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Yuki Nakamura

How to upload documents for unemployment verification on my.ny.gov - system keeps rejecting files

I've been trying to upload documents for my unemployment claim verification for the past two days and the my.ny.gov system keeps giving me error messages. I need to submit my separation notice and ID verification but every time I select the files and hit upload, it either says 'file format not supported' or just times out. I've tried JPEGs, PDFs, even took photos with my phone - nothing works. Has anyone else had this problem with uploading documents to NYS Department of Labor? I'm worried my claim is going to get delayed because of this technical issue.

StarSurfer

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I had the same problem last week! The file size limit is really small - like 2MB or something. Try compressing your PDFs or making sure your photos are under that limit. Also make sure the file names don't have any special characters or spaces in them. The system is really picky about that stuff.

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Yuki Nakamura

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Oh wow I didn't know about the file size thing! My separation notice PDF was probably way bigger than that. Let me try shrinking it down and see if that works.

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Carmen Reyes

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The my.ny.gov upload system is notorious for being glitchy. Here's what worked for me: 1) Use Chrome browser only, 2) Clear your cache and cookies first, 3) Make sure files are under 2MB, 4) Use PDF format for documents, JPEG for photos, 5) Try uploading during off-peak hours like early morning. The system gets overloaded during business hours and weekends.

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Andre Moreau

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This is super helpful! I was using Safari and having the same issues. Switching to Chrome fixed it for me too.

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ugh this system is so frustrating!! ive been trying for WEEKS to upload my stuff and it never works. why cant they just let us email documents like normal people???

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Carmen Reyes

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I know it's annoying but they have to use the secure portal for privacy reasons. If you're still having trouble after trying the file size/browser fixes, you might need to call NYS Department of Labor directly.

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I was stuck on this for days until I found out about Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to actual NYS Department of Labor agents on the phone - they can sometimes accept documents through alternative methods or walk you through the upload process step by step. Check out claimyr.com, they even have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me hours of frustration with the online system.

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Yuki Nakamura

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Interesting, I've never heard of that service before. Is it legit? I'm desperate at this point so anything that might help would be great.

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Yeah it's totally legitimate. They basically help you skip the hold times and get connected to real people at NYS Department of Labor who can actually solve problems. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.

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Mei Chen

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Just wanted to say thanks for posting this! I was having the exact same problem and the file size tip worked perfectly. Sometimes the obvious solutions are the ones we miss lol

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Another thing that helped me was making sure I was logged out and back into my.ny.gov completely before trying to upload. Sometimes the session gets corrupted and you think you're logged in but the upload function doesn't work properly. Also, if you're scanning documents, try scanning at 150 DPI instead of higher resolution - it keeps the file size down but still maintains readability for the reviewers.

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Zainab Ismail

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That's a great tip about logging out and back in! I've been having the same upload issues and never thought to try that. The DPI suggestion is really smart too - I was scanning everything at 600 DPI which probably made the files huge. Going to try both of these solutions today, thanks for sharing!

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TechNinja

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I had this exact issue last month! What finally worked for me was using a different device entirely - I was trying on my laptop and it kept failing, but when I switched to my phone using the mobile browser, the uploads went through perfectly. Also make sure you're not using any browser extensions that might be blocking the upload - I had to disable my ad blocker temporarily. The my.ny.gov system seems really sensitive to anything that might interfere with the upload process.

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Harper Hill

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That's really interesting about switching devices! I never would have thought of that. I've been banging my head against the wall trying to get this to work on my desktop computer. Going to try uploading from my phone right now - hopefully that does the trick. Thanks for the tip about browser extensions too, I definitely have a bunch of those running that could be interfering.

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AstroAlpha

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I've been dealing with this same nightmare for weeks! What finally worked for me was a combination of several things mentioned here: using Chrome browser, clearing cache/cookies completely, making sure files were under 1.5MB (I went even smaller than the 2MB limit to be safe), and most importantly - trying to upload between 6-8 AM when the system has way less traffic. I also renamed all my files to simple names like "separation_notice.pdf" and "id_verification.jpg" with no spaces or weird characters. It took me about 10 tries but eventually got everything through. Don't give up - the system is definitely broken but these workarounds do help!

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This is exactly what I needed to hear! I've been so frustrated thinking it was just me dealing with this broken system. The early morning upload tip is brilliant - I never thought about timing it when fewer people are online. I'm definitely going to try the 6-8 AM window tomorrow and keep my file names super simple like you suggested. Thanks for sharing what actually worked instead of just complaining about how broken everything is!

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Sofia Ramirez

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I just went through this exact same ordeal last month and it was incredibly frustrating! What ultimately worked for me was a multi-step approach: First, I used an online PDF compressor to get my separation notice under 1MB (way smaller than the supposed 2MB limit). Then I made sure to use Chrome in incognito mode with all extensions disabled. The key breakthrough was realizing that even though the system says it accepts JPEGs, it's actually really picky about the JPEG compression level - I had to re-save my ID photos at a much lower quality setting. Also, try uploading one document at a time rather than multiple files in one session. The system seems to handle single uploads much better. If you're still stuck after trying all the technical fixes mentioned here, you can also try visiting a local Department of Labor office in person - they can sometimes help you submit documents directly or troubleshoot the upload issues on their end.

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Amina Bah

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This is incredibly helpful advice! I never thought about using incognito mode to avoid extension interference. The tip about JPEG compression levels is especially useful - I've been struggling with photo uploads and didn't realize the system was so picky about that. Going to try the one-document-at-a-time approach too since I was definitely trying to upload multiple files at once. Thanks for mentioning the local office option as a backup - it's good to know there's still a human solution if all the tech workarounds fail!

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I just wanted to add my experience since I ran into this same issue recently. After trying most of the suggestions here (file compression, Chrome browser, etc.), what finally worked for me was actually logging into my.ny.gov through a completely fresh browser session - not just clearing cache, but literally using a browser I'd never used to access the site before. I also discovered that if you have any VPN or proxy services running, they can interfere with the upload process. Once I disabled my VPN and used Edge browser (which I never use for anything else), the documents uploaded on the first try. It's like the system has some weird conflict with browsers that have any history of accessing the site. Worth trying if you've exhausted the other options!

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Abby Marshall

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That's such a smart approach! I never would have thought to try a completely fresh browser that's never accessed the site before. The VPN interference issue is really interesting too - I do have a VPN running most of the time and didn't consider that it might be causing problems with the upload process. I'm going to try Edge since I never use it for anything, and I'll make sure to disconnect from my VPN first. It's crazy how finicky this system is, but I really appreciate you sharing what actually worked for you!

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Freya Collins

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I went through this exact same frustration a few months ago! After trying everything mentioned here, I discovered that the system also has issues with certain file naming conventions. Make sure your file names are short (under 50 characters), contain only letters, numbers, and underscores - no spaces, hyphens, or special characters. Also, I found that waiting exactly 30 seconds between upload attempts helps prevent the system from flagging you as spam. One more thing - if you're using a work computer or public WiFi, try switching to your personal device on a home network. Some workplace firewalls or public WiFi restrictions can interfere with the secure upload process. It took me 3 days to figure this out but once I followed these specific steps, everything uploaded smoothly. Hang in there - the system is definitely broken but these workarounds do help!

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This is such detailed and practical advice! The file naming tip about keeping it under 50 characters with only letters, numbers, and underscores is something I hadn't seen mentioned before. I've definitely been using hyphens and spaces in my file names, so that could be part of my problem. The 30-second wait between attempts is really smart too - I've been frantically trying to upload over and over again which probably made things worse. I'm going to try all of these suggestions tomorrow from my home network instead of my work computer. Thanks for being so specific about what worked - it gives me hope that I can actually get through this!

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Darcy Moore

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I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Reading through all these responses is so helpful - I had no idea about the file size limits or browser compatibility issues. I've been trying to upload my employment verification documents for three days straight and getting nowhere. Going to try the Chrome browser + file compression combo first, then work through some of the other suggestions like the early morning upload window. It's frustrating that such a basic function is this broken, but I'm grateful for this community sharing actual solutions instead of just the generic "try again later" advice you get from the help pages. Will report back on what works for me!

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I'm so glad you found this thread helpful! It's really frustrating how broken the upload system is, but seeing everyone's workarounds gives me hope too. Definitely start with the Chrome + file compression combo - that seems to be the most successful approach from what I'm reading. The early morning timing tip is brilliant too since the system probably gets overloaded during normal business hours. Make sure to try the file naming suggestions too - no spaces or special characters, keep it simple. Really looking forward to hearing what works for you! We're all in this together trying to navigate this broken system.

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Mei Lin

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I've been struggling with this same problem for over a week now! After reading through all these suggestions, I tried the Chrome browser + file compression approach and it finally worked. The key things that made the difference for me were: 1) Using an online PDF compressor to get my files under 1MB (not just 2MB), 2) Renaming files with simple names like "id_copy.pdf" with no spaces or special characters, 3) Uploading in the early morning around 7 AM when the system is less busy, and 4) Doing one document at a time instead of trying to upload multiple files. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops for such a basic function, but these workarounds do actually work! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread is way more helpful than any official help documentation.

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Elijah Brown

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Thank you so much for sharing what actually worked! This is exactly the kind of detailed breakdown I needed. I'm definitely going to try the under 1MB compression rule instead of assuming 2MB is fine - seems like going smaller is better with this finicky system. The simple file naming tip makes total sense too, I've been using long descriptive names with spaces which is probably causing issues. Setting my alarm for 7 AM tomorrow to try the early morning upload window! It's amazing how this community has figured out better solutions than the official support channels. Really appreciate you taking the time to list out the specific steps that worked.

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Melissa Lin

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I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Been trying to upload my documents for unemployment verification and the system just keeps rejecting everything. Thank you all for sharing these detailed workarounds - the official help page is completely useless and just says "try again later." I'm going to work through these suggestions systematically: starting with Chrome browser, compressing files to under 1MB, simple file names with no spaces, and trying during early morning hours. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to become tech experts just to submit basic documents, but I'm so grateful this community exists to share real solutions. The my.ny.gov system is clearly broken but at least now I have a game plan instead of just randomly trying the same thing over and over. Will definitely update once I (hopefully) get through!

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CosmosCaptain

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You're absolutely right that the official help is useless - I went through the same frustration! The systematic approach you outlined is perfect. One thing I'd add is to make sure you're completely logged out and back into my.ny.gov before trying the upload process. Sometimes the session gets stuck even though it looks like you're logged in. Also, if you have any browser extensions running (especially ad blockers or privacy tools), try disabling them temporarily - the upload system seems really sensitive to anything that might interfere. The early morning timing really does make a huge difference! Good luck and definitely let us know what combination works for you.

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Jabari-Jo

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I just went through this same ordeal last week and finally got my documents uploaded! After trying everything mentioned here, what worked for me was a combination approach: I used Chrome in incognito mode, compressed my PDFs to under 500KB (way smaller than the 2MB limit), renamed files to simple formats like "notice.pdf" and "id.jpg" with no spaces, and uploaded at 6:30 AM when the system wasn't overloaded. The key breakthrough was realizing I had to wait at least 2 minutes between each upload attempt - if you try too quickly, the system seems to block you temporarily. Also, make sure you're on a stable internet connection and don't navigate away from the page while uploading. It's frustrating that such basic functionality requires so many workarounds, but these steps do work if you're patient and systematic about it. Don't give up!

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Adaline Wong

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This is such a comprehensive breakdown of what actually works! The 2-minute wait between upload attempts is a game-changer tip that I haven't seen mentioned before - I've definitely been trying to upload repeatedly without any pause which probably triggered some kind of spam protection. Compressing files to 500KB instead of just staying under 2MB is really smart too. The stable internet connection reminder is important - I've been trying this on spotty WiFi which could be part of my problem. Going to try your exact approach tomorrow morning at 6:30 AM with fresh patience and realistic expectations. Thanks for sharing such detailed steps and for the encouragement not to give up!

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Haley Stokes

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I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now and this thread is a lifesaver! I've been stuck for days trying to upload my separation documents and was getting so frustrated. Based on everyone's suggestions, I'm going to try a systematic approach tomorrow: Chrome browser in incognito mode, compress everything to under 500KB, simple file names like "separation.pdf" with no special characters, upload around 6-7 AM, and wait 2 minutes between each attempt. It's crazy that we need a whole strategy just to upload basic documents, but I'm so grateful everyone shared what actually worked instead of just complaining. The my.ny.gov system is clearly broken but at least now I have hope and a real action plan. Will definitely report back on my results - fingers crossed!

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