NY unemployment showing $0 after ID.me verification - who should my partner contact?

Had the exact same thing happen to me in October. The ID.me mess is a nightmare. When I called they said my claim showed as "approved" but with $0 benefits. Turns out they needed additional wage verification that was never mentioned in any emails or notifications. You absolutely CAN get backpay - don't let them tell you otherwise. The trick is getting someone competent on the phone.

After fighting with NY unemployment for 2 months with zero progress, I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a live agent right away. Talking to a real person solved my $0 balance issue in one call - turned out there was a flag on my account they never bothered to tell me about. Best decision I ever made after wasting hours on hold. They have a demo video here: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

The $0 benefit amount usually means one of three things: 1) They're missing wage information 2) You need to submit additional documentation 3) There's a hold on the account they haven't told you about I'd recommend having your partner specifically ask about "monetary determination" when they call. That's what fixed it for me.

You ABSOLUTELY can get backpay. I got 5 weeks of backpay after my claim was finally processed. They're just telling you that to get you off the phone. KEEP CALLING until you get someone who knows what they're doing. It's a numbers game with these folks.

Your partner should contact both their employer AND unemployment. The employer needs to verify the job separation reason, and sometimes they don't respond quick enough which causes the $0 determination. The employer's HR department can often speed things up on their end if you explain the situation.

I recommend contacting your state representative too. My claim was stuck for months. I emailed my assembly member and they have staff who deal with unemployment issues. Had it resolved in a week after months of getting nowhere.

The ID.me verification is such a SCAM. It's caused nothing but problems for everyone I know who's had to use it. Half the time it doesn't even work properly or fails to communicate with the unemployment system.

This happened to me too! The $0 benefit amount. You need to talk to someone in the monetary determination department. Regular agents can't fix it. When you call (if you can get through), specifically ask for that department.

Have your partner check if they can see their payment history in the online portal. Sometimes the main screen shows $0 but the payment history shows the correct amounts. Also make sure they're doing the weekly certifications even with the $0 showing - that tripped me up for weeks.

Honestly the NY unemployment system is DESIGNED to be confusing and make people give up. Don't let them win. Document every call, every person you speak with, and keep pushing. The squeaky wheel gets the grease with these people.

When I had this exact issue, I used claimyr.com to get through to an agent after weeks of trying. The agent told me they needed additional documentation that was never mentioned anywhere. Got my backpay within days after that call. Sometimes you just need to talk to the right person.

The most comprehensive answer I can give you (I used to work in a related field): When you see $0 benefit amount after being "approved" it typically means one of several things: 1) Your partner's wages from the base period aren't showing up in the system 2) There's an issue with the separation reason from their employer 3) There's an identity verification flag that hasn't been fully cleared 4) They've exhausted previous benefits and need to start a new benefit year Call and specifically ask for a "monetary redetermination" and mention that you need to speak with someone about a "$0 monetary determination despite having sufficient wages." This specific language will help get you to the right department. As for backpay - YES they absolutely do provide it. It's called "backdating" in their system. If there were weeks your partner was eligible but couldn't claim due to system issues, they need to specifically request backdating for those weeks. Don't waste time with the general helpline. Either use a service like Claimyr.com to get through to an agent without the hold time, or try calling right at 8:00am when they open. The monetary determination specialists tend to be more available early in the day. Also, have ready: - Last employer's exact name and address - Last day worked - Reason for separation (using their terminology - laid off, lack of work, temporary closure, etc) - Paystubs from the last 18 months if possible Don't give up! The system is frustrating but persistent people do get their benefits sorted out eventually.

What Id me mess??? Omg are they not accepting my identification? Ive been waiting for weeks already 🤬

I was in the same position 2 weeks ago! Try logging in super early in the morning (like 5am) - the systems are less bogged down and sometimes you can see more info. My account showed a message about missing documents that wasn't visible during normal hours for some weird reason.

the state never makes it easy to get whats yours... typical ny unemployment nonsense. try twitter - seriously. i tweeted at NYSDOL and surprisingly got a DM asking for my info. worth a shot when nothing else works.

Have you tried checking if your partner has multiple accounts in the system? Sometimes when people reapply it creates a duplicate account and the benefits get stuck in limbo between them. Ask specifically about this when you call.