One more important thing to remember: after you complete the full application and get approved, you still need to certify weekly to receive benefits. Many people miss this step and wonder why they aren't getting paid. Set a reminder on your phone for the same day each week to log in and certify that you're still unemployed and looking for work.

Just want to echo what everyone else has said - ID verification is definitely just the first step! I made the same mistake last year and sat around waiting for benefits after only doing the ID part. You'll need to go back to your NY.gov account and complete the full application with all your employment details. Pro tip: have your Social Security card, driver's license, and last few paystubs ready before you start the main application - it makes the process much smoother. The whole thing took me about an hour to complete properly. Good luck!

Just make sure you're staying current on those payments! I've seen small businesses get behind on payroll taxes and it becomes a nightmare with penalties and interest. The IRS and NYS Department of Labor don't mess around with late payments.

As someone who's been through several NYS Department of Labor audits, I'd also recommend keeping detailed records of when you accrue vs when you pay these taxes. The timing differences can get tricky during audits - they want to see that you're properly matching the liability recognition with the actual payroll periods. Setting up a simple spreadsheet alongside your accounting entries can save you headaches later if questions come up about your unemployment tax compliance.

Just wanted to share my recent experience - I also filed by phone about 2 weeks ago and the rep didn't mention ID.me at all. I only found out when I logged into my online account 3 days later and saw the verification requirement. Completed it right away and my first payment was processed within 48 hours after verification went through. The ID.me process itself was pretty straightforward - took about 10 minutes with good internet connection. Don't make the same mistake I almost did by waiting too long!

I went through the exact same thing! Filed by phone in January and the rep never mentioned ID.me verification. I only discovered it when I got frustrated about delayed payments and logged into my online account. There it was - a big red banner saying "Identity Verification Required." The whole process took about 20 minutes including waiting for the video call verification. Pro tip: do it during off-peak hours (early morning or late evening) because the wait times for live verification can be really long during business hours. Once I completed it, my payments started flowing within 2 business days. Don't wait like I did - check your online dashboard immediately even if you filed by phone!

Just to add - your rate also depends on your NAICS code (industry classification). Construction and seasonal businesses tend to have higher base rates than office-based businesses. Make sure your payroll company has the right industry code for your business because that affects your starting rate calculation.

The 4.1% rate your payroll company quoted sounds correct for a newer employer. New York uses what's called a "standard rate" for businesses that haven't been operating long enough to establish an experience rating. After about 3-4 years of paying into the system with no claims, you should see that rate drop significantly - I've seen rates go as low as 0.3% for businesses with clean records. Just make sure your payroll company updates your rate when you get your annual notice from NYS DOL, because some don't automatically adjust it and you could end up overpaying.

just respond honestly to whatever NYS Department of Labor sends you and you'll be fine. most employers overthink this stuff

One thing to keep in mind is timing - make sure you respond quickly to any notices from NYS Department of Labor. They usually give you about 10 days to respond with your side of the story. If you miss that deadline, they might approve the claim by default even if you had good reasons for the termination. Also document the dates of the attendance issues and any progressive discipline you used - that shows you gave them a fair chance to improve before firing them.