NY unemployment ID.me verification rejecting my pay stub with SS# blocked - can I wait for W-2?

DON'T wait until your W-2 arrives! NY unemployment has a 30-day filing deadline from your last day of work for full benefits. If you wait until January/February, you'll likely lose all those weeks from November 29th onward. They rarely make exceptions, even for ID.me issues. For the ID.me verification, try using other acceptable documents like your driver's license, passport, or birth certificate plus your social security card. You don't necessarily need a pay stub. If you still have trouble, ID.me has a video verification option where you can speak to a real person who can verify you on the spot. The system is incredibly frustrating right now. I had similar issues last month and almost lost benefits for 3 weeks because of technical problems.

Hey there, I had the EXACT same problem in October and almost lost my mind trying to fix it. The video verification with ID.me is actually your best option, but be prepared to wait - when I tried it was a 3-4 hour wait time (I just kept my laptop open and did other things). Also, important info about the timing: you actually have to FILE within 30 days, but if approved, they will backdate your payments to when you became unemployed. So even if you're a bit late, still file ASAP! Don't wait for your W-2. For documents, I ended up using my birth certificate AND social security card together, along with a bank statement showing my name and address. That combination worked even though my individual documents kept getting rejected.

omg id.me is the WORST!!!!! i had 2 try like 5 times before it worked. the facial recognition keeps failing bcuz of my lighting or something?? so annoying

I spent almost a week trying to get through ID.me for my NY unemployment claim back in September. Such a headache! The system kept rejecting my documents too, but for me it was because my address on my license didn't match my current address. But definitely don't wait until your W-2 comes! That could be a disaster financially. When I finally got through to an actual NYSDOL agent after using Claimyr (claimyr.com), they told me that claims filed more than 30 days late require special approval and most get denied. The agent was able to note my account that I had been trying to file and was having technical issues. Check out this video that shows how Claimyr works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE - it saved me from pulling my hair out trying to reach someone at unemployment.

You should try uploading a different version of your pay stub if you have one. Sometimes the system is picky about image quality. I had to scan mine twice before it worked. Also make sure ur using the right browser - Safari gave me problems but Chrome worked fine. About the back payment question - they can backdate but only if you have a good reason for filing late. Technical issues usually count as long as you document your attempts.

Update: I tried the video verification with ID.me last night and waited about 2 hours, but it finally worked! The person I spoke with was actually really helpful and understood why I had my SSN blocked out on my documents. For anyone else with this issue - they accepted my driver's license, a bank statement, and then asked me verification questions to confirm my identity. I've now been able to file my claim and they said they'll backdate it to November 29th. Thanks everyone for the help and preventing me from making the huge mistake of waiting for my W-2!

this happened 2 my sister last month and she ended up having to go to the actual unemployment office with all her documents!! maybe try that if online stuff doesnt work?

I'm in a similar situation and called the NY unemployment help desk about ID.me issues. They told me that even though ID.me is a third-party service, NYSDOL can sometimes override verification issues if you can prove your identity directly to them. The representative suggested sending a secure message through the unemployment portal with clear photos of your identification documents. Include your claimant ID and a brief explanation of the ID.me issues you're having. This worked for me after 3 failed attempts with ID.me. Key point though: Document EVERYTHING. Save screenshots of error messages, note the dates/times you attempted verification, and record any reference numbers from ID.me. This documentation strengthens your case if they question why you couldn't file sooner.

my cousin works at nysdol and says they're getting TONS of id.me complaints lately. apparently there was a system update in October that made it more strict. try checking the NY unemployment twitter or facebook - sometimes they post workarounds when lots of people have the same problem