How to send documents to NYS Department of Labor unemployment - what's the right way?

The online upload through my.ny.gov is definitely the fastest method when it works. Make sure you're using a supported browser like Chrome or Firefox, and your documents are in PDF format under 10MB each. If the upload keeps failing, you can also fax documents to 518-457-9378, but always keep your fax confirmation receipt.

ugh the upload never works for me either!! i ended up mailing everything certified mail to make sure they got it. took like 2 weeks but at least i had proof of delivery

For document submission, I've had the best luck with the secure message center in your my.ny.gov account. You can attach files there and it creates a paper trail. Just go to 'Messages' and start a new secure message to NYS Department of Labor. Include your claim number in the subject line and clearly label what each document is (W2, paystubs, etc.).

I was having the same document upload issues last month and couldn't get through on the phone to ask about alternatives. Someone mentioned this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you actually reach NYS Department of Labor agents. I watched their demo video (https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI) and decided to try it. Got connected to an agent within 20 minutes who walked me through the exact steps for my specific document submission. Turns out I was uploading to the wrong section entirely.

Just be super careful about what you're sending and make copies of EVERYTHING. I sent my stuff through the portal and they claimed they never received it, even though I had screenshots of the successful upload. Now I'm dealing with a delayed claim because of their system issues.

Pro tip - if you're mailing documents, send them to: NYS Department of Labor, Unemployment Insurance Division, PO Box 15131, Albany NY 12212-5131. Always include your full name, SSN, and claim number on every page. And yeah, definitely use certified mail like someone else mentioned.

I just went through this same process last week! The key thing that worked for me was making sure my browser cache was cleared before trying the upload on my.ny.gov. Also, if you're on a work computer or using public wifi, that can sometimes cause issues with the upload feature. I ended up having to use my phone's hotspot to get it to work properly. Once I got the documents uploaded, I got a confirmation email within a few hours, so you'll know right away if it went through successfully.

I had similar issues with the my.ny.gov upload system a few months ago. What finally worked for me was using a different device entirely - I was having problems on my laptop but it worked perfectly on my tablet. Also make sure each document is named clearly (like "W2_2023_YourName.pdf" or "Paystubs_January_2024.pdf") before uploading. The system seems to be pretty picky about file organization. If all else fails, I've heard good things about the secure messaging option that Giovanni mentioned - it might be more reliable than the direct upload feature.

I've been dealing with this exact same frustration! What ended up working for me was combining a few of the methods mentioned here. First, I tried the online upload using Firefox with cleared cache (thanks for that tip!), but when that failed, I used the secure message center that Giovanni mentioned. The message center was actually way easier to find once I knew what to look for - it's literally labeled "My Messages" right on the main dashboard. I attached all my documents there with clear subject lines like "Claim Verification Documents - Claim #[your number]" and got a response within 3 business days confirming they received everything. Much faster than mailing and more reliable than the regular upload feature. Just make sure to convert everything to PDF under 10MB like Liam suggested!

I'm in the exact same boat and this thread is so helpful! I've been struggling with the upload feature for days now. Based on everyone's advice, I'm going to try a systematic approach: first clear my browser cache and try uploading PDFs under 10MB using Firefox, then if that fails, I'll head straight to the secure message center under "My Messages" on the dashboard. The file naming convention tip from Chloe is brilliant - I've been using terrible generic names which probably isn't helping. It's so frustrating that such a basic function doesn't work reliably, but at least now I have multiple backup options. Really appreciate everyone sharing their actual experiences instead of just the official "use the website" advice that doesn't acknowledge these technical issues!

I just want to echo what everyone's saying about the upload issues - it's definitely not just you! I ran into the same problems a couple weeks ago and what finally worked was a combination approach. I used Chrome instead of Firefox (seems like different browsers work for different people), made sure all my documents were properly named PDFs under 5MB, and most importantly - I did the upload during off-peak hours around 6am. The system seems way less glitchy early in the morning when fewer people are using it. If that doesn't work, the secure message center really is your best bet. One thing I'd add is to take screenshots of every step when you're uploading, including any confirmation pages, because if something goes wrong you'll have proof of what you tried. Good luck - you'll get through this!

Just wanted to share my recent success story to give others hope! I was dealing with the same upload nightmare for over two weeks, but I finally got everything submitted yesterday using a combination of tips from this thread. Here's exactly what worked for me: I cleared my browser cache completely, switched to using Chrome on my personal laptop (not work computer), converted all documents to PDF and kept them under 5MB each, used super clear file names like "LastName_W2_2023.pdf", and uploaded at 7am when the system wasn't overwhelmed. The whole process took less than 10 minutes and I got confirmation emails within an hour! For anyone still struggling, definitely try the early morning approach - it makes such a huge difference. And if you're still having issues, don't sleep on that secure message center option under "My Messages" - it really does work as a reliable backup. Hang in there everyone, there IS a way through this frustrating system!

I've been lurking on this thread and finally decided to create an account because you all have been so incredibly helpful! I'm a newcomer to the unemployment system and was completely lost trying to figure out document submission until I found this discussion. The detailed advice here is way better than anything on the official DOL website. I'm planning to try Isabella's successful approach tomorrow morning - Chrome browser, personal computer, PDFs under 5MB with clear naming, and that crucial early morning timing around 7am. It's such a relief to know that other people have dealt with the exact same upload failures and found real solutions. Thank you everyone for sharing your actual experiences instead of just generic advice - this community is amazing for helping people navigate these frustrating government systems!

As someone who just went through this process successfully last month, I want to add one more crucial tip that saved me a lot of headaches: before you upload anything, make sure your my.ny.gov account profile is completely up to date with your current address, phone number, and email. I had an old email address on file and wasn't getting any confirmation messages, which made me think my uploads were failing when they were actually going through! Also, if you're uploading multiple documents, do them one at a time rather than trying to bulk upload - the system handles single file uploads much better. The early morning timing that Isabella mentioned is absolutely key, and I'd also suggest having your claim number copied and ready to paste because the session can time out if you're hunting around for information. Once you get that first successful upload confirmation, the rest becomes much easier!