NY unemployment proof issues as a new permanent resident with limited work history

I had something similar happen when I first got here from Canada. You need to get someone on the phone to explain your situation. You cant just submit docs online, the system is dumb and doesn't understand special cases. Try calling right when they open at 8am. I spent 2 weeks calling everyday before I finally got through.

After weeks of trying to get thru to ny unemployment with no luck, I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). It got me a callback with an actual agent who fixed my proof issue in 10 minutes. Talking to an agent got my benefits flowing again within 48 hours - best decision I made during this whole nightmare. They have a video explaining how it works too: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

I'm an immigration attorney (not legal advice). For recent immigrants with limited work history, you can provide: 1) Your permanent resident card, 2) I-9 form from your employer, 3) Employment contract/offer letter, 4) Final pay stub showing year-to-date amounts, 5) Termination letter. If you have a tax ID number or filed any taxes, include those too. The key is to document BOTH your right to work AND the termination was not your fault.

The NYSDOL system is TOTALLY broken for anyone with unusual circumstances. I'm a citizen but had a similar problem when I moved back from working overseas for 3 years. They kept asking for US pay stubs from periods when I wasn't even in the country! 🤦‍♀️

You should be entitled to benefits based on the work you did perform. The system is programmed to look for longer history but exceptions exist. Ask for a supervisor when you call - regular agents often don't know how to handle these cases. Look up NY's "alternate base period" rules which might help in your situation.

Have you tried going to an actual unemployment office in person? Sometimes in-person is the only way to get these weird situations resolved. The website is so buggy, and the phone systems are a joke.

I swear the NY unemployment system was designed specifically to make people give up. If you absolutely cannot reach a person, try contacting your state representative. That's how I finally got my case unstuck after 2 months of nothing.

Here's what actually worked for me with NY unemployment when NOTHING else did: First, reach an actual human. Calling is nearly impossible now, but services like Claimyr (claimyr.com) can get you a callback from an agent. When you get a human, politely ask for your case to be escalated to a specialized agent who handles immigration/residency cases. Regular agents don't have authority or training for special cases. Second, prepare a complete document package BEFORE the call: your permanent resident card, job offer letter, ALL pay stubs (even if just 2), termination notice, bank statements showing deposits from employer, and a written timeline of your employment and immigration history. Third, if the first agent can't help, don't give up! Ask for a supervisor. If they say they'll "make a note on your account," that usually goes nowhere. Be persistent but polite. Fourth, send follow-up documentation through their message system AND by fax if possible (yes, they still use fax and it sometimes gets attention faster). Fifth, document EVERY interaction - who you spoke with, when, what they said. This will be crucial if you need to appeal. Don't take no for an answer - the system IS equipped to handle cases like yours, but it requires finding the right person who knows how.

My cousin had the EXACT same problem last year. Recent green card, short work history. He ended up having to go through an appeal process, but eventually got approved and even received backpay. Don't give up!

the whole ny unemployment process is cruel and unusual punishment at this point. 😠 been there, done that, got the trauma. sending you good vibes cuz ur gonna need em

If u can't get thru on the phone, try reaching out on Twitter. I'm not kidding - I tweeted at NYSDOL and they actually DM'd me back and helped resolve my issue. Social media complaints sometimes get faster attention than going through normal channels.

check if ur employer actually reported ur wages correctly to the state. sometimes the problem isn't documentation but that the system doesn't show ur work history properly. happened to me and took forever to sort out

I know this sounds weird but try calling your local assembly person's office. My friend works for an assemblymember and they have direct connections to unemployment office staff. They can often solve these issues with one call that would take you months.

Something similar happened to me. The online portal is useless for special cases. After trying to call for weeks, I used Claimyr.com and they got me through to an agent who fixed everything in one call. Worth every penny because I was able to explain my unique situation directly.