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Wow, reading through all these experiences is incredibly helpful! I'm in the exact same situation as the original poster and was totally confused about the order of steps. It sounds like the consensus is definitely ID.me verification first, then unemployment application. I'm planning to tackle this next week and feel so much more prepared now thanks to everyone's detailed tips - especially about doing it during off-peak hours, having backup documents ready, and using the mobile app. It's reassuring to see that while some people had challenges, many recent experiences have been pretty smooth. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real-world experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical advice that the official websites don't provide!
I'm so glad this thread has been helpful for you too! I was feeling really overwhelmed about the whole process before reading everyone's experiences. It's amazing how much clearer everything becomes when you hear from people who actually just went through it rather than trying to decipher the official government websites. I'm bookmarking this whole conversation to reference when I start my verification process. Good luck with yours next week - sounds like you're going to be well prepared with all these tips!
I just went through the ID.me verification process this morning and wanted to share my experience while it's still fresh! Like many others have mentioned, yes you definitely need to complete ID.me first before you can access the NY unemployment application. I followed the advice from this thread about doing it during off-peak hours (around 10:30am on a Thursday) and it made a huge difference - only had to wait about 8 minutes for video verification. One thing I didn't see mentioned here: make sure you're in a room with minimal background noise because the agent asked me to repeat some information when a car honked outside. Also, they had me turn my head left and right during the video call to match my ID photo angles, so don't be surprised by that. The whole process took about 25 minutes total, and I was able to immediately start my unemployment application afterward. Having read through all these experiences beforehand really helped me feel prepared and confident going in. Thanks everyone for sharing your tips!
This is such perfect timing - thank you for sharing your experience from just this morning! The tip about being in a quiet room is really important and something I hadn't thought about. I would have definitely been thrown off if background noise interrupted the process. The detail about turning your head left and right to match ID photo angles is super helpful too - these are the kinds of specific things you can't prepare for without hearing from someone who just went through it. It's so encouraging to hear about your quick 8-minute wait time during off-peak hours. I'm planning to do mine tomorrow morning around the same time based on all the success stories with that timing. Thanks for adding your fresh experience to this incredibly helpful thread!
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You might also want to try logging into your NY.gov account early in the morning (like 6-7 AM) when their system tends to be more responsive. I've noticed the portal works better during off-peak hours. Also, make sure you're looking under "Unemployment Insurance" and then "Documents" or "Correspondence" - sometimes the verification letters are filed under different sections than you'd expect. If all else fails, you can also try visiting a local Department of Labor office in person with your ID and they can usually print one on the spot.
Great tip about trying early morning hours! I've had similar experiences with NY.gov being more stable during off-peak times. Also wanted to add that if you do end up going to a local DOL office, call ahead to confirm they're open and what documents you need to bring. Some offices have reduced hours or appointment-only service. Having your Social Security card and a photo ID should be sufficient, but it's worth double-checking to avoid a wasted trip.
I went through this exact situation a few months ago for my lease renewal. What worked for me was sending a message through the secure messaging system in my.ny.gov asking specifically for a "benefit verification letter for housing purposes." I included my full name, SSN, and mentioned it was urgent for a rental application. They responded within 3 business days with the letter attached as a PDF. The key is being very specific about what type of verification you need and why. If you don't get a response within a week, then I'd recommend trying the phone route or visiting in person as others suggested.
Yes, definitely mention a specific deadline! I wrote something like "needed by [date] for apartment lease application deadline." I think that helped get a quicker response. The PDF they sent was on official NYS Department of Labor letterhead with all the proper seals and signatures - my landlord accepted it without any issues. It included my benefit amount, effective dates, and remaining benefit weeks which is exactly what most landlords are looking for. Just make sure to double-check that all your personal info is correct before submitting it to your landlord.
Yes, I did mention a specific deadline in my message - I said "needed by March 15th for apartment lease application." I think that definitely helped because they responded faster than the usual timeframe they mention. The PDF they sent was on official NYS Department of Labor letterhead with all the proper seals and signatures that landlords expect. It included my benefit amount, claim dates, and remaining weeks of eligibility. My landlord accepted it without any issues. Just make sure to save a copy for yourself since you might need it again for other purposes!
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ugh the whole system is so confusing! I declined a job last month because it required me to work nights and I have kids at home but now I'm paranoid they're gonna find out somehow and cut me off
Childcare conflicts are actually a valid reason to refuse work under NYS Department of Labor guidelines. You should be fine, but if you're worried, you can always contact them proactively to explain the situation.
From what I understand, the general rule is that you don't have to accept work that pays less than 80% of your previous wage in the first few weeks of unemployment. But honestly, the NYS Department of Labor website is so hard to navigate that I can never find the exact details when I need them.
I think you're right about the 80% rule! I've been searching for the exact NYS Department of Labor guidelines too and it's like they hide this information on purpose. Maya, based on what everyone's saying here, it sounds like you're well within your rights to turn down that warehouse job - $13/hour is way below 80% of your $18/hour retail management salary. Plus the complete lack of relevant experience makes it even more unsuitable.
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I had a similar situation last year with a seasonal job that ended. One thing to keep in mind is that when you reopen, they'll ask about your job search activities during the gap period. You don't necessarily need to have been actively searching the entire 6 weeks your claim was closed, but you should be prepared to explain what you were doing (like if you were expecting to be called back to work, dealing with personal issues, etc.). Also, make sure you file your weekly certification as soon as your claim is reopened - don't wait! The system can be glitchy and sometimes there's a delay between when you reopen and when the weekly filing option becomes available. If you run into any technical issues with the my.ny.gov site, try using a different browser or clearing your cache.
@Sophie Duck - I had the exact same timeout issues with my.ny.gov! The site seems to get overwhelmed during peak hours. I found the best times to access it were early morning before (8am or) late evening after (9pm .)Also, save your progress frequently if the system allows it, and keep screenshots of each page just in case. If you do get timed out, don t'panic - you can usually pick up where you left off by logging back in. The system typically saves your partial application. One more tip: if you keep having technical issues, you can also try calling the technical support line not (the claims line -) they re'separate departments and the tech support wait times are usually much shorter.
@Sophie Duck Yes, the my.ny.gov site can definitely be glitchy! I had timeout issues when I was reopening my claim too. A few things that helped me: try doing it early in the morning or late evening when there s'less traffic, use Chrome or Firefox instead of Safari, and make sure you save your progress frequently if the system allows it. If you get timed out, don t'panic - you can usually pick up where you left off by logging back in. Also, I d'recommend having all your information ready before you start employment (dates, reason for separation, etc. so) you can fill it out quickly without having to stop and look things up. The system seemed to work better for me when I completed the whole process in one sitting rather than leaving it partially done.
I just went through this exact situation a month ago! The key thing is to make sure you're still within your benefit year before trying to reopen. You can check this on your my.ny.gov account - it should show your benefit year dates somewhere in your claim summary. When I reopened mine, I had to answer questions about why I became unemployed again and confirm I was able and available for work. The process took about 3-4 business days for me, and then I could start filing weekly certifications again. One heads up - they may ask you to do a phone interview if there are any questions about your job separation, so make sure you have documentation about when and why your temp job ended. The reopening process is definitely better than filing a new claim since it preserves your original weekly benefit amount!
@Anthony Young In my case, they actually sent me an email notification first saying they needed to schedule a phone interview, and then I had to call a specific number to set up the appointment time. It wasn t'a random call - they gave me a 2-hour window and called within that timeframe. The whole process from submitting the reopen application to being able to file weekly certifications took exactly 4 business days for me, but I think I got lucky since it was during a less busy period. Make sure your contact info is up to date in your profile because they ll'use whatever phone number and email you have on file. Also, keep your ringer on during business hours just in case! The interview itself was pretty straightforward - just confirming the dates I worked, why the job ended, and that I was actively seeking new employment.
@Anthony Young In my case, they actually sent me a message through the my.ny.gov portal first asking me to call them, rather than calling me directly. I got an email notification that I had a message waiting, and when I logged in, it had instructions to call a specific number during certain hours. The whole thing was resolved in one phone call that lasted about 10 minutes - they just wanted to confirm the details about why my temp job ended and that I was actively looking for work again. And yes, the 3-4 business days was from when I submitted the reopen application online to when I could see the weekly certification option available in my account. Just make sure to check your messages regularly in the portal after you submit!
Ellie Perry
Congrats on the new job! I just went through this process last month. Like others said, just file your final weekly claim with your work start date and stop filing after that. NYS Department of Labor will send you a notice after a few weeks confirming your claim is closed. Keep that notice for your records just in case.
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Keisha Taylor
I went through this exact same situation a few months ago! The key thing is to be completely transparent about your work start date on your final weekly certification. You'll file one last weekly claim where you report that you're starting work (include the exact date), and then you simply stop filing after that. NYS DOL will automatically close your claim after a period of inactivity. Don't worry about "canceling" anything - there's no formal cancellation process. Just make sure you don't continue to certify for weeks when you're working full-time, as that would create an overpayment issue. Good luck with the new job!
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