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Cole Roush

Where to fax address proof for NY unemployment claim update?

I need to update my address on my NY unemployment claim but the website says I need to send proof of my new address. Does anyone know where I can fax these documents? The NYSDOL website is so confusing and I can't find a fax number anywhere. I tried calling but after 2 hours on hold I gave up. Should I mail it instead? How long will it take to process if I do that? My benefits are on hold until they verify my new address and I'm getting worried.

You can fax your address change documentation to the NYSDOL at (518) 457-9378. Make sure to include your full name, NY.gov ID, and the last 4 digits of your SSN on a cover sheet. Alternatively, you can mail it to: NYS Department of Labor, PO Box 15130, Albany, NY 12212-5130. Processing by mail typically takes 7-10 business days, while faxes are usually processed in 3-5 business days. Always keep a copy of whatever you send them!

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Thank you so much! I'll try faxing it tomorrow. Do you know if I need to include any specific form with the proof of address or just the documents themselves?

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u can also try ur local library they usually have fax services for like $1 per page

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The UPS Store also does faxing if you don't have a library nearby. That's what I used when I had to send my ID docs.

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I went through this last month and let me tell you - faxing is actually faster than mailing! I sent my stuff by mail first and waited TWO WEEKS with no updates. Then I faxed the same documents and my address was updated in the system within 4 days. Definitely include your claim ID number on every single page you fax in case the pages get separated. And call to confirm they received it after a day or two.

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That's really helpful to know, thank you! I'll definitely include my claim ID on every page. Did you have to call them after faxing to get them to process it, or did they just do it automatically?

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They processed it automatically after I faxed it, but I did call to confirm they received the fax. That way I knew they had it in their system and wasn't just sitting in a pile somewhere.

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Trying to call NYSDOL is absolutely POINTLESS!!! I spent THREE DAYS trying to get through to verify they received my faxed documents. Every time I called it was either busy signals or disconnections after waiting an hour+. The system is BROKEN and nobody cares about claimants struggling to update basic info!!

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I had the same frustrating experience until I tried using Claimyr (claimyr.com). It's a service that helps you reach an actual NYSDOL agent without the endless waiting. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE that shows how it works. It saved me hours of frustration when I needed to confirm my address change went through. Totally worth it since I got my issue resolved in one call instead of days of trying.

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jus want to mention - make sure ur proof of address is on the approved list. they rejected my cell phone bill but accepted my electric bill. also bank statements work. anything govt issued is best like drivers license with new address

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Oh that's good to know! I was going to use my cell phone bill. I'll use my electric bill instead. Thanks for the tip!

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When I had to update my address I actually ended up going to my local NY Career Center and they helped me fax everything right there. Might be worth checking if there's one near you if the faxing doesn't work out. The staff was surprisingly helpful and I got confirmation right away that everything was received.

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not all career centers offer this tho some are still closed or reduced services since covid, call before u go

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Update: I faxed my documents yesterday using the number provided and called today using that Claimyr service someone mentioned below. It actually worked! The agent confirmed they received my fax and said my address should be updated in the system within 3-5 business days. Thanks everyone for all your help! What a relief!

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That's great to hear! Glad you got it sorted out. Once the address is updated in their system, you should receive a confirmation letter at your new address. If your benefits were on hold, they should resume with your next certification after the address is verified.

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Pro tip: when you fax your address proof, make sure to write "ADDRESS CHANGE REQUEST" in big letters at the top of your cover sheet. I learned this the hard way when my first fax got lost in their system because they didn't know what department to route it to. Also, if you have a lease agreement or mortgage statement, those are usually processed faster than utility bills in my experience. Good luck!

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That's really smart advice about writing "ADDRESS CHANGE REQUEST" at the top! I wish I had known that before I sent mine. For anyone else reading this - definitely take note of this tip. It could save you from having to resend everything if it gets routed to the wrong department initially.

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Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble with the fax going through (sometimes their line is busy), try sending it during off-peak hours like early morning or late evening. I had to try 3 times before it went through successfully. Also, keep your fax confirmation receipt - I had to reference the transmission time when I called to confirm they received it. The whole process is frustrating but hang in there, it does get resolved eventually!

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Thanks for mentioning the off-peak hours tip! That's really practical advice. I've been dealing with similar document submission issues with other government agencies and timing definitely makes a difference. It's frustrating how these systems can be so unreliable, but it's helpful to know there are workarounds. Did you notice any particular time that worked best for you?

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I just went through this process last week and wanted to share another option that worked for me. If you have a smartphone, there are apps like CamScanner or Adobe Scan that can turn your documents into high-quality PDFs, and then you can use online fax services like HelloFax or FaxZero to send them directly from your phone. This saved me a trip to find a physical fax machine. Just make sure your documents are clear and legible before sending. Also, double-check that all pages went through - I had one page that didn't transmit properly the first time and had to resend it.

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That's a brilliant solution! I never thought about using online fax services from my phone. I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and was dreading having to find a physical fax machine. The CamScanner app idea is especially helpful since document quality seems to be really important for NYSDOL processing. Thanks for sharing this modern approach to an old-school requirement!

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For anyone still struggling with this, I found that sending your documents via certified mail with return receipt requested can actually be more reliable than faxing if you're not in a rush. Yes, it takes longer (10-14 days), but you get proof of delivery and it creates a paper trail. I did this after my fax seemed to disappear into the void, and the certified mail worked perfectly. Cost me about $7 but gave me peace of mind. Just make sure to include a cover letter with your claim details, SSN last 4 digits, and clearly state "ADDRESS CHANGE DOCUMENTATION" at the top.

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That's excellent advice about certified mail! I'm actually considering this option since I've had bad experiences with important documents getting lost in government systems before. The $7 cost seems totally worth it for the peace of mind and paper trail. Question for you - when you sent it certified mail, did you include copies of your documents or the originals? I'm always nervous about sending original documents through the mail in case they get lost.

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I just went through this exact same situation a few weeks ago and completely understand your frustration! The NYSDOL system can be so confusing. Based on my experience, I'd definitely recommend faxing over mailing - it's much faster. I used the fax number (518) 457-9378 that someone mentioned above, and my address was updated within a week. One thing I learned is to make sure you include a clear cover sheet with your full name, NY.gov ID, claim number, and write "ADDRESS CHANGE REQUEST" in large letters at the top. Also, acceptable documents include utility bills (gas/electric work best), bank statements, lease agreements, or any government-issued mail to your new address. Avoid using cell phone bills as they're often rejected. If you don't have access to a fax machine, most UPS stores, libraries, or even some pharmacies offer fax services for a small fee. Good luck and hang in there - it will get resolved!

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This is such a comprehensive summary of the whole process! I wish I had seen advice like this when I was first trying to figure out how to update my address. The tip about writing "ADDRESS CHANGE REQUEST" in large letters seems to be a game-changer based on what everyone's saying. I'm bookmarking this thread for future reference in case I need to help anyone else navigate this process. It's really reassuring to see how the community comes together to help each other deal with these bureaucratic challenges!

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Adding to what everyone has shared - I recently helped my neighbor with this exact issue and we discovered that if you're updating your address due to a recent move, NYSDOL actually prefers a combination of documents rather than just one. We sent his lease agreement AND a utility bill together, and it was processed super quickly (3 days). Also, if you're renting and don't have utilities in your name yet, a letter from your landlord on letterhead confirming your tenancy with move-in date can work as supporting documentation. Just make sure it's signed and dated. The key is being thorough with your documentation package - it prevents them from having to request additional info later which just delays everything further.

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That's really valuable advice about sending multiple documents together! I hadn't thought about combining a lease agreement with a utility bill - that makes so much sense to provide stronger proof. The tip about getting a letter from your landlord is especially helpful for people in my situation who just moved and might not have established utilities yet. It's amazing how much more smoothly these processes go when you're thorough upfront rather than having to go back and forth with additional requests. Thanks for sharing your experience helping your neighbor - it's clear this community knowledge is so much more useful than trying to navigate the confusing official website!

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Just want to echo what everyone else has said about faxing being way faster than mail! I went through this same process about 3 months ago and it was such a headache at first. What finally worked for me was using the fax number (518) 457-9378 that Scarlett mentioned, but I also made sure to send it during early morning hours (around 7-8 AM) when their system seemed less busy. One additional tip - if you're sending multiple pages, write your claim number at the bottom of EVERY single page in case they get separated. I learned this after my first attempt where only 2 out of 3 pages made it through properly. Also, keep trying the fax if it doesn't go through the first time - their line can be busy. It took me 4 attempts but once it went through, my address was updated within 5 business days. Don't give up!

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This is such helpful advice about the early morning timing and putting the claim number on every page! I'm dealing with a similar address update issue right now and was getting discouraged after my first fax attempt didn't seem to go through. Your tip about trying 4 times really gives me hope - I was ready to give up after just one failed attempt. The detail about writing the claim number at the bottom of every page is brilliant too. It's so frustrating that we have to figure out all these workarounds just to update basic information, but I'm grateful for communities like this where people share what actually works in practice versus what the official websites tell you to do.

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I've been following this thread as someone who went through address verification issues last year, and I wanted to add one more tip that saved me a lot of stress. If you're in a time crunch and worried about your benefits being delayed, you can actually update your mailing address online through NY.gov while you're waiting for the formal address change documentation to be processed. This way your correspondence (like determination letters) will still reach you at your new address even if the system hasn't fully processed your address change yet. Just log into your NY.gov account, go to "Profile Settings" and update your mailing address there. It won't lift the hold on your benefits, but at least you won't miss any important notices while waiting for the documentation review. This temporary workaround helped me avoid missing a critical appeal deadline when I was in a similar situation.

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This is such a smart workaround! I had no idea you could update your mailing address separately online while waiting for the formal documentation to process. That's definitely something that should be more widely known - missing important notices or deadlines while waiting for address verification would be a nightmare. I'm not currently dealing with this issue myself, but I'm saving this tip for future reference and will definitely share it with anyone I know who runs into similar problems. It's incredible how these little-known features can make such a huge difference when you're already stressed about benefit delays. Thanks for sharing this insider knowledge!

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