ID.me verification for NY unemployment - Do I need to buy a FIDO security key?

Hey there! I just went through this whole ID.me mess last month for my NY unemployment. You do NOT need to buy a FIDO security key - it's just one option they offer. I completed mine entirely on my smartphone without purchasing anything extra. Just make sure you have the ID.me app downloaded, and you can use your phone's built-in security features (face ID or fingerprint) instead of a physical key. The whole process took about 30 minutes for me, but at least I didn't have to buy anything!

no u dont need 2 buy anything. just use ur phone and take pics of ur ID and face. thats all.

Let me clear this up with some specifics about ID.me verification for NY unemployment: 1. FIDO Security Keys are OPTIONAL, not required. They're an extra security measure some people choose. 2. You have three authentication options: - Use the free ID.me mobile app (simplest option) - SMS codes sent to your phone - FIDO Security Key (optional purchase) 3. The standard verification process includes: - Uploading photos of your ID documents - Taking a selfie for facial matching - Setting up multi-factor authentication - Possibly a video call verification if the automated system flags any issues Most people complete the process successfully using just their smartphone without purchasing anything additional. The video call is only needed if there are issues with your automated verification.

I tried doing the ID.me thing THREE TIMES and it kept failing on my phone!!! It kept saying my drivers license was "unreadable" even though it was PERFECTLY CLEAR. I was about to buy one of those stupid security keys thinking it would help but then I just tried using my laptop camera instead of my phone and it MAGICALLY worked. Their system is SO FRUSTRATING!!!!!

When I did mine last week I got stuck in the verification loop for hours... so frustrating! The thing that finally worked was calling their support line. Wish I'd done that first instead of spending so much time trying over and over.

To directly answer your question about where to get FIDO security keys IF you wanted one (which you don't need): They're available on Amazon, Best Buy, or directly from manufacturers like Yubico (YubiKey) or Google (Titan). They typically cost $25-50. But as everyone has mentioned, for NY unemployment verification, you don't need to purchase one. The free ID.me mobile app authentication is accepted by NYSDOL and is the method most people use successfully. One important tip: whatever authentication method you choose, make sure you don't lose access to it, as you'll need it for future logins to your unemployment account.

I HATE ID.me so much!!! It's just another hoop the government makes us jump through to get benefits we're entitled to! Why can't they just use the information they ALREADY HAVE about us?? They have our tax returns, social security info, everything! But nooooo, we have to go through this whole stupid verification process that half the time doesn't even work right!

Update: I finally got through the ID.me verification using just my phone! Didn't need to buy anything. The facial recognition part was a bit glitchy but after a couple tries it worked. Thanks everyone for your help!