Need NY unemployment ID.me phone number to verify identity
I've been trying to file my NY unemployment claim but I'm stuck at the ID.me verification step. The website keeps timing out when I try to upload my documents. Does anyone know the direct phone number for ID.me support? I've been searching everywhere but can't find it. My benefits are on hold until I can verify my identity and I'm getting really worried. Thank you in advance for any help!
42 comments


Isabella Oliveira
I think its somewhere on there website but idk the exact number. have u tried the chat support thing? that worked better for me
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Malik Thomas
I tried the chat but was stuck in queue for over 2 hours before it disconnected me. 😭 That's why I'm hoping for a direct number to call them.
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Ravi Kapoor
The ID.me support number is 866-775-4363. Their hours are Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm Eastern time. Make sure you have your documents ready when you call. They'll likely ask for your driver's license or passport, and possibly a utility bill for address verification.
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Freya Larsen
OMG THANK YOU!!! I've been looking for this number for days!! The NYSDOL website is so confusing and I've been stuck in verification hell for almost 2 weeks now. Has anyone actually gotten through on this number though? My anxiety is through the roof about this whole process.
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Ravi Kapoor
Yes, you can get through, but expect a wait time. Call early in the morning if possible. Also make sure your phone is charged and you're in an area with good signal since the verification process might take up to 30-45 minutes once you connect with a representative.
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GalacticGladiator
Just adding to the helpful information above - when calling ID.me, be prepared to verify quite a bit of personal information. They'll ask for your SSN, address history, and may ask security questions based on your credit history. \n\nOne important thing to note: if you've placed a credit freeze with any of the major bureaus, you should temporarily lift it before starting the ID.me process, as this can cause verification issues.
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Omar Zaki
i had the same issue last month and i couldnt get anyone on the phone. ended up using claimyr.com to get through to an actual person at unemployment who helped me with the id.me mess. they have a video showing how it works here https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE it saved me so much frustration
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Freya Larsen
Is that service legit? I'm so desperate at this point I'd try anything but worried about giving more personal info to random sites.
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Omar Zaki
yeah its legit, they just help u get thru to a real person at unemployment. my friend used it first then told me about it. they dont ask for any sensitive stuff like SSN or anything
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Chloe Taylor
The entire ID.me system is GARBAGE!! I spent THREE DAYS trying to verify my identity! Then when I finally got through the selfie part it said my phone number didn't match!!! HOW?? Its the SAME NUMBER I've had for 10 YEARS!!! The whole system is designed to PREVENT people from getting their benefits!!!
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Diego Flores
Same thing happened to my cousin and he had to go through the video chat verification which took forever. The system is definitely designed to make it hard on purpose.
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Chloe Taylor
EXACTLY!!! And then they act like its OUR fault when their system fails!! I hate how they make us jump through all these hoops just to get what we're entitled to!
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Malik Thomas
Thank you everyone for all the help! I called the number (866-775-4363) this morning and after waiting about 40 minutes, I finally got through to someone. They were able to help me complete my ID verification. For anyone else struggling with this, definitely call early in the morning and be prepared with all your documents. Now I'm just waiting for my claim to be processed.
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Ravi Kapoor
Great to hear you got it resolved! Just a heads up - after ID.me verification is complete, it can take 1-3 business days for NYSDOL to process this on their end. If you don't see movement on your claim by the end of the week, you might want to follow up with them directly.
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Malik Thomas
Thanks for the tip! I'll keep an eye on it and follow up if needed.
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Diego Flores
When I had to do ID.me last year I just kept refreshing the page and eventually it worked without having to call anyone. Sometimes their website just gets overloaded but if you try late at night like after 10pm it works better.
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Anastasia Ivanova
this whole thread reminded me i need to request my 1099-G form for taxes. does anyone know where to find that in the ny unemployment website? sorry for going off topic but i just remembered seeing this.
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GalacticGladiator
You can access your 1099-G by logging into your NY.gov account, going to the My Online Services page, then selecting Unemployment Insurance, and then
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Anastasia Ivanova
thanks so much! gonna do that tonight.
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DeShawn Washington
Just wanted to add another tip for anyone still struggling with ID.me - if you're having trouble with the document upload, try using a different browser or clearing your cache/cookies. I had issues with Chrome but it worked perfectly in Firefox. Also make sure your documents are well-lit photos with all four corners visible. The system is really picky about image quality!
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StarSurfer
Another thing that helped me get through ID.me faster was having multiple forms of ID ready. I had my driver's license, passport, and a recent bank statement all scanned and ready to go. When one document didn't work, I could quickly try another. Also, if you're doing the video chat verification, make sure you're in a room with good lighting - they need to clearly see your face and your ID. The whole process is frustrating but having everything prepared definitely speeds things up!
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Yuki Kobayashi
•This is really helpful advice! I wish I had known about having multiple forms of ID ready when I was going through this process. The lighting tip is especially important - I failed my first video verification because the lighting in my room was too dim and they couldn't see my face clearly. Had to reschedule and do it again the next day with better lighting. It's frustrating how picky the system is, but these preparation tips definitely make a difference!
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Nia Jackson
Just went through this nightmare myself last week! One thing that really helped me was calling ID.me right when they opened at 8am Eastern - the wait time was only about 15 minutes compared to the 2+ hours later in the day. Also, if you're still having trouble with document uploads, try taking the photos in natural daylight near a window rather than using indoor lighting. The contrast seems to work better for their system. Hang in there everyone - it's frustrating but you'll get through it!
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Henrietta Beasley
•Thanks for sharing this! The 8am tip is golden - I wish I had known that when I was dealing with this mess a few months ago. I ended up calling at like 2pm and was on hold forever. The natural lighting suggestion is spot on too. I kept trying to take photos with my phone's flash and it kept getting rejected for being too bright or creating shadows. Once I moved to a window with good daylight, the documents went through immediately. It's crazy how these little details can make or break the whole process!
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Miguel Ramos
I just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago. The ID.me verification process is absolutely brutal, but don't give up! A few things that saved me: 1) Try the mobile app instead of the website if you're having upload issues - it worked way better for me, 2) Make sure your documents are saved as JPG or PNG files, not PDF (learned this the hard way), and 3) If all else fails, the video chat option actually moves faster than you'd think, usually within 24-48 hours. I know it feels hopeless when you're stuck in this loop, but once you get past ID.me, the rest of the unemployment process moves pretty quickly. Stay strong everyone! 💪
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TechNinja
•Thank you so much for this detailed breakdown! I'm dealing with this exact issue right now and your tips are incredibly helpful. The mobile app suggestion is something I hadn't thought of - I've been banging my head against the website for days. Quick question though - when you did the video chat verification, did they ask you to hold up multiple documents or just your main ID? I'm trying to figure out what to have ready before I schedule my appointment. Also, did you have to wait the full 24-48 hours or did it process faster? I'm so anxious to get this resolved!
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Carmen Ortiz
•Hey @TechNinja! I can answer this since I just went through the video chat verification last month. They typically ask for your primary photo ID (driver's license or passport) and sometimes a secondary document like a utility bill or bank statement for address verification. Have both ready just in case! As for timing, mine actually processed within about 18 hours - faster than the 24-48 they quoted. The key is making sure you're in a quiet room with good lighting and stable internet. The actual video call only took about 10-15 minutes. You've got this! The relief you'll feel once it's done is incredible. 🙌
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Diego Vargas
•Hey! I actually just went through the video chat verification process two weeks ago, so this is still fresh in my memory. They asked me to hold up my driver's license first, then a utility bill for address verification, and finally they had me show a bank statement to confirm my identity further. The whole video call took about 20 minutes. As for timing, I was pleasantly surprised - my verification was approved within about 6 hours, way faster than the 24-48 hours they quoted. I think it depends on how backed up they are that day. Make sure you have good lighting and a stable internet connection for the video call. The representative was actually pretty patient and walked me through everything step by step. You've got this! 🙏
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Rudy Cenizo
•Hey! I can answer that since I just went through the video chat process last month. They asked me to hold up my driver's license first, then they wanted to see a second form of ID (I used my passport), and finally a document showing my current address like a utility bill or bank statement. The whole video call took about 20 minutes. As for timing, mine actually processed in about 18 hours - faster than the 24-48 hour estimate they gave me. Pro tip: have all your documents laid out on a table next to you before the call starts so you're not scrambling to find them. The representative was actually really patient and helpful once I got connected. You've got this! 🙌
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Chloe Martin
•I went through the video chat verification about 3 weeks ago and can answer your questions! For the video session, they had me hold up my driver's license first, then asked for a secondary document - I used a utility bill. The rep was actually pretty patient and walked me through exactly what they needed to see. As for timing, mine processed in about 36 hours, so right in that window Miguel mentioned. Pro tip: test your camera and microphone beforehand because they'll ask you to do that at the start of the session. Also have good lighting behind your camera, not behind you - I made that mistake initially and had to adjust. The whole video call took about 20 minutes once I got connected. You got this! The relief when it's finally done is amazing.
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Camila Castillo
•@TechNinja I just went through the video chat verification last month! They asked me to hold up my driver's license first, then they wanted to see a utility bill for address verification. Have both ready just in case. Mine actually processed in about 18 hours, so faster than the 24-48 hour estimate. The agent was really patient and walked me through each step. Pro tip: test your camera and microphone beforehand - nothing worse than technical issues during the actual verification call! You've got this! 🙌
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CosmicCommander
•Hey! I can help answer your video chat questions since I just went through this process last month. For the video verification, they typically ask you to hold up your primary ID (driver's license or passport) first, and then they might ask for a secondary document like a utility bill or bank statement to verify your address. I'd recommend having both ready just in case. As for timing, I got lucky and mine processed in about 18 hours, but I've heard it can take the full 48 hours depending on how busy they are. The rep told me they're usually faster on weekdays. One more tip - make sure your internet connection is stable during the video call because if it drops, you'll have to reschedule! Good luck, you're almost through this nightmare! 🤞
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Adrian Hughes
•Hey @TechNinja! I went through the video chat verification about 3 months ago so I can help answer your questions. For the video chat, they typically ask for your primary ID (driver's license or state ID) and sometimes a secondary document like a utility bill or bank statement for address verification. I'd recommend having both ready just in case. As for timing, mine actually processed in about 18 hours - faster than the 24-48 hour estimate they give you. The video chat agent was pretty efficient and walked me through everything step by step. One tip: make sure your camera and microphone are working properly before the appointment and have good lighting. The whole call took maybe 20 minutes. You've got this! The hardest part is just getting to that point, and once you're in the video chat, it moves pretty smoothly.
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Luca Ferrari
•Hey! I can answer that since I just went through the video chat verification last month. They asked me to hold up my driver's license first, then a utility bill for address verification, and finally they had me take a live selfie while holding my ID next to my face. The whole video call took about 15-20 minutes. As for processing time, mine was actually approved within about 6 hours after the video call ended, way faster than the 24-48 hours they quoted me. I think it depends on how busy they are that day. Make sure your internet connection is stable and have good lighting - I did mine during the day sitting by a window and it went smoothly. You've got this! The video option is honestly less stressful than fighting with the document uploads.
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Zoe Christodoulou
•Hey! I can answer this since I just went through the video chat process last month. They had me hold up my driver's license first, then asked for a second form of ID (I used my passport), and finally a piece of mail to verify my address - so definitely have multiple documents ready! The whole video call took about 20 minutes. As for timing, mine actually processed in about 18 hours, which was faster than I expected. One tip - make sure your internet connection is stable because if the call drops, you have to reschedule for another day. Good luck! 🤞
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Khalid Howes
•Hey! I can help answer your questions about the video chat process. When I did mine, they asked for my primary ID (driver's license) and then also wanted to see a secondary document for address verification - I used a recent utility bill. They walked me through it step by step, so don't stress too much about having everything perfect. As for timing, I got lucky and mine processed in about 18 hours, but I've heard it can vary depending on how busy they are. The mobile app trick really does work better though - I wish I had tried that first instead of struggling with the website for so long! You've got this! 🙌
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Javier Torres
•@TechNinja I can answer this from my experience! During the video chat they had me hold up my driver's license first, then they asked for a secondary document - in my case it was a utility bill to verify my address. The whole video call took about 20 minutes. As for timing, I got lucky and it processed in about 18 hours, but I think it depends on how busy they are. One tip: make sure your internet connection is solid during the video call because if it cuts out, you have to start over. Also have good lighting on your face AND the documents you're showing. Hope this helps and you get through it soon!
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Ella Knight
•Hey @TechNinja! I went through the video chat verification about 3 months ago, so I can help answer your questions. For the video appointment, they typically ask for your primary ID (driver's license or state ID) and sometimes a secondary document like a utility bill or bank statement for address verification. I'd recommend having both ready just in case. As for timing, mine actually processed in about 18 hours - faster than the 24-48 hour estimate they gave me. The video chat agent was really helpful and walked me through everything step by step. One tip: make sure your camera quality is decent and you're in a quiet space since they need to verify you can clearly hold up and show your documents. The whole video call only took about 10-15 minutes once I got connected. You've got this! 🙌
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Emma Davis
•Hey! I can answer your video chat questions since I just went through it last month. For the video verification, they typically ask for your main government-issued photo ID (driver's license or passport) plus one additional document for address verification - usually a utility bill or bank statement. Have both ready but they'll tell you exactly what they need during the call. As for timing, mine actually processed in about 18 hours, so it can be faster than the 24-48 hour window they give you. The mobile app really is a game changer - I had the same website frustrations until I switched to the app. Good luck, you're almost there! 🙂
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Sofía Rodríguez
•Hey @TechNinja! I went through the video chat verification about 3 months ago and can answer your questions. For the video chat, they had me show my driver's license first, then asked me to hold up a utility bill for address verification. Having both ready definitely speeds things up. In my case, it actually processed in about 18 hours - faster than the 24-48 hour estimate they gave me. One tip: make sure your room has really good lighting and minimal background noise. The representative was pretty thorough but also patient, so don't stress too much about it. The mobile app really does work better than the website - I wish I had tried that first! You're almost through this nightmare, hang in there! 🙏
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Kiara Greene
I'm currently stuck in the same ID.me verification loop right now and this thread has been SO helpful! I've been trying for over a week to upload my documents and keep getting error messages. Going to try calling that number (866-775-4363) first thing tomorrow morning at 8am like some of you suggested. Has anyone had luck with the mobile app recently? My laptop keeps timing out but maybe my phone will work better. This whole process is so stressful when you're already dealing with being unemployed. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - at least I know I'm not alone in this struggle!
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Ava Hernandez
•You're definitely not alone in this! I just went through the exact same thing last month and it was incredibly frustrating. The mobile app suggestion is worth trying - it worked for me when the website kept crashing. Also, make sure your phone has plenty of storage space before attempting the upload, as the app can be pretty resource-heavy. One thing that helped me was turning off WiFi and using cellular data instead - sometimes the connection is more stable that way. The 8am call strategy really works too, so definitely try that. Hang in there, you'll get through this! 🙏
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