ID.me verification nightmare with NY unemployment - can't link accounts

You need way more documents than just your license and vax card. ID.me is super strict - they usually want your social security card, passport or birth certificate, and sometimes even utility bills to prove your address. Took me like 5 attempts before it finally worked.

After failing with ID.me six times (SIX!!!!) i found this service called claimyr.com that helped me get a real person on the phone from unemployment. Talked to an actual human and they helped me fix the ID verification on their end! Worth every penny to finally get my benefits coming. Check out their youtube too: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

Id.me is THE WORST. You need to video chat with them if the automated stuff doesnt work. I waited 6 HOURS in the video verify queue last month. Make sure u have your SSN card, license, passport if u have it, and be in a well lit room. Don't give up!!

Here's what I learned after going through this hell: First, make sure you're using the EXACT same info on ID.me as your unemployment application (same spelling of name, same address format, etc). Even small differences can cause rejection. Second, try using the mobile app instead of website if you're having issues - worked better for me. Third, if automated verification fails 3 times, you'll need to do a video call with a "trusted referee" - this is where most people get stuck. Fourth, prepare ALL your documents before starting: driver's license, SSN card, birth certificate or passport, and two bills showing your address. Finally, if nothing works, you need to speak with someone at unemployment directly. I spent days trying to call until I found claimyr.com - they got me through to an agent who fixed everything on their end. This system is deliberately complicated to discourage claims, but don't give up! Your benefits are your right.

Your vax card won't help with ID verification lol. They need government-issued ID documents. I had to upload my drivers license (front AND back), my passport, and my social security card. Then still had to do a video call where they made me show everything again plus utility bills. System is broken af

try calling the ID.me support directly at 866-775-4363. Theyve got way shorter hold times than ny unemployment and can usually help you figure out why the linking isnt working

anyone else think its crazy that we need to jump through all these hoops just to get the benefits we already paid into??? the whole ID.me thing feels like its designed to make people give up 😤

Same thing happened to me in April! The trick is you need to completely log out of both systems, clear your browser cache (or use incognito mode), then go to the NY unemployment site first, follow their specific ID.me link (don't just go to ID.me separately), and then complete the process in one session without stopping. Worked for me after like 5 failed attempts.

vax card does nothing for ID verification lmaoooo 🤣 they need REAL id documents

Check if ur account is locked. If you try too many times with wrong docs they lock u out for 24 hours. happened to me and i was going CRAZY thinking the system was broken. Try again tomorrow maybe?

you can literally talk to a LIVE PERSON through ID.me video chat! stop messing with the automated system. go to id.me, click "verify your identity" then after a few failed attempts it'll give u option for video chat. wait time sucks (like 3-5 hours) but they'll fix it right there

Has anyone noticed that ID.me seems to reject people using older smartphones? My sister couldn't get verified until she borrowed a newer phone. Maybe try a different device if you keep getting errors.

After failing with ID.me like 8 times I gave up and just went to the unemployment office IN PERSON. Took half a day but they fixed it on the spot. If ur in NYC might be worth the trip.

i used to work for NY unemployment (quit cuz it was a nightmare). Here's the secret: if ID.me isn't working, call the mainline and specifically request an "identity verification override." Not all agents know how to do this but supervisors do. Keep calling until you get someone who knows what this is. They can manually verify you in the system.

the EXACT same thing happened to me!! i was ready to throw my computer out the window 😡 what fixed it was creating a brand new ID.me account with a different email address and trying again. For some reason the system had flagged my original account.

why TF do we need to verify through a third party company anyway?? feels super sketchy giving all my personal info to some random website. the whole ny unemployment system is just a disaster

here's a weird tip but it worked for me - try using Microsoft Edge browser instead of Chrome or Safari. something about the ID.me system works better with Edge for some reason 🤷‍♀️

If nothing else works, contact your state representative or senator's office! I was stuck in ID.me hell for THREE MONTHS until I contacted my state senator. Their office has special contacts at unemployment and fixed my issue in 48 hours. No joke.