Can't get past ID.me verification for NY unemployment - how to talk to a real person?

omg the phone system is THE WORST. i spent like 3 days trying to get through last month. keep hitting 0 or saying "representative" over and over sometimes works. but honestly its just luck if u get through. might have better luck calling right when they open at 8am

For the ID.me issue specifically, you should contact ID.me support directly at help.id.me - they handle the identity verification separately from NYSDOL. For unemployment questions, the best time to call is between 7:55-8:05am Monday-Wednesday. The rush isn't as bad those days. Make sure you have your NY.gov ID and the last four of your social ready before calling. Also, when going through the phone menu, try option 1, then 3, then 2 - that route sometimes gets you to a person faster than repeatedly hitting zero.

I went through this exact nightmare in January. After trying for 2 weeks and getting nowhere, I finally used Claimyr.com and got through to an agent in about 25 minutes. It basically holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is available. Saved me days of frustration. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE - I was skeptical at first but it actually worked when nothing else did.

Just commenting to say I'm having the EXACT same problem!!! Been trying to get through for 3 days. So frustrating!

Here's what worked for me with the ID.me invalid credentials issue: 1. Clear your browser cache completely 2. Try using a different browser entirely (Firefox worked when Chrome didn't) 3. If that doesn't work, create a new ID.me account using a different email address 4. As a last resort, you can request manual verification by uploading your documents directly As for reaching NYSDOL by phone, call the 888-209-8124 number, then immediately press 1, then wait for the language options, select your language, then press 9 for all other questions. This sometimes bypasses the worst of the queue. If that doesn't work, their social media team is surprisingly responsive if you DM them on Twitter.

I've been dealing with NY unemployment for MONTHS and its a complete disaster. The whole system is designed to make us give up!!!! I spent SIX HOURS on hold last week and then they hung up on me. SIX HOURS!!!!! I practically memorized their hold music. And when I finally did get someone after calling back the next day, they transferred me to another department where I waited another 2 hours only to be told I called the wrong department!!! ITS INSANE!!!! 😡😡😡

My brother works for the state (not unemployment) but he told me they're severely understaffed right now. They lost a bunch of call center workers after the pandemic and haven't replaced them all. That's why it's so hard to get through. Doesn't help your situation now but explains why it's so bad this year compared to before.

Just checking back - did you manage to get through to someone? The ID.me issue should definitely be fixable, but they sometimes need to manually verify your identity.

Glad you got it resolved! For anyone else reading this with similar issues - the NY DOL has also added a virtual assistant chat feature on their website that can handle some basic account issues without needing to call. It won't solve everything, but it can help with password resets and some verification problems.

I've been lurking here for a while but finally decided to join because I'm dealing with the same nightmare! Been trying to get through for unemployment for over a week now. The ID.me verification keeps failing even though I know my info is correct. Reading through all these comments is both helpful and depressing - sounds like this is just the reality of dealing with NY unemployment right now. Going to try the early morning calling strategy and that Claimyr service if I can't get through. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, at least I know I'm not alone in this mess!

Just want to add another option that worked for me recently - if you're still having ID.me issues, try using an incognito/private browser window. Sometimes cached data from previous login attempts can cause the "invalid credentials" error even when your info is correct. Also, make sure you're using the exact same email address that was originally linked to your unemployment account - I made the mistake of trying a different email thinking it would help, but that just created more problems. For the phone calls, I had success calling the 888-209-8124 number at exactly 7:59 AM on a Tuesday and got through after about 45 minutes in the queue. Persistence really is key with this system unfortunately.

I've been following this thread and wanted to share what finally worked for me after weeks of struggling with the same issues. The combination approach seems to be key - I used the incognito browser trick for ID.me (thanks @Ingrid Larsson!) which actually fixed my verification problem immediately. For anyone still having phone issues, I found that calling the 888-209-8124 number and using the menu sequence @Ethan Taylor shared (press 1, wait for language options, then press 9) got me through faster than the other methods. The key is being ready to redial immediately if you get the "all agents busy" message - I probably redialed about 15 times in the first 10 minutes but then got into the queue. Also want to echo what others said about having all your info ready beforehand - NY.gov ID, SSN, claim confirmation numbers, etc. These systems are definitely frustrating but there are workarounds if you're persistent enough!

I just wanted to thank everyone in this thread - you've all been incredibly helpful! I'm new to this community but have been struggling with NY unemployment issues for the past month. After reading through all these suggestions, I'm planning to try the incognito browser method for my ID.me problems first thing tomorrow, and if that doesn't work, I'll use the early morning calling strategy with the specific menu sequence that several people mentioned. It's both reassuring and frustrating to know so many others are dealing with the same broken system, but at least we're helping each other navigate it. This kind of peer support is exactly what we need when the official channels are so unreliable. Will definitely update with my results to help the next person who finds this thread!