This thread is super helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation but mine is even older - I think I filed unemployment back in like 2008 or 2009. The system definitely recognizes my SSN but I have zero memory of what email I used back then (probably some old Yahoo account that doesn't exist anymore). Has anyone successfully recovered an account that old? I'm wondering if I should just bite the bullet and try the Claimyr service or if there are other options for really ancient accounts.

I went through this exact same nightmare in 2024! Had an old account from 2011 that I couldn't access. After weeks of frustration, here's what finally worked for me: The key is having ANY old information ready - even partial details help. When I finally got through to an agent, she was able to find my account using just my SSN and the fact that I remembered working at a specific company back then (even though I couldn't remember the exact dates). Pro tip: If you have any old tax returns from that time period, they might have your old address which can help with account recovery. Also, don't give up on the phone calls - I found that calling right at lunch time (around 12:30 PM) sometimes worked better than the early morning rush. The whole system is definitely outdated and frustrating, but the agents are actually pretty helpful once you get through to them. They deal with this old account recovery stuff all day long.

Just be prepared for potential delays if there are any issues with your application. Mine went into adjudication because my last employer disputed something and it took 6 weeks to resolve. The waiting is the worst part honestly.

I'm in a similar situation - just applied last week and feeling totally lost about the process! This thread is super helpful. One question though - when you file your weekly claims, do you need to have documentation ready of your job search activities right away, or is that something that comes later? I want to make sure I'm doing everything correctly from the start.

I'm in a similar situation and this thread is super helpful! One thing I wanted to add - make sure you understand how they define a "day worked." Even if you only work a few hours, if you work any part of a day, that counts as a full day for the 4-day rule. So working 2 hours on Monday and 6 hours on Tuesday would count as 2 days worked, not just 8 total hours. Also, don't forget that you'll still need to keep doing your weekly job search requirements even with the part-time work. The good news is that having some income coming in while you look for full-time work can really take some of the financial pressure off!

Just want to echo what others have said about keeping detailed records! I've been working part-time (about 18 hours over 3 days) while collecting UI for the past two months and it's been working great. The weekly certification is pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it - just answer honestly about days worked and total earnings. One thing that helped me was setting up a simple spreadsheet to track my hours and pay each week before I do my certification. Also, don't stress too much about the "fraud" concern - as long as you're reporting everything accurately, you're doing exactly what the system is designed for. The part-time work has actually been a confidence booster while I'm job hunting for full-time positions. Good luck with the new opportunity!

I had the exact same issue! The disconnect between ID.me and the NY unemployment system is so frustrating. What finally worked for me was getting through to an actual person who could manually link my verification. I tried calling the regular number for weeks with no luck, but then used claimyr.com to get connected to a live agent. The whole thing was resolved in like 10 minutes once I talked to someone who could actually see both systems. The agent told me this happens all the time because their systems don't sync automatically - someone has to manually update your file. Definitely worth trying if you're tired of waiting!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Completed my ID.me verification 8 days ago and the unemployment system still doesn't recognize it. It's so frustrating because you can see on the ID.me side that everything is verified and complete, but their old system just won't update. From reading all these comments it sounds like this is unfortunately super common and can take weeks to resolve on its own. I might have to try that claimyr service people keep mentioning - seems like actually talking to a human is the only way to get this fixed quickly. Thanks for posting this, at least now I know I'm not alone in this mess!

good for you for filing! too many people skip it because they feel bad for their employer but thats literally what unemployment insurance is FOR. your employer has been paying into this system specifically so you can get benefits if you lose your job

I went through this same situation a few months ago when I got laid off from my retail job. Like others said, the benefits come from the state fund that all employers pay into - your old company won't get a direct bill for your benefits. What really helped me was understanding that unemployment insurance is literally designed for situations like yours where you lose your job through no fault of your own. Don't feel guilty about using a system that you and your employer have been paying into! The application process with NYS Department of Labor was pretty straightforward once I got started. Good luck with everything!