Do I need to complete ID.me verification before applying for NY unemployment benefits?

Yes, you need to verify your identity through ID.me BEFORE you can complete your NY unemployment application. This is a security measure implemented in 2025 to prevent fraud. The verification process can take anywhere from 10 minutes to a couple of hours depending on how busy their system is and if you need to do a video verification. Make sure you have your driver's license or passport and a way to take photos of them. You'll also need a device with a camera for the selfie verification.

I just did this last month! SO frustrating. Yes you HAVE to do the ID.me first but honestly it's not as bad as people make it out to be. Took me maybe 15 mins tops. Just have ur ID ready and good lighting for the selfie part.

I got stuck in verification hell with ID.me for DAYS. Their system kept saying my drivers license was invalid even though it's perfectly fine. Then when I tried to do the video verification the wait times were insane. Almost gave up on applying for benefits altogether. My advice is start the ID.me process ASAP because if you run into problems it can really delay your ability to file your unemployment claim.

yes id.me first then unemployment aplication

The process in 2025 is specifically: 1. Complete ID.me verification 2. Wait for confirmation email (usually immediate but can take up to 24 hours) 3. Create NY.gov ID account if you don't already have one 4. Link your verified ID.me to your NY.gov account 5. THEN you can access the unemployment application This was implemented to reduce the massive fraud that happened in previous years. Make sure you're using the official ID.me link from the NYSDOL website, as there are unfortunately some scam sites that look similar.

I had SUCH a nightmare with ID.me in January!!! Their facial recognition system kept rejecting my selfie because of my "lighting" even though I tried EVERYTHING - different rooms, different times of day, different devices. After my 5th attempt it locked me out completely!! Had to wait 48 hours to try again and meanwhile I couldn't apply for benefits I desperately needed. The whole system is designed to make it harder for people to get benefits if you ask me!!!!

When I did mine in February there was actually a wait time of about 2 hours to get verified through the video chat option because their automated system was down for maintenance. I think I just had bad timing. But once I got through to a person it was pretty quick. Just be patient with the process.

If you're having trouble getting through to someone at ID.me or NYSDOL and need help urgently, I actually used a service called Claimyr that helped me skip the phone queue. Check out their video demo at https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE - it literally saved me days of frustration when I was locked out of my account during the ID.me verification process. Their website is claimyr.com and they basically hold your place in line and call you when an agent is available.

One more important tip: Make sure your name in ID.me EXACTLY matches your name as it appears on your government ID. This includes middle initials, suffixes (Jr, Sr, III), and hyphens. Even small discrepancies can cause your verification to be rejected or cause problems when you later try to link it to your unemployment application. I work with people applying for benefits and this is one of the most common issues I see.

Does anyone know if I can use my phone for the ID.me verification or do I need a computer with a webcam? My laptop camera is broken and I'm worried about the verification process.

Thank you everyone for all the helpful information! I'm going to start the ID.me verification process today and make sure I have all my documents ready. Fingers crossed it goes smoothly, but at least now I know what to expect if there are issues. This clarifies the order of steps perfectly!

Good luck with your ID.me verification! Just wanted to add that if you run into any technical issues during the process, don't refresh the page or go back - it can sometimes cause you to lose your progress and have to start over. Also, make sure you're in a quiet place if you end up needing the video verification since the agents need to be able to hear you clearly. The whole process has definitely gotten more streamlined since they first implemented it, so hopefully your experience will be smooth!

Just completed my ID.me verification last week and wanted to share my experience! The whole process took about 25 minutes, but most of that was waiting in the video verification queue. A few tips that helped me: 1) Do it during off-peak hours if possible (I did mine around 10am on a Tuesday), 2) Have your phone charger nearby in case the wait is long, and 3) Clear your browser cache before starting. The actual verification with the agent was super quick - maybe 3 minutes. After that, I was able to create my NY unemployment account immediately. The hardest part was just being patient with the wait times, but it's definitely worth getting it done early in the process!

I went through this process just two weeks ago and wanted to add a few more details that might help! Make sure you have a backup form of ID ready (like a passport if you're using your driver's license as primary) because sometimes the system has trouble reading certain state IDs. Also, if you wear glasses regularly, have them on during the selfie verification - I initially took mine off thinking it would help with face recognition but the agent asked me to put them back on to match my ID photo. The whole thing took me about 45 minutes including wait time, but once it was done I could immediately proceed with my unemployment application. One last tip: bookmark the direct link to the NY unemployment portal after your ID.me verification because it can sometimes be hard to find the right entry point on the NYSDOL website!

I just went through this exact process last month and can confirm - yes, you absolutely need to complete ID.me verification first before you can even access the NY unemployment application. The system won't let you proceed without it. Here's what worked for me: I did it on a weekday morning around 9am to avoid peak times, had both my driver's license AND passport ready (just in case), and made sure I was in a well-lit room with a plain background. The automated verification failed for me initially, but I got through the video chat in about 20 minutes. Once verified, I could immediately create my unemployment account and start the application. Pro tip: save all your confirmation emails and screenshots - you'll need them later if any issues come up with your claim!

Just wanted to share my experience from a few days ago to hopefully help others! I was in the same boat as you - completely confused about the order of steps. After reading through various forums and the NYSDOL website multiple times, I finally just dove in and started with ID.me verification first. It ended up being the right choice! My verification took about 30 minutes total (including a 15-minute wait for video chat), and immediately after completion I was able to access the unemployment application portal. One thing I wish I had known beforehand - make sure your phone is fully charged if you're using it for verification, because my battery died right in the middle of the video chat and I had to start over! Also, they asked me to hold up my ID next to my face during the video call, so practice that beforehand so you're not fumbling around. The agent was really patient and professional though. Good luck with your application - you've got this!

I actually just completed my ID.me verification yesterday and wanted to share a fresh perspective! The process has definitely improved since some of the earlier horror stories I'm seeing here. A few things that helped me get through smoothly: 1) I used the ID.me mobile app instead of the browser - it seemed more stable, 2) I did it around 2pm on a Wednesday which had minimal wait time, and 3) I had my Social Security card as a backup document which the agent appreciated having available. The whole thing took maybe 20 minutes including a short video chat. One unexpected thing - they asked me to slowly rotate my ID in front of the camera so they could see the security features, so be prepared for that. Once verified, I was immediately redirected to create my NY.gov account and could start the unemployment application right away. The key is just being patient and having all your documents organized beforehand!