Identity theft victim - how long to recover stolen ny unemployment benefits?

omg this happened to me!! someone filed using my info in June 2021, and it took almost 9 months to get it resolved. The fraud department is SO slow, but they did eventually clear everything up. I had to keep calling every 2 weeks to check status. Document EVERYTHING - names of reps u talk to, dates, claim numbers, everything. Tax season was a nightmare but they eventually sent me corrected tax forms.

After weeks of getting nowhere with the unemployment office, I finally got through to someone who could actually help by using this service called Claimyr. It basically waits on hold for you then connects you to an agent when they pick up. Talking to a real person got my identity theft case prioritized and they finally started the process of returning my stolen benefits. Best investment I ever made after wasting hours on hold getting nowhere. Check them out at claimyr.com or watch this explainer: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

The ny unemployment system is completely broken when it comes to fraud cases. My mom had the same thing happen and it took 13 months to get resolved!! Keep calling and ask specifically for the fraud department, not regular agents. Regular agents can't do anything for these cases.

You need to contact your state representative ASAP!!!! They can help speed things up. I had my case stuck for 4 months, then contacted my assemblyman's office, and suddenly everything started moving within a week. They have special contacts at unemployment that we don't have access to.

Im dealing with this right now! These criminals used my info back in 2020, and i only found out when i got a tax form for benefits i never received!! The whole system is a joke - nobody at the unemployment office knows what theyre doing. Ive been fighting for 7 months and still nothing.

Here's what worked for me with almost the exact same situation: 1. File fraud claim with unemployment (which you've done) 2. Contact your state senator or assembly member (they have special contacts) 3. File an identity theft report with the FTC at identitytheft.gov 4. Place a fraud alert on your credit reports 5. Contact the Department of Labor's fraud hotline AGAIN and tell them it's been X months 6. Get documentation from your employer proving you were working during that time 7. If all else fails, try using claimyr.com to get past the phone tree hell and actually speak to someone who can help It's frustrating and takes time, but my case got resolved after about 7 months. The key was getting my state rep involved - they have special channels to escalate these issues. Don't give up! The system is overwhelmed with fraud cases from the pandemic but they do eventually get to them.

dont get ur hopes up, my case took 11 months before they returned any money. the whole system is a disaster. they dont care about us at all.

Same boat here. someone stole $16k using my info last year. i finally got it resolved but only after i hired a lawyer to threaten legal action. suddenly they found time to fix my case! if u can afford it, legal pressure works wonders.

I can't believe how common this is becoming! Just shows how utterly broken the NY unemployment system is. They let scammers collect thousands while making legitimate claims jump through endless hoops. Make sure you're checking your credit report regularly too - these scammers often use your info for other fraud as well.

Pro tip: call exactly at 8:00:01 am when they open. That's how I finally got through. And specficially ask for the fraud department, not general questions. Don't let them transfer you to the wrong place.

i worked at ny unemployment during pandemic (quit cuz it was a nightmare). fraud cases are backlogged by MONTHS. there's a special team that handles these cases but theyre so understaffed. best advice: keep calling, be super polite (angry ppl get helped last tbh), ask for a supervisor after 10 mins if regular agent cant help.

Does anyone know if you have to pay taxes on benefits that were fraudulently claimed with your info? I got a 1099-G for benefits I never received and the IRS is coming after me!

I just want to say how disgusting it is that identity theft victims are being treated like THEY did something wrong. Why should we have to spend months fighting to clear our names when WE are the victims? The unemployment office should have better systems to prevent this fraud in the first place!

If it makes you feel any better, I was in your exact situation last year and they DID eventually resolve it and I got all the money that was fraudulently claimed in my name. But it took 8 months and about 50 phone calls. Keep detailed records of every single person you talk to, date, time, what they told you. This documentation will help if you need to escalate.

Have u tried reaching out on Twitter? Sounds weird but @NYSLabor sometimes responds faster there than through official channels. Just don't post any personal info publicly - use DMs.