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Holly Lascelles

How do I enter my 14-digit IDNYC number into unemployment claim form requiring only 9 digits?

I need help with filing my unemployment claim using my IDNYC card. The unemployment form wants a 9-digit ID number but my IDNYC has 14 digits with spaces. My IDNYC number is 1624 012319 2155, which is clearly 14 digits including spaces. I'm not sure if I should remove the spaces and just enter all the digits, or if there's a specific 9 digits I should be using. The card has my name (WENDY, S), shows me as an organ donor, and has my birth date (03/16/1988) with an expiration date of 02/01/2021. I know the card is expired now but it's the only government ID I currently have. I live at 1628 CABRINI BOULEVARD, NEW YORK, NY 10007. When I flip the card over, there seems to be some kind of document number as well, which is adding to my confusion about which number to actually use for the unemployment claim form. My card shows my eye color as BROWN, height as 5'-09", and gender as F. Anyone dealt with this before? Should I use just part of the ID number? Remove spaces? Call some hotline? Really need to submit this today and don't want to mess it up since I urgently need these benefits.

Malia Ponder

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You need a state issued ID like a NY drivers license or non-driver ID. IDNYC is a city ID and won't work for unemployment claims. Its not considered a valid form of ID for state benefits πŸ˜•

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Holly Lascelles

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omg seriously? nowhere did it say that! what am I supposed to do now?

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Kyle Wallace

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yeah its stupid af but true. you gotta go to the DMV and get a non-driver ID. bring your birth certificate and social security card

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Holly Lascelles

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how long does that take? my claim is already delayed 😫

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Ryder Ross

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Hey I found a way to actually talk to someone at unemployment about this! Used claimyr.com - they call and wait on hold, then connect you when someone picks up. Costs $20 but totally worth it to get answers right away. Here's a video about how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

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Gianni Serpent

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sounds kinda sketch tbh... they actually helped you?

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Ryder Ross

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100% legit, they got me through in like 45 mins when I was trying for weeks πŸ’―

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Henry Delgado

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idk about paying money just to talk to unemployment... that dont seem right

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Ryder Ross

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better than waiting forever or getting denied cause you filed wrong πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ just sharing what worked for me

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Olivia Kay

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I went through something similar last year and here's what you need to know about ID requirements for NY unemployment: - IDNYC is NOT accepted for state unemployment claims - You'll need either: * NY State driver's license * NY State non-driver ID * US Passport Fastest solution is getting a non-driver ID from DMV. Bring: - Birth certificate or passport - Social security card - Proof of address (2 pieces) - $9 fee while waiting for new ID, use claimyr.com to reach an agent. They can sometimes make exceptions or give you specific guidance for your situation. Don't submit wrong ID info or your claim could get flagged for fraud!

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Holly Lascelles

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thank you so much for this detailed info! gonna head to DMV tomorrow πŸ™

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Joshua Hellan

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DMV appointment slots fill up fast rn just fyi. might wanna book online asap

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Jibriel Kohn

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lmaooo welcome to the wonderful world of NY bureaucracy 🀑

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Edison Estevez

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fr fr its like they make it hard on purpose πŸ™„

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keep all ur recipts from DMV, sometimes u can get reimbursed for ID costs when u explain its for unemployment

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I had the exact same problem with my IDNYC last month! The system won't accept it at all for unemployment claims. You definitely need a state-issued ID. Quick tip though - if you have a passport, that works too and might be faster than waiting for a DMV appointment. I ended up using my passport and it went through fine. Also check if your local DMV does walk-ins for non-driver IDs - some locations still do them on certain days even though appointments are preferred. Worth calling around to different offices. Good luck and don't stress too much, this is super common! The system should let you update your ID info once you get it sorted.

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Ravi Kapoor

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Oh wow, passport is a great idea! I totally forgot I had one. It's probably buried somewhere but definitely faster than dealing with DMV appointments. Thanks for the tip about walk-ins too - gonna call around tomorrow morning. Really appreciate everyone's help here, was starting to panic about this whole thing πŸ˜…

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Yara Haddad

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Just went through this exact situation a few weeks ago! Your IDNYC won't work unfortunately - learned that the hard way after multiple failed attempts. Here's what actually worked for me: 1. Found my old passport (even expired ones work for unemployment if it's within 1 year) 2. If no passport, the non-driver ID from DMV is your best bet 3. Some DMV locations in Brooklyn and Queens still do walk-ins for non-driver IDs on weekdays before 11am Pro tip: If you're really stuck, you can also use a certified copy of your birth certificate PLUS social security card as alternative documentation. Call the unemployment office to confirm they'll accept this combo before going that route though. Don't submit anything with the wrong ID format - it'll just delay everything and create more headaches. Better to wait a few days and do it right than deal with weeks of back-and-forth trying to fix it.

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Norman Fraser

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This is super helpful info! I didn't know expired passports could still work within a year. Mine expired about 8 months ago so that might be perfect. The birth certificate + social security card combo is also good to know as a backup option. Really appreciate you sharing what actually worked instead of just theory - makes me feel way less stressed about this whole mess!

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Sophia Clark

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Had this same issue a couple months back! The IDNYC number format is totally different from what the unemployment system expects. Even if you try to manipulate the digits, it won't work because IDNYC isn't considered valid state ID for unemployment claims. Here's what saved me time: - Check if you have ANY other valid ID first (passport, old driver's license, etc.) - If not, you can get a temporary paper ID from DMV same day at some locations while waiting for the plastic card - Bring cash for DMV fees ($9 for non-driver ID) because some locations don't take cards The good news is once you get proper ID, the unemployment system is pretty straightforward. Just don't try to force the IDNYC number - it'll flag your application and cause way more delays than just getting the right ID first. Also bookmark that claimyr service people mentioned - definitely worth it if you need to speak to someone quickly once you're ready to file with proper documentation.

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Thanks for mentioning the temporary paper ID option! I had no idea DMV could do same-day temporary IDs while you wait for the plastic one. That could be a game changer since I really need to get this claim submitted ASAP. Do you remember which locations offered this? And good point about bringing cash - definitely don't want to get there and find out they don't take cards. Really appreciate all the practical tips from everyone here!

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Zara Ahmed

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Just want to add another option that worked for my friend - if you're really in a time crunch and can't get to DMV right away, try calling the unemployment office directly and explaining your situation. Sometimes they can process your claim with alternative documentation or put a temporary hold while you get proper ID. The number is hard to get through to (hence why people use claimyr), but if you call right at 8am when they open, you might get lucky. Have your IDNYC ready along with your Social Security number and be prepared to explain that you're getting proper state ID but need to file urgently. Also double-check if you have an old school ID or any other government-issued photo ID lying around - sometimes there are exceptions for certain types of documentation that aren't obvious from the website requirements. Don't give up! This is such a common issue and there are usually workarounds once you get the right person on the phone.

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Amara Adebayo

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This is really good advice! I've been so focused on getting the ID sorted that I didn't even think about calling directly to see if they have temporary workarounds. Calling right at 8am is smart - I'll definitely try that tomorrow morning while I'm also working on the DMV situation. Having multiple options going at once feels way better than just waiting around. Thanks for thinking outside the box on this! πŸ™

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Mateo Perez

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I went through this exact same frustrating situation last year! The IDNYC format is completely incompatible with the unemployment system - don't waste time trying to make those 14 digits work in a 9-digit field. Here's what actually got me through it: **Immediate solutions:** - Check your wallet/drawers for an old passport (even expired within 1 year works) - Some DMV locations in Queens and Manhattan do walk-in non-driver IDs before noon on weekdays - Call unemployment at exactly 8:00 AM - sometimes they can process with alternative docs if you explain the urgent situation **DMV hack:** Bring your IDNYC as supporting ID along with birth certificate + social security card. The clerk told me IDNYC helps speed up the verification process even though it's not the main ID they're issuing. **Cost:** $9 for non-driver ID, bring exact cash I know it's super stressful when you need benefits ASAP, but trying to force the wrong ID format will just create a bigger mess later. Take the day to get proper documentation - your future self will thank you when your claim processes smoothly instead of getting stuck in fraud review limbo. The system sucks but there are definitely ways through it! Good luck! πŸ’ͺ

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Daniel Rogers

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This is exactly the kind of comprehensive breakdown I needed! Really appreciate you sharing the specific DMV hack about bringing IDNYC as supporting documentation - that's the kind of insider tip that makes all the difference. The timing advice about calling at exactly 8 AM is also super helpful. I'm feeling much more confident about tackling this tomorrow with multiple strategies instead of just panicking about the ID format mismatch. Thanks for taking the time to write out such detailed steps! πŸ™Œ

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Just dealt with this same nightmare situation a few months ago! Your IDNYC won't work at all for unemployment - I tried everything including removing spaces, using just certain digits, etc. Nothing worked because the system specifically requires state-issued ID. Quick reality check: Don't try to force those 14 digits into the 9-digit field. It'll just flag your application and cause massive delays. Here's what actually worked for me: - Found my old driver's license in a drawer (even expired ones from NY work sometimes) - DMV in Flushing does walk-ins for non-driver ID on Tuesdays/Thursdays before 11am - Brought birth certificate + social security card + proof of address + $9 cash If you're really desperate to file today, try calling the unemployment office right when they open at 8am and explain you're getting proper ID but need to file urgently for financial reasons. Sometimes they can put a temporary hold on your claim. Also check if you have a passport hiding somewhere - even expired ones work if it's less than a year old! The whole system is designed to be confusing but once you get the right ID it's actually pretty straightforward. Don't let this derail you - it's just one extra step and super common! πŸ™

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StarGazer101

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Thanks for confirming what everyone else is saying - definitely not going to waste time trying to force those IDNYC digits anymore! Really helpful to know about the Flushing DMV walk-in schedule for Tuesdays/Thursdays. That's way more specific than the general "some locations do walk-ins" advice. I'm definitely going to try the 8am call strategy first thing tomorrow while also planning a DMV trip as backup. It's oddly comforting to know this is such a common problem - makes me feel less like I'm the only one who didn't know about the ID requirements upfront! πŸ˜…

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Hey! I just went through this exact same headache last month and wanted to share what finally worked for me. Your IDNYC definitely won't work - I tried every combination of those digits and the system just rejects it outright. Here's my step-by-step that actually got me through: **First priority:** Check if you have a passport anywhere (mine was expired 6 months but still worked!) **If no passport:** DMV non-driver ID is your only option. Some insider tips: - Jamaica Ave DMV in Queens does walk-ins Mon/Wed/Fri before 10:30am - Bring birth certificate, social security card, 2 pieces of mail for address proof, and $9 exact cash - Your IDNYC actually helps as secondary verification even though it's not the main ID **Emergency option:** Call unemployment at exactly 8:01am (not 8:00 - everyone calls then). Explain you're getting state ID but need to file urgently. Sometimes they'll let you submit with a case worker note. I was panicking just like you but got everything sorted in 3 days. The key is having multiple plans running at once instead of putting all your eggs in one basket. Don't try to manipulate those IDNYC numbers - it'll just flag your account for fraud review and create way bigger problems! You got this! πŸ’ͺ

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Bethany Groves

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This is super helpful! I love the specific timing tip about calling at 8:01 instead of 8:00 - that's the kind of detail that could actually make the difference. The Jamaica Ave DMV walk-in schedule is also really useful since I'm in Queens. I'm definitely going to try the passport hunt first since that would be the fastest solution if I can find it. Really appreciate you laying out multiple backup plans - having options makes this feel way less overwhelming than when I thought I was stuck with just the IDNYC. Thanks for sharing your experience! πŸ™

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I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! My IDNYC has the same 14-digit format and I was so confused about which numbers to use. Reading through all these responses is honestly such a relief - I was starting to think I was missing something obvious. Quick question for everyone who got through this - did any of you have success with the birth certificate + social security card combo that someone mentioned? I don't have a passport and the DMV appointments are booked out for weeks in my area. Also super grateful for all the specific DMV location tips with walk-in hours. This community is amazing - way more helpful than the actual unemployment website! Going to start calling around to different DMV locations tomorrow morning. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. Makes this whole process feel way less impossible! πŸ™

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