I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Just got off the phone with them again today and they kept asking for "personal identification" without explaining what that actually means. It's so confusing because when you hear "personal identification" you naturally think they want like a photo ID or passport, not your PIN number from when you filed! After reading through all these comments, I realize I've been missing key pieces - I was only giving them my SSN and DOB but didn't know they also wanted my claim ID and PIN. It's really frustrating that different agents seem to ask for different combinations of information too. Some want your driver's license number, others want bank details, and some want your exact filing date. Why can't they just have a standard checklist they go through? Anyway, I'm going to call back tomorrow morning with absolutely everything ready: SSN, PIN, claim ID, driver's license number, filing date, mailing address, and bank account info. Hopefully that covers all their verification requirements! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread is way more helpful than spending hours on hold just to get confused by their vague terminology.

I'm so relieved to find this thread! I've been going through the exact same nightmare for the past 10 days. Every time I call, they ask for "personal identification" and when I give them my SSN they say it's not sufficient. I had absolutely no idea they meant things like my PIN or claim ID number - I kept thinking they wanted me to fax them copies of my driver's license or something! It's incredibly frustrating that they use such misleading terminology instead of just saying "we need your account PIN and claim ID to verify your identity." I've probably wasted 15+ hours on hold across multiple calls just to get hung up on because I didn't have the "right" identification ready. Based on everyone's advice here, I'm making a comprehensive list before my next call: SSN, PIN from initial filing, claim ID number, driver's license number, exact filing date, current address, bank account details, and previous employer info. Hopefully having everything prepared will finally get me past their confusing verification process. Thank you all so much for sharing your actual experiences - this community support is infinitely more helpful than the vague information on their official website!

Welcome to the community! I just went through something similar a few months ago when I started a new job while on unemployment. Everyone here has given you great advice - you definitely need to report your return to work on your next weekly certification. The process is actually pretty simple once you know what to do. Just answer honestly when they ask about returning to work and provide your Monday start date. That will automatically end your claim after that week. Don't stress about having filed yesterday before getting the offer - that's totally normal timing and won't cause any issues as long as you report accurately next week. Best of luck with your new job!

Hey there! I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago when I landed a new position. Everyone's advice here is spot on - you absolutely need to report your return to work on your next weekly certification. There will be a clear question asking if you returned to work, and you'll input your Monday start date there. That becomes your final claim automatically. The system is actually pretty well designed for this common scenario. Since you filed yesterday before getting the offer, that's perfectly fine and won't cause any issues - just be accurate when you report the work start date on your next (final) certification. Don't overthink it too much, you're doing everything right by asking these questions upfront. Congratulations on the new job and welcome to getting back into the workforce!

Been dealing with the exact same overseas access nightmare! After reading through all these comments, I'm convinced the regular system is completely broken for international users. The geo-blocking is ridiculous and those international call charges add up fast with zero results. Based on what everyone's saying here, claimyr.com seems like the most reliable solution - multiple people confirming it actually works is pretty convincing. Also definitely going to try contacting my assembly person since that seems to be another solid option people have had success with. It's insane that we have to jump through all these hoops just to submit required documents while traveling, but at least there are workarounds. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - really helpful to know I'm not alone in this mess! 🙏

I'm dealing with this exact situation right now! I'm in Europe for a month and they just requested income verification documents, but I can't access my account either due to their location blocking. I've tried multiple VPN services with no luck - it's like they specifically designed the system to block anyone traveling abroad. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it sounds like claimyr.com might be my best bet since so many people have had success with it. I'm also going to try reaching out to my state assembly person's office since several folks mentioned that worked well. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops just to submit documents they're demanding, but I'm grateful for all the tips here! Has anyone tried the certified mail option while overseas? Wondering if that might be worth doing alongside trying to get someone on the phone. This whole system is such a nightmare for anyone who travels for work or family emergencies 😤

I'm dealing with this exact same nightmare and it's absolutely infuriating! Been trying to get through for 5 days now and that "high call volume" message followed by an instant disconnect feels like a cruel joke when you're already stressed about your claim. What really gets me is that I can see there's an issue with my account online, but the website just says "contact customer service" - which is impossible when their phone system is designed to hang up on you! It's like being trapped in some kind of bureaucratic hell. I'm definitely going to try that 8am sharp strategy @Zoe mentioned tomorrow morning. Also love @Mei's tip about having all your documents ready - I'll make sure to have my NY.gov ID, PIN, and SSN info all written down so I don't waste any precious seconds if I somehow manage to get through. It's completely insane that we need a whole battle plan just to reach our own state's unemployment office, but here we are! If the early morning calls don't work after a few attempts, I might have to try that Claimyr service @Liam used. The fact that your verification issue was literally a 2-minute fix after weeks of trying really highlights how broken this system is. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and creating this support network. We shouldn't have to figure this out together, but I'm so grateful we can help each other navigate this mess!

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Been trying to reach someone for the past 10 days and that "high call volume" message followed by an instant disconnect is absolutely soul-crushing. What makes it even worse is that I can see my claim is stuck with some kind of verification flag online, but there's literally no way to resolve it without speaking to an actual person. I'm definitely going to try that 8am sharp strategy @Zoe mentioned - seems like precise timing is everything with this broken system. Also going to have all my documents ready like @Mei suggested, including my NY.gov ID, PIN, and SSN. It's completely ridiculous that we need a whole military operation just to contact our own state agency! If the early morning calls don't work after a few days, I'm seriously considering that Claimyr service @Liam used. I'm usually hesitant about third-party services, but the fact that your issue was literally a 2-minute verification fix that took weeks to resolve through traditional methods really shows how backwards this system is. I might also try that TTY line @Ella mentioned as another workaround, and I'm bookmarking that assemblyperson contact info as a backup plan. It's honestly shameful that we need multiple backup strategies just to access basic unemployment services we're entitled to. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and creating this incredible support community. We shouldn't have to band together just to figure out how to get help from our own state agency, but I'm so grateful we can help each other navigate this bureaucratic nightmare! Will definitely update if I break through using any of these strategies.

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago when I lost both my bookkeeping job and my freelance tax prep work around the same time. NYS Department of Labor absolutely combines wages from all your covered employers - it's actually one of the better aspects of their system! Your weekly benefit amount will be calculated based on your total earnings during the base period, regardless of how many different jobs contributed to those wages. Just make sure you have all your final pay stubs and any separation notices ready, because they may request additional documentation to verify the wages from multiple employers. The processing took about 3 weeks for me, but it was worth the wait since my combined wages from both jobs resulted in a much higher weekly benefit than I would have gotten from just one job alone. Don't stress too much about entering both employers in the system - it's designed to handle multiple job situations and is actually pretty common in today's gig economy!

I just want to say thank you to everyone who's shared their experiences here! I was really stressed about this whole situation, but reading through all these responses has made me feel so much more confident about the process. It's clear that NYS Department of Labor does combine wages from multiple employers, which is exactly what I was hoping to hear. I'm going to gather all my documentation (pay stubs, separation notices, etc.) and be patient with the 2-3 week processing time that seems to be typical. It's also really helpful to know about things like the early morning call strategy and keeping records organized. This community is amazing - I never expected to get such detailed and helpful responses from people who've been through the exact same situation!