Confused about NY unemployment - got monetary benefit letter saying I don't qualify but then received IDme verification letters?

the system sends out those verification letters automatically to everyone. dont waste ur time with the IDme if u already know u dont qualify

Those letters are sent out at different times by different departments and don't always sync up. Did your monetary determination letter specifically say you're ineligible, or just show $0 in benefits? If it just showed insufficient wages, you might be eligible for a different type of claim. I would absolutely complete the IDme verification regardless - you can't move forward with ANY type of claim without it.

I GOT THE EXACT SAME THING LAST MONTH!!! First they said i dont qualify then sent me IDme stuff. The whole system is a JOKE. They love making us jump through hoops for nothing. I did the IDme anyway and guess what?? Still denied. Complete waste of my time!!!!!

The confusion here is common! The monetary determination is just the FIRST step in determining eligibility. It calculates what your benefit amount would be IF you qualify based on all other factors. The IDme verification is a separate eligibility requirement that everyone must complete regardless of monetary eligibility. Here's what's happening: 1. The monetary determination evaluates your earnings during your base period 2. The IDme verification confirms your identity to prevent fraud 3. After BOTH steps (and others), a final eligibility determination is made You should definitely complete the IDme verification. Even with a low monetary determination ($43/week), you might still qualify for benefits if you meet all other requirements. Also, sometimes after reviewing additional information, they may recalculate your benefit amount using an alternate base period.

When I had a similar situation, I kept getting the runaround trying to call NYSDOL to understand what was happening. After 2 weeks of constant busy signals, I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to an agent in about 40 minutes. The agent explained that my claim needed additional review even though my monetary determination was low. You can check them out at claimyr.com - they have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE. Totally saved me weeks of confusion.

I went through this exact situation in January 2025. Here's what I learned: the monetary benefit letter is just ONE factor in determining eligibility. The IDme verification is a completely separate requirement. I had a similar low WBA determined initially, but after completing IDme and having a phone interview, they recalculated using an alternate base period and my benefit amount increased significantly. My advice: 1. Complete the IDme verification immediately (it expires after 7 days) 2. Continue certifying weekly while this gets sorted out 3. Gather all your employment records from the past 18 months 4. Call and request a review using your alternate base period if applicable Don't give up based just on that initial monetary determination!

btw those IDme verifcations are annoying af. make sure u have good lighting for the video part and a good internet connection or ull have to start all over

One more important thing - if your monetary determination letter shows you're eligible for even a small amount ($43/week), you should definitely proceed with the claim. Once you're in the system with an approved claim, you might also qualify for other programs or extensions that become available. The key is getting an approved claim first, even with a low weekly benefit amount.

Just wanted to update - I finally got through to someone after 3 weeks and they told me I got denied because I quit my job, NOT because of the monetary determination! So even if you complete all their stupid steps, they can still deny you for completely different reasons they never tell you about until the end! This system is BROKEN.

Quick update: I completed the IDme verification yesterday (was actually pretty smooth) and today I received another letter asking me to call for a phone interview about my claim. Maybe there's hope after all! Thanks everyone for your help explaining the process - I would have given up without your advice.