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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.
Good point! I did get a small vacation payout. Do I need documentation for that or just need to report it?
You should have documentation if possible - like your final pay stub showing the vacation payout or a letter from HR. But if you don't have it, you can still report the amount and dates. NYS DOL may follow up with your former employer to verify, so just be accurate with the numbers and timing.
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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.
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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!
Great news! Make sure you're in a quiet place with good phone reception for the hearing. Have your documents organized and in front of you. Write down key points you want to make. If the employer says something untrue, wait for your turn to speak rather than interrupting. The judges appreciate organized, fact-based presentations. Good luck!
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!
This is really helpful advice! I wish I had thought to contact HR earlier - I was so focused on gathering the documents I already had. Unfortunately my company's HR department was also laid off during the restructuring (small company), but I do have that termination email from my manager that specifically mentions "position elimination due to restructuring." I'm hoping that plus the text message screenshots will be enough evidence. Your point about writing a timeline is great - I'm going to do that this weekend to organize my thoughts before the hearing. Thanks for the encouragement!
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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.
This is super helpful! I wish I'd had this checklist 3 weeks ago when I first did the ID.me thing. For anyone else reading, definitely try to talk to a claims specialist, not just the first person who answers the phone.
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!
Victoria Jones
Just wanted to update everyone - my refund came through today via direct deposit! So it looks like they are using the same payment method as regular benefits in most cases. Thanks for all your help!
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Benjamin Carter
•Congrats! Was it the full amount you were expecting?
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Victoria Jones
•Yes, actually about $50 more than I calculated! No explanation for the difference though.
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Aria Washington
That's great news Victoria! Glad it worked out with direct deposit. For others still waiting, I've found that checking the NY DOL website under "Payment History" sometimes shows the refund status before you actually receive it. It might show as "pending" or "processed" which can give you a heads up on timing. Also, if you're moving like Victoria was, definitely update your address in the system ASAP - I've heard of people missing checks because of address changes during processing.
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Ahooker-Equator
•Thanks for that tip about checking Payment History! I just joined this community because I'm also waiting for my refund and getting really anxious about it. I've been on unemployment since last year and got direct deposit for all my regular payments, but after reading all these comments I'm worried mine might come as a check for some reason. Going to check that Payment History section right now - hopefully it shows something useful. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here!
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