NY unemployment asking for proof of Instacart gig work - what counts as valid documentation?
Has anyone else had NY unemployment request proof of your gig work from previous years? I worked for Instacart in 2019-2020, and now NYSDOL is asking me to verify my employment or they're threatening I might have to pay back benefits. All I currently have is the list of payouts in the app with dates attached. I've reached out to Instacart support for official documentation but haven't heard anything back yet. I know they want the 1099, but I also want to send them actual payment proof to strengthen my case. Can anyone who's been through this point me in the right direction? The anxiety is killing me thinking they could just decide I owe all that money back if my documentation isn't good enough.
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Aaliyah Jackson
This is happening to a lot of gig workers in 2025. For NY unemployment, you need to submit both 1099s AND proof of payments. If you don't have your 1099, you can request a transcript from the IRS by filling out Form 4506-T. For payment proof, download all those Instacart payout screens, take screenshots, and submit them together with bank statements showing the deposits. Make sure to highlight the deposits from Instacart on your statements. You have 10 business days to respond to their request, so act quickly.
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Giovanni Rossi
•Thank you! I did save the payout screens but wasn't sure if they'd accept those. Would it be better to have them printed or just send digital copies? Also, for the bank statements, do they need to see ALL my account activity or can I just highlight the Instacart deposits?
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KylieRose
i had the same thing happen last monht with uber! i ended up just sending them everything i could find - screenshots of the app, bank statements, even emails from uber about rides. they just want to see you weren't lying about working there i think
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Giovanni Rossi
•That's actually really reassuring! Did they accept your documentation without any issues? And how long did it take for them to process everything once you sent it in?
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Miguel Hernández
THEY'RE DOING THIS TO EVERYONE RIGHT NOW!!! I swear the DOL is just trying to claw back as much money as possible. They asked for my proof from TWO YEARS AGO even though they already verified it before!!! The system is rigged against workers, especially gig workers. They'll probably reject whatever you send them anyway. Sorry to be negative but I'm just so fed up with how NY treats us.
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Sasha Ivanov
•take a deep breath my friend. not everyone has a bad experience. i sent in my doordash info and they processed it in like 2 weeks no problem. just make sure u follow the instructions exactly
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Liam Murphy
Here's exactly what you need to do: 1. Contact the IRS for your 2019 tax transcript using Form 4506-T (free) or get it online through their Get Transcript service 2. Pull all your bank statements showing Instacart deposits 3. Submit screenshots of the app payment history 4. If you have any emails from Instacart about your work or payments, include those 5. Write a cover letter explaining your situation and list all documents you're submitting Don't worry too much - they're doing verification sweeps, but if you actually worked there and can show some proof, they're usually reasonable. They just need to check their boxes. Submit everything together through your NY.gov account under the document upload section.
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Amara Okafor
•I have a slightly different experience. I couldn't get my old DoorDash 1099s and tried calling unemployment for weeks. Could never get through - constant busy signals or disconnections. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE The agent actually told me exactly what docs would be acceptable alternatives and gave me extra time to gather everything. Saved me a ton of stress!
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Giovanni Rossi
Thank you everyone for the responses! I'm feeling a bit better now. I'm going to try requesting the tax transcript today and compile all my bank statements showing the deposits. I really appreciate the detailed advice. Still worried but at least I have a plan now.
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CaptainAwesome
•Make sure when you upload documents to NYSDOL that you name the files clearly like "2019_Instacart_1099.pdf" and "BankStatements_Instacart_2019.pdf" because some people have reported their documents getting lost in the system when they used generic filenames. Also take screenshots of your upload confirmation screens! Oh and bookmark the IRS transcript request page because sometimes you need to go back multiple times if their system is busy.
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Sasha Ivanov
ya the bank statements r super important. my cousin didnt have his 1099 either but he had all his bank deposits and they accepted that. just make sure u circle the instacart payments so they can see them easily
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Giovanni Rossi
•That's so helpful to know! I'll definitely highlight all the deposits. Do you know if they needed statements for the entire year or just a few months to verify?
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KylieRose
btw has anyone else noticed that instacart is TERRIBLE at responding to these requests?? i had to contact them 5 times before i got anything back!
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Miguel Hernández
•ALL these gig companies are deliberately making it hard to get documentation. They don't want us to qualify for benefits. It's part of their whole model of pretending we're not employees. That's why they fight so hard against better regulations. And NY just lets them get away with it!!!!
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Aaliyah Jackson
Quick update on something I forgot to mention: If you filed your taxes with any tax preparation service (TurboTax, H&R Block, etc.), you might be able to log in and download copies of your old 1099s directly from there. Much faster than waiting for the IRS transcript. Also, when you submit to NYSDOL, make sure you note your claim ID number on every document and the fact that this is for the employment verification request. This helps ensure your documents get to the right department.
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Giovanni Rossi
•That's brilliant! I did use TurboTax that year. Going to check right now if I can access those records. And thanks for the tip about including the claim ID - wouldn't have thought of that.
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Amara Okafor
Just for anyone else who finds this thread with similar issues - I had success using Claimyr to get through to NYSDOL. After trying for over a week with no luck, I got connected in about 25 minutes. The agent I spoke with was super helpful and actually told me they have a specific protocol for handling gig worker documentation. They said even if your documentation isn't perfect, they have ways to cross-reference with other sources. Don't panic if you don't have everything - just submit what you have with a detailed explanation.
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CaptainAwesome
•I think it's worth mentioning that sometimes the NYSDOL website indicates certain documents are required, but agents have more flexibility than the website suggests. Speaking directly with someone can really help clarify what's actually needed in your specific situation.
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Giovanni Rossi
I wanted to update everyone - I managed to find my old 1099-MISC form from TurboTax (thanks for that suggestion)! I've also compiled three months of bank statements showing regular Instacart deposits and took screenshots of all my earnings history from the app. Going to submit everything tomorrow with a detailed cover letter explaining my work history. I'm also going to try that Claimyr service to speak with an agent directly just to make sure I've covered all bases. Will let you know how it goes once I hear back from NYSDOL. Thanks again for all the help - this forum has been a lifesaver for my anxiety!
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Liam Murphy
•You're in great shape with that documentation. The TurboTax 1099 is exactly what they need most. The bank statements and app screenshots are excellent supporting evidence. Most determinations are made within 2-3 weeks once you submit everything, so try to be patient. And good idea to speak with an agent - they can note in your file that you've submitted documentation, which sometimes speeds things up.
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