


Ask the community...
Just wanted to add that you also need to make sure you're still meeting the job search requirements even with part-time work. The NYS Department of Labor still expects you to be actively looking for full-time employment unless you're on standby status.
I'm in a similar situation and found that the NY DOL website has a helpful earnings calculator tool that shows exactly how much your benefits will be reduced based on your part-time earnings. It's buried in their resources section but really useful for planning ahead. Also, make sure to report your gross earnings (before taxes) when filing your weekly claim, not your take-home pay - that's a common mistake that can cause issues later.
Final important tip: Document absolutely everything during this process. Keep records of: 1. All case/reference numbers from ID.me, FTC, and both state unemployment offices 2. Names and ID numbers of every representative you speak with 3. Dates and times of all communications 4. Screenshots of any error messages or account status pages 5. Copies of all emails and correspondence This documentation becomes crucial if your case needs escalation or if you face any issues with backpay once your identity is verified. In 2025, NY unemployment is required to provide full backpay from your eligibility date once your identity is confirmed, but having this documentation makes the process much smoother.
This is such a common problem now - identity thieves are specifically targeting unemployment systems because they know people need those benefits urgently. A few additional things that helped me when I went through this: 1. If you have a smartphone, download the ID.me app - it's often faster than the website for scheduling video calls 2. Consider filing a complaint with your state attorney general's office too - they track patterns of unemployment fraud 3. Check your credit reports immediately at annualcreditreport.com - if someone filed unemployment in CA with your info, they might have opened other accounts 4. Keep your weekly NY certifications going even while this gets resolved - you don't want to miss any filing deadlines The good news is that NY has gotten much better at handling these cross-state fraud cases in 2025. Most people I know who followed the steps others mentioned here got resolved within 2-3 weeks. Hang in there!
Same boat here! I'm also trying to figure out how much I'd get if I lose my job. Did you end up using that calculator someone mentioned?
Just want to add that the $504 maximum weekly benefit amount mentioned earlier is correct for 2025, but keep in mind that's the gross amount before any taxes are taken out. You can choose to have federal taxes withheld (10%) and state taxes (2.5%) from your benefits, or you can receive the full amount and handle taxes when you file your return. Also, if you're making $850/week now, make sure you have enough work history - you need to have earned at least $2,600 in your base period to qualify for benefits at all.
Yeah I went through this exact same thing when I worked at a beach resort. The reasonable assurance rule is key - if your employer gives you anything in writing saying you'll be back next season, you might not qualify. But verbal promises don't count. Just make sure you're documenting your job searches properly because NYS Department of Labor does check on that stuff.
I'm in a similar situation working at a resort in the Catskills. One thing I learned is that you can actually call the NYS Department of Labor's Seasonal Worker hotline (518-457-2827) - it's separate from the main UI line and has shorter wait times. They specifically handle questions about seasonal employment and reasonable assurance. Also, for the job search requirement, I've found that applying to year-round positions at ski resorts (like maintenance or administrative roles) counts toward your search activities and shows you're genuinely looking for work during the off-season.
Daniel White
omg I litterally thought I was the only one dealing with this!! my effective days went to 0 two weeks ago and then my payments just stopped completely. No notification or anything. I called 47 times yesterday (yes I counted) and couldn't get through to anyone. This is so frustrating!
0 coins
Nolan Carter
•Try using claimyr.com - I was in the same boat last week and they got me connected to a live agent who fixed my claim in minutes.
0 coins
Daniel White
•thank u! will check it out. at this point willing to try anything
0 coins
Jamal Brown
I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - my effective days hit zero about a week ago and I'm getting really anxious about what happens next. Reading through all these responses is both helpful and terrifying! It sounds like the system is supposed to automatically transition you to extended benefits (PEUC) but fails pretty regularly. I'm definitely going to be proactive and not wait around for it to fix itself. Has anyone had success getting through by calling first thing Monday morning at 8am? I might try that before looking into the claimyr service people are mentioning. Also wondering if I should keep certifying even though my account shows zero days - sounds like that's important to do regardless.
0 coins
Lukas Fitzgerald
•Yes, definitely keep certifying every week even with zero effective days! I made that mistake when my regular UI ran out and it caused issues when I finally got connected to PEUC. The 8am Monday call strategy worked for my friend but you have to be literally calling right at 8:00:00 - any later and you're competing with thousands of others. From what I'm seeing in this thread, claimyr seems legit if the phone calls don't work out. The transition to extended benefits should happen automatically but clearly the system is glitchy. Stay on top of it and don't wait too long like some people here did!
0 coins