If u cant get through to anyone, contact your local news station. I swear this works. My cousin's unemployment fraud case was dragging on for months until she contacted the 'fighting for you' segment on channel 7. They did a story and her case was resolved in a week.

This is absolutely infuriating and unfortunately becoming way too common. I went through something similar last year - found out someone had been collecting my benefits for 3 months while I was struggling to pay rent. Here's what worked for me: 1. Document EVERYTHING - screenshot your account showing the fraudulent changes, save all emails/communications 2. Contact your state assemblyperson AND senator - not just one. Their offices have direct lines to the unemployment department 3. File complaints with both the NY State Attorney General and the federal DOL fraud hotline 4. If you have a local unemployment office, show up in person with all your documentation - sometimes physical presence gets results when calls don't I also ended up using one of those callback services (claimyr) that others mentioned - was skeptical but it actually got me connected to a real person who could escalate my case. Took about 8 weeks total but I did get all my stolen benefits back plus the ones I was owed. The system is broken but don't give up. Keep pushing from multiple angles - the squeaky wheel gets the grease with these agencies. Hang in there!

One more thing nobody mentioned - check your email spam folder! When I had ID issues, NYSDOL actually sent me special instructions but they went to spam. Worth checking just in case!

@OP - were you able to get through to someone? If you're still stuck, I also had luck emailing my local state assembly member's office. They have special liaisons at unemployment who can sometimes expedite these cases, especially when there's a technical issue like ID.me verification problems.

Listen, if you want a real answer instead of these guesses, you HAVE to talk to someone at unemployment directly. Try calling right at 8:00am when they open or use that service someone mentioned above (claimyr.com) - my friend used it last month when she had payment issues and said it was the only way she finally got through.

I went through something similar last year when I moved to North Carolina for a semester program while claiming NY unemployment. Here's what I learned from actually talking to a rep: 1. You CAN claim while temporarily out of state for education as long as NY remains your permanent residence 2. You must still be actively searching for work in NY and be willing to return for interviews 3. The key is being honest about your situation - don't try to hide where you are 4. Your school schedule matters more than your location - they need to know you're available for full-time work if offered 5. Keep detailed records of your job search activities in NY I had to do a phone interview about 6 weeks into my program where they asked about my availability and school schedule. Since I was only taking 3 classes and could accept work, they approved my continued benefits. The hardest part was getting through to someone initially - took me weeks of calling. I'd recommend trying that Claimyr service others mentioned since the phone system is basically impossible to navigate otherwise. Whatever you do, don't guess or assume - get it officially documented in your file. The penalties for misrepresenting your situation are severe, but if you're honest and follow the rules, you should be fine.

Same thing happened to me but with my car breaking down constantly. Filed anyway and got approved after they investigated. The key is showing it wasn't intentional misconduct.

I work in HR and can tell you that attendance issues don't automatically disqualify you from unemployment benefits. The NYS Department of Labor looks at whether the behavior was willful misconduct or due to circumstances beyond your control. Childcare emergencies can be considered compelling circumstances. Make sure to file your claim immediately and be completely honest about the situation. Keep any documentation you have about the childcare issues - texts, emails, etc. Even if your claim goes to adjudication, don't give up. Many people win their appeals when they can show the attendance problems weren't due to deliberate misconduct.

I remember when mine was about to run out last year, I got some kind of letter in the mail maybe 2 weeks before? But honestly the whole system is such a mess, I wouldn't count on getting proper notice. Just keep track yourself.

You can also calculate it yourself pretty easily! Take your weekly benefit amount and multiply by 26 weeks - that's your maximum. Then check how much you've already collected in your payment history. The difference is what you have left. I started doing this math every few weeks so I could plan ahead. Also worth noting that if you're getting close to running out, you might want to look into whether you qualify for any job training programs through NYS Department of Labor - some of them can extend your benefits while you're in training.