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Good luck with your hearing! I had one last year for a different reason and the judge was actually pretty fair. Just stick to the facts and don't get emotional even if your employer says things that upset you. The burden is on you to prove good cause for quitting, so focus on presenting your evidence clearly.
I went through something similar about 6 months ago when I quit due to discrimination issues at my job. One thing that really helped me was organizing everything chronologically - I made a timeline with dates, what happened each time, and any evidence I had for each incident. The judge appreciated having it laid out clearly. Also, if you have any documentation showing you tried to follow company policy for reporting these issues (like employee handbook procedures), bring that too. It shows you were trying to work within the system before quitting. Don't forget to bring proof of your job search efforts since quitting - it shows you're actively trying to get back to work. The whole process was nerve-wracking but the judge really did seem to want to get to the truth of what happened.
This is really helpful advice, thank you! I never thought about creating a chronological timeline - that's a great idea to keep everything organized. I do have my employee handbook and can show I followed the reporting procedure by complaining to the shift manager. Quick question - what kind of job search documentation did you bring? Just applications I've submitted or something more detailed?
protip: the ID.me help chat is actually way more helpful than calling. go to help.id.me and start a chat session. wait time is usually shorter than phone and they can reset your verification on the spot
I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! Been stuck on the ID.me verification for almost a week. Reading through all these responses is actually really helpful - sounds like this is a super common issue that NY unemployment and ID.me just refuse to fix properly. I'm definitely going to try some of the technical suggestions first (clearing cache, different browser, etc.) but honestly after seeing so many people say that talking to an actual human agent fixed it immediately, I think I might just skip the troubleshooting and go straight to trying to get through on the phone. The fact that agents can see you're verified when the website shows errors is mind-blowing - what a broken system! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, at least I know I'm not alone in this mess.
Welcome to the ID.me nightmare club! 😅 It's oddly comforting to know we're all suffering through this together. I've been following this thread closely and honestly, the technical fixes seem hit or miss - some people get lucky with clearing cache/incognito mode, others don't. But literally EVERYONE who got through to an actual agent got their issue resolved immediately. That tells you everything about where the real problem is. If you do decide to try the phone route, definitely check out that Claimyr service people keep mentioning - the regular NY unemployment phone system is absolutely brutal to get through on your own. Good luck and keep us posted on what works for you!
Also FYI there's no state tax withholding option in NY since unemployment benefits aren't subject to state income tax here. Only federal taxes apply to UI benefits.
Thanks everyone for the helpful info! I just checked my payment history and can confirm they are taking out exactly 10% each week like Liam mentioned. I was panicking for nothing - looks like I did set up the federal withholding correctly when I first applied. It's good to know that NY doesn't tax unemployment benefits at the state level either. That 1099-G reminder is really helpful too since I've never received unemployment before and wouldn't have known to look for that form.
That's great that you got it sorted out! I was in a similar boat when I first started collecting - the whole tax situation seemed so complicated but it's really not that bad once you understand it. The 10% federal withholding should cover most people's tax liability on UI benefits, though you might still owe a little bit depending on your other income for the year. At least you won't get hit with a huge surprise bill like some people do when they don't have any taxes withheld.
Glad you got it sorted out! That's such a relief when you're waiting on money for bills. The 'routine review' thing seems to happen randomly - I had the same issue a few months back and they never really explained what triggers it. Good to know Claimyr actually works, I've been hesitant to try third-party services but might be worth it to avoid the phone hell. Hope your payment comes through today as promised!
This is really helpful to know! I'm new to this whole unemployment process and hearing about these random 'routine reviews' is both reassuring and nerve-wracking. At least now I know what to look out for if my payments get delayed. The Claimyr recommendation seems to be coming up a lot - definitely bookmarking that for future reference. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Thanks for the update Anna! Really glad you got through and figured out what was causing the delay. These 'routine reviews' seem to happen more often than they should - it's frustrating that they don't give us any heads up when they put a hold on payments. Definitely keeping Claimyr in my back pocket for when I inevitably need to reach someone at NYS DOL. Hope everyone else dealing with similar delays sees this thread - seems like the key is just being persistent about getting through to an actual person who can check what's really going on with your account.
Mia Alvarez
I went through the same situation a few months ago when I started my new job. NYS DOL didn't contact my employer at all - they rely on their quarterly wage reporting system to verify employment. As long as you're honest about your work hours and earnings on your weekly certifications, you shouldn't have any issues. The key is just being accurate and timely with your reporting. Your new employer won't even know you were on unemployment unless you tell them.
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StarGazer101
•That's really reassuring to hear from someone who went through the exact same thing! I was overthinking it but it sounds like as long as I keep reporting accurately I'll be fine. Thanks for sharing your experience - it definitely puts my mind at ease about starting this new position.
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Gabriel Ruiz
I had a similar worry when I got my new job last year. NYS DOL never contacted my employer directly - they have automated systems that cross-reference your reported wages with employer quarterly reports, so they don't need to make phone calls unless there's a red flag. Just keep filing your weekly certifications accurately until your benefits end, and you should be all set. Your employer likely won't even know you were collecting unemployment benefits unless you mention it yourself.
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