try contacting your state representative or assemblyperson! sounds crazy but they can actually help with unemployment issues. i was stuck with verification problems for months, called my assembly member's office, and they had it fixed in 2 days. they have special contacts at nysdol.

I went through this exact nightmare last month! After weeks of failed attempts, here's what finally worked for me: 1) Make sure you're using the EXACT same name format across all documents (including middle initial vs full middle name), 2) Take your selfie in natural daylight near a window - the lighting makes a huge difference, 3) If you have any old addresses associated with your credit report, ID.me might be pulling those for verification questions. I had to temporarily lift my credit freeze like someone mentioned above, and that was the key! Also try using a different device entirely - sometimes their system gets glitchy with certain browsers/phones. Don't give up, it's incredibly frustrating but there IS a solution that will work for your specific situation.

I'm in a similar situation and have been trying to call the NYS Department of Labor for weeks to ask about benefit amounts but can never get through! The phone lines are always busy and when I do get in the queue I get disconnected. Has anyone found a better way to reach them? This is so frustrating when you're trying to plan your finances.

just a heads up the weekly amounts change every year so make sure youre looking at 2025 rates not old info. also in nyc the cost of living is crazy so even the max barely covers rent but its better than nothing i guess

This might sound crazy, but try tweeting at the DOL. I did that out of frustration and surprisingly got a response pretty quickly.

I went through the exact same thing last year! The adjudication closed with radio silence for almost 2 weeks. Turns out there was a glitch in their system and my decision letter got stuck in processing. What finally worked for me was calling the technical support line instead of the regular claims line - they have a separate number for system issues. The wait was still brutal but at least I got through. Also, make sure you're checking your online account AND the separate "correspondence" section - sometimes documents show up there first before being mailed. Don't lose hope, it will get resolved eventually!

Make sure you're reporting ALL earnings when you file your weekly claim, even if it's cash work or just a few hours. NYS Department of Labor cross-references with employers and not reporting can trigger an overpayment investigation. The formula is: Weekly Benefit Rate minus (Earnings minus 25% of Weekly Benefit Rate) = Your payment amount.

Just want to add that the earnings calculation can get tricky if you have variable hours each week. I learned the hard way that you need to report earnings for the week you actually worked, not when you got paid. So if you worked Monday-Friday but got paid the following Tuesday, those earnings count for the week you worked. Also, if your part-time earnings consistently put you over the benefit amount, NYS Department of Labor might eventually close your claim assuming you're no longer unemployed. Keep track of your hours and earnings carefully!

I'm in a similar situation - my card was also mailed Monday and I'm anxiously waiting! Reading through everyone's experiences here, it sounds like 7-10 business days is the norm, though some people got theirs faster. I'm in Queens and really hoping it arrives by early next week. One thing I learned from this thread is to definitely check my mail carefully since the envelope looks plain. Also planning to set up direct deposit immediately once I get it activated so I don't have to go through this waiting game again for future payments. Fingers crossed for both of us that they arrive soon!

Just wanted to add that I had a similar experience recently - my card was mailed on a Thursday and arrived the following Tuesday, so about 5 business days total. I'm in the Bronx for reference. One thing that really helped my anxiety was knowing that even if the card is delayed, your payments are still being processed and will be available once you do get it activated. The money doesn't disappear! Also, make sure you have the NYSDOL app downloaded so you can check your payment history and see when funds are actually loaded to your account. It helped me track everything better than just the website. Hang in there - I know the waiting is stressful but it will come!