ID.me verification blocked for NY unemployment - someone used my identity in California
I'm trying to file for NY unemployment but I can't get past the ID.me verification. When I try to verify, it says my information has already been used in California! I've never even lived in California. This looks like someone committed identity theft using my info. Has anyone dealt with this cross-state ID.me problem? The system keeps blocking me and I'm freaking out because I need these benefits. Do I have to file a fraud report first? Will this delay my NY claim? I'm completely stuck and not sure what to do next.
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Fatima Al-Farsi
Oh no, that's definitely identity theft! You need to do these things ASAP: 1. File an identity theft report with the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov 2. Contact ID.me support directly through their help center and explain the situation 3. Call NY unemployment and inform them about the fraud issue 4. Put a freeze on your credit with all three credit bureaus I had something similar happen (someone filed in my name in Michigan), and I got it resolved in about 10 days. ID.me has a specific process for handling cross-state fraud cases.
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Giovanni Moretti
•Thank you so much! Did you have to wait until the identity theft was fully resolved before NY would process your claim? I'm worried about how long I'll be without benefits.
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Dylan Cooper
happened to ME TOO! freakin nightmare. took me like 3 weeks to sort out. u gotta call ID.me directly, their regular online stuff doesnt help with cross-state fraud
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Giovanni Moretti
•3 weeks?? I can't wait that long! Did calling them actually speed things up or did you have to wait anyway?
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Sofia Perez
This is unfortunately becoming common. The key is contacting ID.me's trusted referee team directly. You'll need to: 1. Schedule a video call with an ID.me trusted referee 2. Explain it's a cross-state fraud situation 3. Have your NY ID and another form of ID ready 4. Ask them to flag your account for special review Also important: once you get through to ID.me, you'll still need to contact NY unemployment separately to explain the situation and have them review your claim manually. The system won't automatically recognize that your identity verification issue has been resolved.
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Dmitry Smirnov
•is that video call thing legit? seems sketchy to have to video chat with someone for ID verification...
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Sofia Perez
•Yes, it's legitimate. ID.me is the official identity verification provider for many state unemployment systems. The video call is their highest level of verification when automated systems can't resolve an issue. Just make sure you're using the official ID.me website or app.
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ElectricDreamer
Just went thru this last month! The video call wait time with ID.me was over 5 hours when I tried, complete waste of time. I ended up using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get thru to an actual NY unemployment agent who manually verified me instead. Saved days of headache. They have a video showing exactly how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE - basically they hold your place in the phone queue so you don't have to.
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Giovanni Moretti
•That sounds easier than waiting all day for ID.me! Did the NY agent actually have the authority to override the ID.me issue? I'll check out that video.
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ElectricDreamer
•Yes, the NY agent was able to put notes on my account and redirect me to a special verification process on their end. They have procedures for handling ID theft cases. Still had to file the fraud report, but at least I got a real person helping instead of fighting with automated systems.
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Ava Johnson
I work with identity theft cases frequently, and I want to clarify something important: You need to address this on BOTH the NY and California sides. Here's the proper sequence: 1. File police report in your local jurisdiction 2. File FTC identity theft report at IdentityTheft.gov and get your report number 3. Contact California EDD fraud department (separate from NY) at 1-800-229-6297 to report the fraudulent claim 4. Provide your identity theft reports to ID.me's customer support 5. Contact NY unemployment with all documentation Skipping the California report often leads to continued problems because the fraudulent claim remains active in their system.
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Giovanni Moretti
•Thank you for this detailed info! I didn't even think about contacting California directly. Would these steps still apply if I've never lived or worked in California? I don't have any connection to the state.
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Ava Johnson
•Yes, these steps absolutely still apply. The fact that you've never lived or worked in California actually strengthens your fraud case. The California EDD needs to know that someone is using your identity fraudulently in their system. Make sure to explicitly tell them you've never lived or worked in California, as this helps them flag and investigate the fraudulent claim more quickly.
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Miguel Diaz
I HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM but with Florida!!! The identity theft stuff is IMPORTANT but here's what finally worked - I had to contact both NY senator's offices. Filled out their constituent help forms. Got a call back in 48 hrs and they had special contacts at unemployment who fixed it in like 3 days!! Don't waste time with the regular channels - GET YOUR SENATOR INVOLVED!!!
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Dmitry Smirnov
•lol sure just call up ur senator like they care about regular people problems 🙄
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Miguel Diaz
•Not the actual Senator dummy. They have staff whose ENTIRE JOB is helping constituents with government problems. It's literally the fastest way to fix bureaucratic nightmares. Their staff has direct contacts at agencies regular people can't reach!!
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Giovanni Moretti
Update: I called ID.me and waited on hold for 2 hours but finally got through. They confirmed someone used my info in California in January 2025. They put a fraud alert on my ID.me account but said I still need to wait 5-7 business days for review. Then I have to start the NY verification process all over again. This is so frustrating! I'm going to try the Claimyr thing to reach NY unemployment directly while I wait. Thanks everyone for the advice.
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Fatima Al-Farsi
•Great first step! While you're waiting, make sure you're also following through with the FTC identity theft report. Having that report number will be helpful for both NY unemployment and for protecting yourself from other potential fraud issues that might pop up.
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Dmitry Smirnov
had the same prob but with texas lol. not everything worked out but they cleared my ny application eventually. took like 3 weeks tho
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Giovanni Moretti
•Did you get back pay for the weeks you had to wait? I'm worried about bills piling up while this gets resolved.
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Dmitry Smirnov
•ya got all backpay when it finally went thru. make sure u keep doing weekly claims even tho ur not getting paid yet
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Sofia Perez
Final important tip: Document absolutely everything during this process. Keep records of: 1. All case/reference numbers from ID.me, FTC, and both state unemployment offices 2. Names and ID numbers of every representative you speak with 3. Dates and times of all communications 4. Screenshots of any error messages or account status pages 5. Copies of all emails and correspondence This documentation becomes crucial if your case needs escalation or if you face any issues with backpay once your identity is verified. In 2025, NY unemployment is required to provide full backpay from your eligibility date once your identity is confirmed, but having this documentation makes the process much smoother.
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Giovanni Moretti
•Thank you! I've started keeping notes of everything in a dedicated notebook. Hopefully I can get this resolved soon and get those benefits.
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