So frustrating dealing with ny unemployment! Just got off the phone with them (after using claimyr.com to get through) and they said the certification system should be back up fully by tomorrow morning. The agent told me lots of people are having the same problem and they're processing a backlog of certifications that got stuck in the system.

Ugh, same exact thing happening to me! Been trying since Sunday and the site just keeps crashing or giving me that "request cannot be processed" error. Really stressing me out because I have bills due this week too. The fact that this happens EVERY month is just unacceptable - how are we supposed to survive when their ancient system can't handle basic traffic? Going to try some of the suggestions here like using Firefox and trying at weird hours. If that doesn't work I might have to look into that claimyr service people are mentioning. This whole situation is just ridiculous.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS A NIGHTMARE! I've been filing these stupid quarterly reports for 3 years and they STILL send me penalty notices for no reason. Half the time their own website doesn't work properly during filing season. And don't get me started on trying to reach anyone by phone - it's like they don't want employers to actually comply with the law!

Also worth noting that if you have employees working in multiple states, you'll need to file separate quarterly reports for each state. New York only covers wages paid to employees working in NY. Make sure you're calculating the taxable wage base correctly too - for 2025, it's the first $12,300 of each employee's annual wages. The tax rate varies depending on your experience rating, but new employers typically start around 4.1%. Keep detailed payroll records because NYS Department of Labor can audit up to 4 years back.

I work in HR and deal with this stuff all the time. Your claim number is definitely in the initial filing confirmation - it's required by law that they provide it. If you truly can't find any documentation, NYS Department of Labor can verify your identity over the phone using your SSN, full name, and address to look up your claim. The key is actually getting through to speak with someone, which I know is the main challenge right now.

Have you tried checking your text messages? When I filed my claim, NYS Department of Labor sent me a confirmation text with my claim number right after I submitted the application. It might be buried in your message history if you haven't deleted it. Also, if you have a case worker assigned to your claim, sometimes their contact info includes your claim number in their email signature or voicemail messages.

The NYS Department of Labor wage determination process is actually pretty straightforward once you understand it. They're calculating your weekly benefit amount based on your highest earning quarter in the base period. If you had any issues with unreported wages or worked for employers who went out of business, that can delay things. But in most cases it's just verification.

I went through wage determination about 6 months ago and it took exactly 2 weeks for me. What helped was that I kept all my pay stubs and had my employment dates ready when I first filed. The NYS Department of Labor will also look at any severance pay you received - that might affect your benefit start date but won't reduce your weekly amount. Just be patient, Omar, since you worked for the same company for 3 years your wage history should be pretty straightforward to verify.

same boat here, thanks for asking this question! Really helpful thread.

Just to add some clarity - I went through this exact situation last year. The NYS Department of Labor website has a specific section called "Work Search Requirements" that breaks everything down. You need to document your job search activities and be prepared to provide proof if requested. This includes the employer name, position applied for, date of contact, and method of contact. I kept a simple spreadsheet that saved me when I got randomly selected for a review. Also, don't forget that you can count things like updating your resume, attending virtual job fairs, or even informational interviews as valid job search activities. The key is being genuine about your efforts and keeping good records.