NY unemployment account locked for ID verification since February - completely stuck

I went through this exact nightmare in January. The only thing that worked was calling right when they open at 8:00am, but even then I had to try for 4 days straight. When you get the automated system, press 2 for existing claims, then 1 for payment issues, then 3 for technical problems. That route sometimes connects to actual agents who CAN help with ID verification despite what the recording says. Don't select the ID verification option directly because those calls seem to get routed to a dead end. Make sure you have your case number ready (should be in your initial verification email). Good luck!

Thanks for the specific instructions! I've been pressing the ID verification option which explains why I keep hitting a wall. I'll try your sequence first thing tomorrow morning. Did they give you any indication of why it was taking so long when you finally got through?

After trying to call forever with no luck, I used a service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual NYSDOL agent in about 20 minutes. It basically holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is available. Saved me days of frustration. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE. My ID verification was resolved within 48 hours after speaking with the agent. They told me there was a system flag on my account that needed manual override, something I never would've known.

Does this actually work? Seems fishy that you have to pay money just to talk to unemployment when it should be free...

It's definitely legit - they just automate the calling process. The agent I spoke with was 100% a real NYSDOL employee. After weeks of failed attempts, I was desperate enough to try anything. My verification was stuck for similar reasons (system flag requiring manual review).

OMG I'M GOING THROUGH THE EXACT SAME THING!!!! Been locked since Feb 22 and it's driving me INSANE!!! I've called at least 30 times, uploaded my documents FOUR times, and even went to the career center in person where they told me \

same here!! the left hand doesnt know what the right is doing. got those contradicting emails too. finally got it fixed last week but took 7 weeks total

How did you finally get it fixed??? I'm desperate for any solution at this point!

i emailed my state assembly person and they contacted unemployment for me. took about 5 days after that

That's a really good idea, I hadn't thought about contacting my representative. I'll try that too if the direct calling doesn't work. Thanks!

There's actually a specific ID verification escalation form now that wasn't available last year. Go to the NYSDOL website, click on \

Thank you! I didn't know about this form. I just filled it out with all my information. Did they contact you after reviewing the escalation or did your account just suddenly get unlocked?

I got an email saying \

That gives me some hope! I'll keep checking my account for changes. Really appreciate the detailed info.

my neighbor works for unemployment (not in the id department but still) and she says they're dealing with a HUGE backlog because of that data breach back in december. apparently they had to revamp their whole verification system which slowed everything down. she said even though they claim 2-3 weeks, actual processing time is more like 6-10 weeks right now for most people. its totally ridiculous but at least you'll eventually get backpay for all those weeks. cold comfort when your bills are due now though...

6-10 WEEKS?!?! How are people supposed to survive that long with no income? This is beyond unacceptable. Why don't they at least TELL people it's going to take that long instead of saying 2-3 weeks? False hope is worse than no hope.

That explains a lot actually. I remember hearing about that breach but didn't connect it to these delays. Still frustrating they don't communicate this clearly to claimants. Thanks for the insider info - at least I know it's not just me being singled out somehow.

have u tried the live chat on the website? its burried in the help section. i had better luck with that than callin

I tried the live chat twice but both times the agent said ID verification issues can only be handled by the specialized team and closed the chat. Maybe I just got unhelpful agents though. I'll try again and see if I get someone more willing to help.

For what it's worth, I had success with the direct email method. If you email IDverification@labor.ny.gov with your full name, last 4 of SSN, claim ID number, and a brief explanation of your situation, they sometimes respond within 3-5 business days. Make the subject line \

Just sent an email following your template exactly. Fingers crossed this helps. I'll update here if I hear anything back. Thank you!

UPDATE: For anyone still struggling with this issue, NYSDOL just announced yesterday they're adding weekend hours for the ID verification team through April to address the backlog. The new schedule includes Saturday processing from 8am-2pm. This won't help with reaching agents by phone, but should speed up document review. They're also prioritizing claims that have been pending for 6+ weeks. Check the NYSDOL Twitter account for the official announcement.

That's great news! I'm coming up on 8 weeks now, so hopefully my claim will be prioritized. Between the escalation form, email, and this new weekend processing, I'm finally feeling like there's light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks for sharing the update!

I don't trust any of their announcements anymore. They've been saying they're

i got verified last week! randomly the status changed no email or anything just suddenly was fixed and got paid all back weeks at once check your account daily

Congratulations! How long were you stuck in verification if you don't mind me asking? And did you do anything special that you think helped move things along?

stuck for 53 days exactly. i did everything - calls emails that escalation form and even my assemblyman. no idea which one actually worked but probably the assemblyman honestly

53 days, wow. I'm at 61 days now. I've tried most of those approaches thanks to suggestions here, including contacting my assembly member yesterday. Really hoping something breaks through soon.

UPDATE: My account was finally unlocked today! For anyone who finds this thread later - what worked was a combination of the escalation form AND contacting my state assembly person. Got an email this morning saying my identity was verified, and when I logged in, I could see all my backpay is scheduled for deposit tomorrow. Thank you to everyone who offered advice here, it really helped me try multiple approaches at once which seems to be the key to getting unstuck.

Great news! So glad you got it resolved. The system is definitely overwhelmed right now, but persistence pays off eventually. Make sure you continue certifying weekly even after receiving your backpay to keep your claim active.

Yes, I'm definitely going to stay on top of the weekly certifications now. Thanks again for all your help!

CONGRATS!! This gives me hope! I'm contacting my assembly person right now!