I tried Claimyr last week for the same issue (stuck in ID verification with effective days showing 0). Finally got through to someone who could help after trying for weeks on my own. The agent told me there was a flag on my account because I had two employers in my base period, and they were waiting on information from my second employer. She was able to override it since they had already waited past the employer response deadline. Got paid all my back weeks 2 days later. Before using the service I was on the verge of taking out a payday loan just to make rent.

UPDATE: I used Claimyr this morning and got through to an agent in about 25 minutes! You guys were right - it was an ID verification issue combined with them waiting for info from my previous employer. The agent was able to see that they had sent a request to my employer who never responded, and since it was past the deadline, she manually approved my claim! She said I should see all my back payments within 3 business days. THANK YOU all for your help - I was seriously about to have a breakdown over this.

I'm also a teacher in NY and went through this exact situation when I first started teaching. The reasonable assurance rule is definitely frustrating, but there's one scenario that might apply to some teachers - if you're on a temporary or substitute contract rather than a permanent position. I had a friend who was able to collect unemployment between her long-term sub positions because she didn't have that "reasonable assurance" of returning to the same job. Also, if you're looking for summer income, many districts hire teachers for summer programs, ESY (Extended School Year), or summer school positions. The pay isn't great but it's something. Some teachers also do test prep tutoring or work at educational summer camps. It's worth checking with your union rep too - they usually have good information about what options are available in your specific district.

I'm a former NYS Department of Labor employee and can confirm what others have said about the reasonable assurance rule. It's codified in NY Labor Law Section 590.11 and is pretty strictly enforced for school employees. The key factor is whether you have a contract or written agreement to return to work in the fall. Even if your salary is spread over 12 months instead of 10, you're still considered to have reasonable assurance. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you're a probationary teacher and there's genuine uncertainty about your job security for the next year, that could potentially affect your eligibility. But you'd need documentation showing the uncertainty isn't just routine evaluation but actual doubt about contract renewal. The burden of proof would be on you to show the assurance isn't "reasonable." For most tenured or continuing contract teachers though, summer unemployment just isn't going to happen under current NY law.

I went through this exact same nightmare about 2 months ago! The ID.me verification definitely holds up ALL your payments until it's complete. A few things that helped me get through it: 1. Clear your browser cache completely before starting 2. Make sure you're not using any ad blockers or extensions that might interfere 3. Try doing it during off-peak hours (like early morning or late evening) when fewer people are using the system 4. If you have an old phone, the camera quality might not be good enough - I had to borrow my friend's newer phone to get a clear enough photo The whole process is a pain but once it's done, you should get all your back payments in one lump sum. Don't give up! And definitely keep certifying your weekly claims even while you're waiting for verification to complete.

I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now! Been waiting 2 weeks for my payments and just found out it's because of this ID.me verification requirement. The system keeps crashing when I try to upload my documents too. Reading through all these comments is actually really helpful - I had no idea about the file size limits or using different browsers. Going to try the Chrome + white background + good lighting combo that seems to work for people. It's so stressful when you need the money for basic expenses like rent! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips.

Just to add some context for OP - the employer unemployment tax rates in NY actually vary based on the employer's "experience rating." New employers start at around 4.1%, but companies with fewer layoffs can get rates as low as 0.6%, while those with lots of claims can pay up to 9.9%. So employers do have financial incentive to minimize unemployment claims, which is why some fight legitimate claims. It's a balancing act - the system needs to be funded but also fair to workers who genuinely need benefits.

@Dylan Fisher - I was in the same boat when I started my first job! It's really confusing because we're so used to seeing all these deductions that you naturally assume unemployment would be one of them. The key thing to remember is that unemployment insurance is essentially insurance that your employer buys to protect their workforce - kind of like how they might provide health insurance or workers' comp. The NYS Department of Labor collects these employer contributions and uses them to fund the whole unemployment benefits system. So when you or a coworker eventually needs to file a claim, those benefits are coming from a pool of money that employers across the state have been paying into, not from your individual contributions.

yeah my old job tried to fight my claim too even though they cut my hours to basically nothing. employers hate paying into the system but they still have to do it. as long as you keep filing your weekly claims and do your job search requirements you should be fine

Just to add some clarity on the employer contest process - even if your boss does try to fight your claim, you'll get a notice from NYS DOL if that happens and you'll have a chance to respond with your side of the story. Since you mentioned you were laid off from your warehouse job, that's typically considered "no fault" separation and should qualify you for benefits. Keep all your documentation from the layoff just in case, like any termination letters or emails about workforce reduction. The fact that your employer is grumpy about the cost doesn't change your eligibility if you legitimately lost your job through no fault of your own.