lock you out of the online option. She said some people start with paper for peace of mind, then switch to ID.me if their financial situation becomes too tight to wait. I ended up going with the paper route and sent everything certified mail yesterday. The waiting is hard, but I feel much better about protecting my biometric data. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread was incredibly helpful!

I'm in the exact same boat as you @Natalie Wang - benefits stopped in early October and I'm owed about $4,200 now. This thread has been a lifesaver! I've been banging my head against the wall trying to get through on the regular unemployment line for months with absolutely zero success. Based on everything I'm reading here, it sounds like there are actually several approaches that work way better than the standard phone number: 1. Contact your state assembly rep or senator - seems like this has the highest success rate based on @Emily Parker and @Ezra Collins experiences 2. Use Claimyr to get connected to an actual agent - tons of people here swear by this service 3. Governor's office constituent services - mixed results but @Noah Torres got quick results this way 4. Certified letter to DOL commissioner - interesting backup option from @Kaylee Cook I'm going to try the assembly rep route first thing tomorrow morning, and if that doesn't move quickly I'll definitely use Claimyr. The fact that so many people here have actually gotten their benefits restored gives me hope that we're not just stuck forever in this broken system. Don't give up! It sounds like persistence with the right approach actually works. I'll update this thread with my results. Hang in there! 💪

I've been dealing with this exact same issue - my benefits stopped in September and I'm owed over $3,500 in back pay. After reading through all these responses, I'm feeling more hopeful than I have in months! The regular unemployment phone line has been completely useless for me too - I've called probably 75+ times and either get busy signals or sit on hold for hours just to get disconnected. Based on everyone's experiences here, I'm going to try a systematic approach: First, I'll contact my state assembly rep tomorrow morning since @Emily Parker and @Ezra Collins had such quick success with that route. If that doesn't show progress within a week, I'll definitely try Claimyr since so many people here are vouching for it. The certified letter to the DOL commissioner is also a smart backup plan. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to become unemployment claim investigators just to get benefits we're legally entitled to, but I'm so grateful for communities like this where people share what actually works. The system is clearly broken, but at least there are ways around it if you know the right approach. Thanks to everyone for sharing your real experiences and not just generic advice. It gives me hope that there's light at the end of this tunnel! I'll definitely update this thread with my results.

I was getting frustrated trying to reach NYS Department of Labor to ask about my benefit calculation and someone recommended claimyr.com - they actually got me through to a real person who explained exactly how my benefits were calculated. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.

The whole system is ridiculous. $504 maximum when rent alone costs more than that in most of the state. NYS Department of Labor hasn't increased benefits to keep up with cost of living AT ALL