Also bring your alien registration number if you're not a US citizen - they need that for work authorization verification. And if you have any union information that's helpful too since it affects your benefit calculation.

One thing people forget is if you had any severance pay or vacation payout when you left your job, NYS Department of Labor needs to know about that too. It can affect when your benefits start.

Just to add some practical advice - keep filing your weekly claims even if you haven't been approved yet. If you miss filing weeks, you can lose benefits for those periods even after approval. Also check your online account regularly for any requests for additional documentation.

Based on my experience filing last year, the 2-3 week timeframe is pretty accurate for straightforward cases. One thing that helped me track progress was logging into my.ny.gov account every few days - they'll post updates there before you get any mail or calls. Also, if you're really stressed about rent, consider reaching out to local assistance programs while you wait. Many counties have emergency rental assistance that can bridge the gap. The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but try to stay patient with the process.

The whole system is rigged against small business owners anyway. We pay all these taxes for years and then when we need help the most they make it impossible to get benefits. Typical government BS if you ask me.

I'm going through something similar right now - had to close my consulting business after losing my biggest client. From what I've researched, it really comes down to how you structured your business and paid yourself. If you were an LLC or corp and took W-2 wages with unemployment taxes withheld, you might qualify since you technically had an employer-employee relationship with your own business. The key is proving you were an "employee" of your business, not just the owner. I'd definitely apply - the application process will help clarify your eligibility and you'll get a definitive answer from NYS DOL.

Just got my hearing date! April 15th, so about 3 weeks from now. They sent instructions for the phone hearing and said both me and my former employer will be called. I'm nervous but feeling more prepared thanks to everyone's advice here. I've gathered all my evidence and am rehearsing how to clearly explain what happened. Will update after the hearing!

I went through this exact situation back in 2023 and won my appeal! The key thing that helped me was getting a letter from HR confirming the layoff was due to company restructuring, not voluntary resignation. If your company has HR, reach out to them ASAP - they often have standard forms for this. Also, don't panic about the 30-day deadline - you have time to gather evidence properly. I'd recommend writing a brief timeline of events leading up to your termination and any witnesses who can verify you were laid off. The appeal hearing was actually less intimidating than I expected - just answer questions directly and honestly. You've got this!

For anyone else reading this thread with similar issues, here's a quick checklist that might help with ID.me verification delays: 1. Make sure your ID.me account shows "verification complete" not just submitted 2. Continue certifying every single week without exception 3. Check that your contact information is current in both ID.me and your NYSDOL account 4. If it's been more than 3 weeks, try reaching a claims specialist who can manually check your verification status 5. Look for any messages in your online account or email that might indicate additional information needed Most importantly, document everything - dates you certified, dates you called, names of representatives you spoke with, etc. This information can be crucial if you need to escalate your case.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this nightmare last summer. The ID.me verification delay is absolutely maddening, especially when you're dealing with bills and rent. What helped me was keeping a detailed log of every call I made and every week I certified - it became really useful when I finally got through to someone who could actually help. Also, don't let them tell you to "just wait" if you're past the 4-week mark. At that point, something is probably stuck in their system and needs manual intervention. The automated verification works for most people, but there's definitely a subset of cases that get hung up and need a human to push them through. Stay persistent and don't give up!