Just to add - even though you can file right away, make sure you have all your documentation ready. You'll need your Social Security number, employment history for the past 18 months, and details about how you lost your job. Having everything organized will make the application process smoother with NYS Department of Labor.

Great advice from everyone here! Just wanted to emphasize that the "file immediately" rule is super important. I learned this the hard way when I got laid off from my retail job last year. I waited almost 2 weeks because I thought I needed to have a certain number of job applications submitted first, but that's not required to file the initial claim. The job search requirements come after you start receiving benefits. NYS Department of Labor starts your benefit year from when you file, not when you lost your job, so every day you wait is potentially money left on the table. The online system at my.ny.gov is pretty straightforward once you get started.

same boat here, really hoping for an increase soon 😭

I'm in a similar situation - been on unemployment since December and really feeling the pinch with rising costs. From what I've researched, NY's benefit calculation is based on the State Average Weekly Wage (SAWW) which gets updated annually. The formula is that the maximum weekly benefit equals 50% of the SAWW. So if wages across the state went up in 2024, we should see an increase in the maximum benefit for the 2025 benefit year starting in October. But like others mentioned, if you're already on an active claim, you're locked into your current benefit year's rates until it expires. Really wish they would adjust mid-claim for cost of living but that's not how the system works unfortunately.

Just make sure your employer is classifying you correctly as an employee and not trying to call you a contractor to avoid paying UI taxes. That's unfortunately common and would leave you without coverage.

@NeonNomad You're all set! No forms needed from your end. Your employer automatically registers you when they start paying UI taxes on your wages. Just keep your pay stubs and employment records in case you ever need to prove your work history for a claim. The system tracks everything based on your SSN and employer reporting.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS A MESS RIGHT NOW!!! I've been trying to get my adjudication resolved for a month and they keep giving me the runaround. If unemployment is really increasing they're gonna be even more overwhelmed and incompetent than usual. But still file anyway because you need the money.

Don't overthink the unemployment trends - they won't affect your individual claim processing. I filed my claim in March during a busy period and it still went through within the normal timeframe. The key is to file immediately since your benefit weeks start from when you file, not when you get approved. Make sure you have all your employment documentation ready (pay stubs, separation notice, etc.) to avoid any delays. The NYS DOL website has a good checklist of what you'll need before starting your application.

I just went through this exact same situation two weeks ago! Got the ID.me verification notice after collecting for 4 months without any issues. I was super suspicious at first but it's definitely legitimate - NY has been doing random identity checks to prevent fraud. The process itself wasn't too bad once I got started: - Took about 15 minutes using my phone - Make sure you have your driver's license ready and use good lighting - The selfie verification worked fine for me but I've heard some people get kicked to video calls - Used the exact same email I originally registered with (this is crucial!) My payments resumed exactly 8 days after I completed the verification, and I got all my back payments automatically - no extra steps needed. The missed week showed up as a separate deposit a day after my regular payment. Definitely don't wait on this - the 14-day deadline is real and they will cut off your benefits if you don't complete it. But once it's done, everything goes back to normal pretty quickly. Good luck!

I went through this same ID.me verification process about 6 weeks ago after being on unemployment for 3 months with no issues. It's definitely legitimate - NY has been doing these random identity checks more frequently since all the fraud issues during the pandemic. Here's what worked for me: - Did it on a weekday morning around 10am to avoid long wait times - Used my phone instead of computer - the camera quality was better for the facial recognition - Made sure my driver's license was clean and flat with no glare or shadows - Had good natural lighting from a window - Double-checked I was using the exact email address from my original unemployment application The whole process took about 12 minutes and was pretty straightforward. I got a confirmation email right after completing it, which I screenshotted for my records. My payments resumed after 9 days and the missed week came through as back pay automatically. The 14-day deadline is real, so definitely don't put this off. But once you complete it, everything should go back to normal pretty quickly. The notice you received looks identical to what I got, so you're dealing with the legitimate process. Just make sure when you click the link that it takes you to an actual .gov domain for extra peace of mind!