Thank you! I'll make sure to include all that info. I've put together a folder with everything from the past 5 quarters now. Feeling much more confident about submitting everything properly.

I'm going through the same nightmare right now! Been trying to call for over a week with no luck. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - especially the tips about scanning documents properly and the base period requirements. I had no idea about the alternative base period option, which might actually help me since I had higher earnings in my most recent quarter. Going to try both the Career Center visit and contacting my assembly member's office tomorrow. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's so frustrating that we have to rely on each other to figure out what should be clearly explained by the state!

Just so everyone knows, if you get stuck in "pending verification" status after completing ID.me, you NEED to talk to a live agent. They have to manually release the hold sometimes. I was stuck for almost 3 weeks before using Claimyr to get through to someone. The agent told me thousands of people are in the same situation right now.

Congrats on getting through the verification! For anyone else still struggling with ID.me, here are a few additional tips that helped me: - Clear your browser cache before starting - Use Chrome or Firefox (avoid Safari/Edge as they sometimes have issues) - Make sure your ID document is completely flat when taking the photo - any shadows or glare can cause rejection - If you're having trouble with the selfie, try adjusting your screen brightness and sitting about arm's length from the camera The whole process is definitely frustrating but unfortunately necessary. Once you get through it, your payments should resume normally. Just be patient with the 3-5 day processing time after completion.

guys am i the only one whos microphone never works on these stupid Teams meetings?? my last hearing was a disaster cuz i could hear them but they couldnt hear me and i had to use the chat box the whole time

I went through this same process about 6 months ago and can share what worked for me. NYSDOL did send me a physical letter with all the hearing details about 12 days before the scheduled date. However, I also got an email notification to the address I had on file with them - so definitely make sure your email is updated in your online account. One tip that saved me: I called the hearing office directly (not the main unemployment line) about a week after requesting my hearing just to confirm they had received my appeal and to ask about timing. The number was on my determination letter. That call gave me peace of mind that everything was moving forward properly. Also, when you do get your hearing notice, they'll include a "test meeting" link so you can check your computer setup beforehand. Definitely use that! Good luck with your hearing!

UPDATE: Money finally hit my Key Bank card this morning (Wednesday). No idea why it was delayed but at least it came through! This system is so stressful when you're depending on the money.

Glad to hear your payment came through! I've been dealing with similar delays lately. For anyone still waiting, one thing I've found helpful is to check your payment status on the NY.gov website first thing in the morning - if it shows "released" there, the Key Bank deposit usually follows within a few hours. The timing really does seem random though. I've been thinking about switching to direct deposit too after reading about all the Key Bank issues here.

If you've exhausted all the calling options without success, one other official channel is your state representative's office. Each district has staff specifically to help constituents with government services issues. Look up your NY State Assembly or Senate representative, call their local office, and explain your unemployment identity verification issue. They often have direct contacts at NYSDOL who can assist with these situations.

I went through this nightmare last year and want to share what finally worked for me. After weeks of calling with no success, I discovered that NY unemployment has a live chat feature that's available Monday-Friday 8am-5pm. You access it through your NY.gov unemployment account - look for a small "Live Chat" button usually at the bottom right of the page. The chat agents can actually initiate the alternative identity verification process right there and send you a secure link to upload your documents (driver's license, birth certificate, utility bill, etc.). It took me 3 tries to catch someone during a less busy time, but once I got through, my identity was verified within 24 hours. Pro tip: Try the chat feature around 11am or 2pm when call volume is typically lower. Way less stressful than calling repeatedly!