I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned above. Felt weird paying to get through to unemployment but I was desperate and it actually worked. Got connected to an agent in about 15 minutes when I'd been trying for days. Worth it to get my claim unstuck.

For anyone dealing with seasonal work claims, here's a checklist to avoid delays: 1. Mark your employment as seasonal if that's accurate 2. List ALL employers from the last 18 months, not just your seasonal job 3. Be ready to explain why you're available for full-time, year-round work now 4. Make sure your contact info is current so they can reach you if there are questions 5. Answer all fact-finding questionnaires promptly In my experience, seasonal claims almost always get extra scrutiny. The DOL is checking that you're not someone who voluntarily only works part of the year.

anyone know if the money expires if u dont use it? i still have some on my card from like 6 months ago

Since you've resolved your immediate issue, here's some advice for the future. Many people don't realize that NY unemployment has specific requirements for address changes that affect both your claim eligibility and your benefit access: 1. You must update your address with NYSDOL within 10 days of moving 2. If you move out of state, it can affect your claim eligibility (though temporary moves may be allowed) 3. Address changes must be verified through ID.me as of 2025 4. Key Bank requires separate notification for card services The system is designed this way to prevent fraud, but it creates these frustrating situations for legitimate claimants. Setting up direct deposit is definitely the way to go if you can - it eliminates most of these card-related problems.

The whole fraud thing is out of control right now. My neighbor works for NYSDOL (not in fraud dept tho) and she said they're completely overwhelmed with all the identity verification backlogs. There was some massive data breach earlier this year and now they're being super cautious with everything. Annoying for us but I guess better than paying out to scammers.

UPDATE: Just saw that all my backpay finally came through! It took exactly 32 days from when my account was flagged until resolution. Hang in there everyone - keep certifying weekly and eventually it should resolve.

I work with unemployment claims professionally, and this is unfortunately a common issue. Here's the official process: 1. You must update your address in your NYSDOL account first 2. Then file the specific address change form (DC-4725) 3. Changes process every Sunday night in batch updates 4. KeyBank receives updates within 2-3 business days after that Total time should be about 5-7 business days IF everything is done correctly. If it's been longer than that, the error is likely that: (1) the form wasn't properly submitted, or (2) there's a mismatch in your identifying information between systems. My recommendation is to call NYSDOL directly and ask them to verify the address change was properly processed AND transmitted to KeyBank.

UPDATE: I finally got this resolved! I tried Claimyr to get through to NYSDOL (it actually worked!) and the agent confirmed I had never submitted the correct form. I had only updated my profile address but not filled out the specific DC-4725 form for banking info changes. The agent helped me submit it properly while on the phone. They also placed a note on my account and did some kind of manual sync with KeyBank. My new card should arrive within 7-10 business days. Thanks everyone for your help!

anybody know if they're still doing those extra $300 supplemental payments? my friend said he got one but i haven't seen anything about it on the website

FINAL UPDATE: My payment finally came through today! What worked was: 1) Clicking that verification button the former employee mentioned, and 2) I did end up using the Claimyr service yesterday which got me through to someone who could tell me exactly when to expect payment. Thanks everyone for your help - this community saved me so much stress!

im also a seasonal worker for parks and rec every summer they lay us off and every winter its the same headache with unemployment. idk why they dont have a special system for state workers who they KNOW are legitimate???

Just wanted to follow up - were you able to get your ID.me verification sorted out? If you're still having issues, there's a specific pathway for state employees. You can request a referral code from your agency's HR department that can sometimes expedite the ID.me process. Not all HR reps know about this, so you might need to specifically ask for the "Trusted Referee Vouching" option.

Just wanted to update - I used Claimyr this morning and got through to an agent who confirmed they're having major issues with the appeals portal. They're actually aware of the problem and said they're working on it, but no ETA for a fix. The agent was able to note in my file that I attempted to file online multiple times before the deadline.

UPDATE: NYSDOL just announced they're extending all appeal deadlines by 14 days due to the technical issues with their portal. Check your email or message inbox on your NY.gov account for the official notification. This should give you some breathing room while they fix the system.

One important thing to check - log into your NY.gov account and make sure there aren't any waiting action items or document requests. Sometimes they'll request additional verification documents through the portal but don't notify you by email or phone. Worth checking every couple of days.

FINAL UPDATE: It finally worked! Got a call today (day 12) from a DOL supervisor who fixed my claim while I was on the phone. She said there was an issue with one of my employers not responding to their verification request, but she manually overrode it after reviewing my paystubs. All payments should be released in 24-48 hours! So for anyone else dealing with this - the governor's office expedite process does work, just takes almost exactly 12 days like someone mentioned above. Thanks everyone for the advice and support!

That's definitely the right move. When you call, make sure you have your tax return, NY-1099G form, and filing confirmation number ready. Ask specifically about the unemployment tax exclusion status, not just the general refund status. Sometimes the representatives only check the main refund system unless you ask about the unemployment portion specifically.

last year my buddy had to file an admended return to get his unemployment tax back... might be worth asking about that too when u call

One other option I forgot to mention: If you filed your taxes for the year when your unemployment ended, your 1099-G form will show the total benefits received and can serve as documentation that benefits have ended. Your landlord might accept this as proof, especially if combined with a statement from your bank showing no further deposits from NYSDOL after the end date.

UPDATE: I went to the career center this morning and got exactly what I needed! They printed a UI Monetary Benefit Determination letter showing my claim details including the end date of September 6th. Took about 45 minutes total with the wait. The staff was really helpful. Thanks everyone for your suggestions!