The document request time is crazy right now. My friend who works at NYSDOL says they're understaffed in that department and prioritizing current claims. She recommended going through claimyr.com to get someone on the phone cuz its actually faster than waiting for document requests to be processed.

I went through something similar last year when I needed proof of a 2018 denial for a student loan deferment. Here's what finally worked for me after weeks of frustration: Try calling the Telephone Claims Center at 888-209-8124 right at 8:00 AM sharp on a Tuesday or Wednesday - those seem to be the best days to get through. When you do reach someone, ask specifically for a "monetary determination notice" or "benefit determination letter" from November 2019. If that doesn't work, you can also try submitting a written request by mail to: NYS Department of Labor Unemployment Insurance Division Building 12, Room 266 State Office Campus Albany, NY 12240 Include your full name, SSN, the approximate dates of your claim, and exactly what document you need. Make sure to mention it's for housing assistance - sometimes that helps prioritize the request. The key is being super specific about what you need and when. Don't give up! I know how stressful it is when housing opportunities are on the line. You've got this! 💪

One more important thing to remember: after you complete the full application and get approved, you still need to certify weekly to receive benefits. Many people miss this step and wonder why they aren't getting paid. Set a reminder on your phone for the same day each week to log in and certify that you're still unemployed and looking for work.

Just want to echo what everyone else has said - ID verification is definitely just the first step! I made the same mistake last year and sat around waiting for benefits after only doing the ID part. You'll need to go back to your NY.gov account and complete the full application with all your employment details. Pro tip: have your Social Security card, driver's license, and last few paystubs ready before you start the main application - it makes the process much smoother. The whole thing took me about an hour to complete properly. Good luck!

Just wanted to share my recent experience - I also filed by phone about 2 weeks ago and the rep didn't mention ID.me at all. I only found out when I logged into my online account 3 days later and saw the verification requirement. Completed it right away and my first payment was processed within 48 hours after verification went through. The ID.me process itself was pretty straightforward - took about 10 minutes with good internet connection. Don't make the same mistake I almost did by waiting too long!

I went through the exact same thing! Filed by phone in January and the rep never mentioned ID.me verification. I only discovered it when I got frustrated about delayed payments and logged into my online account. There it was - a big red banner saying "Identity Verification Required." The whole process took about 20 minutes including waiting for the video call verification. Pro tip: do it during off-peak hours (early morning or late evening) because the wait times for live verification can be really long during business hours. Once I completed it, my payments started flowing within 2 business days. Don't wait like I did - check your online dashboard immediately even if you filed by phone!

Just make sure you're staying current on those payments! I've seen small businesses get behind on payroll taxes and it becomes a nightmare with penalties and interest. The IRS and NYS Department of Labor don't mess around with late payments.

As someone who's been through several NYS Department of Labor audits, I'd also recommend keeping detailed records of when you accrue vs when you pay these taxes. The timing differences can get tricky during audits - they want to see that you're properly matching the liability recognition with the actual payroll periods. Setting up a simple spreadsheet alongside your accounting entries can save you headaches later if questions come up about your unemployment tax compliance.

Good luck getting through on the phone. I've been trying for 5 weeks. Thinking about just giving up at this point even though I'm entitled to these benefits. The system is rigged against us.

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! Filed my claim 4 weeks ago and it's been stuck on "pending review" ever since. The worst part is I keep seeing people who filed after me already getting their benefits. I've probably called 50+ times with no luck - either busy signals or getting disconnected after hours on hold. It's so frustrating because I worked and paid into this system for years, and now when I actually need it, they make it nearly impossible to access. Reading through these comments, it sounds like calling is basically mandatory now even though the website makes it seem like everything can be done online. Might have to try that claimyr service people keep mentioning since the traditional methods clearly aren't working. Thanks for posting this - at least I know I'm not alone in this mess!