How to upload documents to NYS Department of Labor unemployment claim - system keeps timing out

The upload system works best with smaller file sizes. Try compressing your documents to under 2MB each and use PDF format instead of photos. Also make sure you're using Chrome or Firefox - the upload feature doesn't work well with Safari or older browsers. Clear your cache before trying again.

ugh same problem here! spent an hour yesterday trying to upload my pay stubs and it kept failing. the whole NYS Department of Labor website is so slow lately

I had this exact issue last month. The key is to upload documents one at a time instead of trying to do multiple files at once. Also, don't navigate away from the page while it's uploading - I know it looks like it's frozen but just let it sit there. Sometimes it takes 5-10 minutes per document but it will eventually go through.

If you're still having trouble getting through to upload documents, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to actually speak with someone at NYS Department of Labor about my claim issues. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. I was able to get help submitting my paperwork over the phone when the website wasn't cooperating.

Try uploading during off-peak hours like early morning or late evening. The system gets overloaded during business hours when everyone is trying to access it. I usually do my weekly claims and document uploads around 6 AM and never have issues.

Same boat as everyone else - this system is trash. Been trying to upload my layoff notice for three weeks now. Every time I think it worked, I check back and the documents aren't there. SO FRUSTRATING when you're just trying to get your benefits processed!

I've found that using an incognito/private browsing window sometimes helps with the upload issues. The regular browser might have cached data that interferes with the upload process. Also, if you have any browser extensions running (like ad blockers), try disabling them temporarily - they can sometimes block the upload functionality. Worth a shot if the other suggestions don't work!

Another thing that helped me was making sure my internet connection was stable before starting the upload. I switched from WiFi to ethernet cable and that seemed to reduce the timeout errors. Also, if you're on a work or public network, sometimes those have restrictions that can interfere with file uploads. Try using your phone's hotspot if nothing else works - the mobile connection might be more reliable than your regular internet for this specific task.

I had the same timeout issues last week! What finally worked for me was a combination of several things mentioned here: I used Chrome in incognito mode, compressed my documents to under 1MB each as PDFs, and uploaded them one at a time during early morning hours (around 7 AM). The key thing that Dylan mentioned about waiting for the actual "Document successfully uploaded" confirmation is crucial - I thought my files went through several times but they hadn't actually saved. Also, I kept a backup of all my documents on my phone just in case I needed to try uploading from mobile data instead of my home WiFi. It took patience but eventually all my paperwork went through. Good luck Fatima, you've got this!

I work in IT and deal with similar upload issues on government sites all the time. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet - check if your documents have any special characters or spaces in the filename. The NYS system is really picky about this. Try renaming your files to something simple like "payStub1.pdf" or "separationLetter.pdf" with no spaces, apostrophes, or weird characters. Also, if you're scanning documents, make sure the resolution isn't too high - 300 DPI is usually plenty and keeps file sizes manageable. I've seen people scan at 600+ DPI thinking it's better quality, but it just creates massive files that timeout during upload.

I've been dealing with this exact same issue for the past week! What finally worked for me was a combination of several things people have mentioned here. First, I used Chrome in incognito mode and disabled all my browser extensions. Then I made sure to rename all my files to simple names without spaces or special characters (like "wage_verification.pdf" instead of "Wage Verification Form - 2025.pdf"). I also compressed everything to under 1MB and converted photos to PDF format. The biggest game changer was uploading during off-peak hours - I tried at 6:30 AM on a weekday and it went through smoothly. Make sure you wait for that "Document successfully uploaded" confirmation message before moving on to the next file. It's frustrating how many hoops we have to jump through, but hang in there - once you find the right combination it does work!

I just want to echo what everyone else has said - you're definitely not alone in this struggle! I went through the exact same nightmare trying to upload my separation paperwork a few months ago. The system is incredibly frustrating and seems to be getting worse lately. What ultimately worked for me was doing everything at once: early morning upload (around 5:30 AM), Chrome incognito mode, files renamed to simple formats without spaces, compressed to under 1MB as PDFs, and uploading one document at a time while being super patient and waiting for the actual confirmation. I know it's stressful with your Friday deadline, but don't give up! The system does work eventually once you hit the right combination of factors. Also, if you're still having issues by Thursday, definitely consider calling the main unemployment line first thing in the morning - sometimes they can note in your file that you attempted to upload on time even if the system was having problems.

I had the exact same problem a couple months ago! What worked for me was switching to a different device entirely. I was trying on my laptop for days with no luck, then tried on my tablet using mobile data instead of WiFi and it went through immediately. Sometimes the issue isn't just browser or file related - it could be device-specific compatibility problems with the NYS system. If you have access to another computer, tablet, or even try uploading directly from your phone, that might be worth a shot. Also, I noticed the system tends to work better on Tuesdays and Wednesdays compared to Mondays when everyone is trying to file their weekly certifications. Hope this helps and you get it sorted before your Friday deadline!

I've been struggling with this exact same issue for the past three days! The timing couldn't be worse since I also have a Friday deadline. Reading through all these suggestions has been so helpful - I had no idea there were so many different factors that could cause upload problems. I'm planning to try the "kitchen sink" approach tomorrow: wake up at 5:30 AM, use Chrome in incognito mode, rename all my files to simple formats like "paystub1.pdf", compress everything under 1MB, disable my ad blocker, and upload one document at a time while being patient for those confirmation messages. If that doesn't work, I'll try switching to my tablet with mobile data like Dylan suggested. It's honestly ridiculous that we need to become tech experts just to submit basic paperwork, but I'm grateful this community has figured out so many workarounds. Fingers crossed we can all get through this bureaucratic nightmare!

I just went through this same nightmare last week! What finally worked for me was a combination of almost everything mentioned here, but I want to add one more tip that was crucial - make sure you're not running any VPN software. I had my VPN on for work and it was causing the uploads to fail every time. Once I disconnected it and tried again at 6 AM with all the other suggestions (Chrome incognito, simple filenames, compressed PDFs under 1MB, one at a time), everything went through smoothly. Also, I kept screenshots of each successful upload confirmation just in case I needed proof later. The whole system is absolutely broken but these workarounds do help. Good luck Fatima - you've got great advice here!