I just wanted to share my experience since I struggled with this same issue recently! One place that hasn't been mentioned yet is if you've ever used the "forgot password" feature on your ny.gov account - sometimes they send reset emails that include your unemployment number as part of the account verification process. Also, if you've received any unemployment debit cards in the mail (like KeyBank cards for NY unemployment), your claim number is often printed on the paperwork that comes with the card or on the card carrier itself. I ended up finding mine on the little paper insert that came with my debit card that I almost threw away! It's really frustrating that such basic information is so hard to locate - they definitely need to make this more user-friendly. But don't give up, everyone's suggestions here are incredibly helpful and between all these different places to check, you'll definitely find your unemployment number!

I'm dealing with this exact same frustration right now! I've been searching for my unemployment number for days and it's driving me crazy. Thank you so much to everyone who shared all these different places to look - I had no idea there were so many possible locations. I'm going to start with checking my ny.gov account under "View Claim Details" and then work through all the other suggestions like email confirmations, bank statements, and even my phone screenshots. It's honestly unbelievable that finding your own unemployment number requires this much detective work, but I'm feeling much more hopeful now that I have all these strategies to try. This community is amazing for helping each other navigate such a poorly designed system!

I've been reading through all these success stories and finally decided to try the strategies myself. Called today at 4:17pm using the main number (1-888-209-8124), pressed 2 then 3 as suggested, and incredibly got through after just 19 minutes on hold! The agent was fantastic and resolved my identity verification issue that had been holding up my claim for over a month. A few things I learned that might help others: Make sure your NY.gov account information matches EXACTLY what's on file with Social Security - even small discrepancies in how your name is entered can trigger verification holds. Also, if you moved recently, update your address through the secure messaging system BEFORE calling, as address mismatches are another common cause of delays. The agent also mentioned they've been seeing a lot of issues with people who worked multiple part-time jobs - apparently the system sometimes doesn't properly calculate benefits when you have wages from several employers. If that's your situation, have all your employer information and pay stubs ready when you call. This thread literally saved me weeks of frustration. The timing strategy absolutely works, and having everything organized beforehand made all the difference. Don't give up - persistence really does pay off with this broken system!

I've been struggling with this exact same issue for over 6 weeks now! My claim has been stuck in "under review" status and I can't get any information about what's holding it up. I've tried calling the main number dozens of times at random hours but always get stuck in that awful automated loop that eventually hangs up on me. Reading through all these success stories is giving me so much hope though! I had no idea about the specific timing windows or menu sequences that actually work. I'm definitely going to try the 4:15-5:00pm strategy tomorrow using the main number (1-888-209-8124) and press 2 then 3 like everyone's been having success with. I'll make sure to have everything ready beforehand: my PIN, SSN, all my pay stubs from last year, bank info, and a written list of specific questions about why my claim is stuck. It's absolutely ridiculous that we need to strategize like this just to reach our own state agency, but I'm so grateful this community exists to share what actually works when the official system is completely broken. Thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences and timing tips - this thread has been more valuable than months of trying to navigate the NYSDOL website on my own!

Anyone know if you can split your unemployment deposit between different accounts? I want some to go to my bank and some to PayPal.

Just wanted to give an update - my PayPal deposit came through this morning around 8:30am! So it was about 14 hours later than my usual Chime timing, but not too bad for the first payment to a new account. Thanks everyone for the reassurance and info, this thread was super helpful when I was stressing yesterday. For anyone else switching to PayPal, seems like Tuesday morning is pretty common based on what people shared here.

I went through this exact situation two years ago when I was pregnant with my daughter! The NYS Department of Labor was actually very professional about it. When I filed my claim, I just answered all the standard questions honestly - I was able to work, available for work, and actively job searching. Never had any issues with my weekly certifications. The only thing I'd add is to make sure you're being realistic about the types of jobs you're applying for given your pregnancy timeline. I focused on positions that would accommodate maternity leave or remote work options. You've got this! Pregnancy is a protected status and you absolutely deserve these benefits you've earned through your work history.

I just went through this process myself when I was 7 months pregnant and got laid off from my office job. The filing process was honestly easier than I expected - I did everything online through the NY.gov website and never had to mention my pregnancy anywhere. The most important thing is being honest about your ability to work when they ask during weekly certifications. I was actively job searching and physically able to work, so I answered yes to all the availability questions. What helped me was setting up a simple spreadsheet to track my job applications since you need to report your work search activities each week. I actually found a part-time remote position that worked perfectly with my timeline. Don't stress too much about the pregnancy aspect - the system really does protect your rights, and you've earned these benefits through your work. Focus on finding opportunities that align with your needs and timeline. You've got this!

update us if u get ur $$$ thru! dealing w/the same issue rn so would love to know what works

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago and it was a total nightmare at first. The good news is you absolutely can get your back pay from the previous claim - it doesn't just disappear when you file a new one. The bad news is the system doesn't make it easy and you'll probably need to call multiple times. What worked for me: I kept a detailed log of every unpaid week (dates, amounts, confirmation numbers if I had them) and called first thing Monday morning at 8am sharp. It took about 4 tries to get someone who actually knew how to handle retroactive certifications. When I finally got the right person, they were able to see my old claim history and process all 5 missing weeks in one call. The payments showed up over the next week. Don't give up - that money is rightfully yours and they have to pay it out eventually. Just be persistent and document everything!