FINAL UPDATE: My benefits were approved and I just received my first payment! The agent was right - it took 4 business days after they manually linked my tax return to my unemployment claim. Such a relief. For anyone else dealing with this issue, definitely try to speak with a real person either in person or on the phone. The online system doesn't handle mailed documents well at all.

This is such a common issue and it's frustrating how many people get stuck in this loop! I went through something similar last year when I filed by mail due to identity verification requirements. The disconnect between the tax processing system and unemployment system is a real problem. For anyone else reading this thread who might be in the same boat - definitely keep all your USPS tracking receipts and proof of mailing. I learned the hard way that having documentation is crucial when you need to prove you submitted everything on time. Also want to echo what others said about being persistent with calling or visiting in person. The online systems just aren't designed to handle these edge cases properly, but the human agents can usually fix it once they understand the situation. Glad to see Callum got it resolved! Stories like this give me hope that the system can work when you find the right person to help.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed in late January and still stuck in ID.me verification hell with no payments. The worst part is not knowing HOW LONG this will actually take. I've been reading horror stories online about people waiting 2-3 months. One thing that helped me feel a little better was calling my local legal aid office - they said this is super common right now and that NY changed their fraud detection system which is causing all these delays. They also told me to document everything (dates I called, who I spoke to, etc.) in case I need to file an appeal later. Also try calling the Spanish language line even if you speak English - I heard they have shorter wait times and the agents can help in English too. The number is 1-888-209-8124. Worth a shot when you're desperate! Hang in there - at least we're not alone in this nightmare 😫

This thread is so helpful - I'm dealing with the exact same situation! Filed my claim in mid-January and have been stuck in ID.me verification limbo for 6 weeks now. I've been certifying every week religiously but haven't seen a penny. What's really frustrating is that when I finally got through to someone last week, they said my case was "escalated to a specialist" but couldn't give me any timeframe. The agent literally said "it could be tomorrow, it could be next month" - like thanks for nothing! 🙄 I'm definitely going to try contacting my assembly member after reading all these success stories. I'm in Queens so I'll look up who represents my district. Also going to check if there are any discrepancies between my ID.me info and my claim - I never thought about that before but it makes total sense. The stress of not knowing when (or if!) the money will come is almost worse than not having it. At least with regular unemployment you know what to expect. This new system is clearly broken and it's affecting so many people. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips!

I'm in a similar situation trying to understand my old payment records! It's confusing when you see all these different program codes but at least we know it was all handled automatically by NYS Department of Labor.

I went through the same confusion when I was reviewing my old claims! What helped me was calling the NYS DOL customer service line and asking them to walk through my payment history with me. They were able to explain each program code - like PEUC (Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation), PUA (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance), and FPUC (Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation which was the extra $300/$600 weekly). They also confirmed that as long as you were certifying properly each week, there weren't any special reporting requirements you missed. The transitions between programs were automatic based on your eligibility.

Wait, so you can actually quit and still get unemployment? I thought you had to be fired or laid off. This changes everything for my situation...

I work in HR and see these situations frequently. For childcare-related scheduling conflicts, NYS DOL typically considers it good cause if: 1) The schedule changes were not part of your original job terms, 2) You don't have reasonable alternatives for childcare, and 3) You attempted to work with your employer on a solution first. The 24-hour notice issue is particularly strong evidence since it's unreasonable to expect parents to arrange childcare that quickly. Before quitting, I'd recommend sending your manager an email explaining your childcare constraints and asking for more advance notice on schedule changes. Keep their response as documentation. Also gather any evidence showing your original work schedule vs. the current unpredictable one.

I can confirm what others are saying - the Wednesday timeline is pretty accurate in my experience. I've been collecting for about 6 weeks now and as long as I certify by Sunday evening, the money hits my Chase account every Wednesday morning between 5-7am. One thing that really helped me was setting up account alerts so I get a text the moment the deposit comes through. That way I know exactly when I can pay rent and other bills without having to constantly check my balance. The NYS system might be clunky but at least the payment timing has been reliable for me.

I've been getting my NYS unemployment payments for about 4 months now and can definitely confirm the Wednesday morning timeline. Usually hits my account between 3-6am on Wednesday if I certify by Sunday night. One tip that helped me - if you're worried about timing for rent, most landlords will accept a screenshot of your pending deposit or certification confirmation as proof that payment is coming. My landlord was understanding when I explained the NYS Department of Labor payment schedule. Also, if you have a good relationship with your bank, some will show pending ACH deposits a day early so you might see it Tuesday night. Just don't spend it until it actually clears!