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I'm having this same PIN issue too! Filed my claim about 3 weeks ago and never got the PIN letter in the mail. Been avoiding my weekly certification because I had no clue what that 4-digit PIN was supposed to be. This thread is so reassuring - clearly this mail delivery problem is way more common than it should be! I'm definitely going to try the 8 AM calling strategy everyone's mentioned, and I'll check my NY.gov account documents section first. It's crazy that something so important for our benefits can just vanish in the mail. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and solutions here - makes me feel way less stressed about getting this resolved!
@Nia Harris I m'literally going through the exact same thing right now! Filed about 2 weeks ago and have been panicking about this mysterious PIN for days. It s'such a relief to read through this thread and realize how common this issue is - I honestly thought I had somehow missed a crucial step or email during my application. The fact that so many people never received their PIN letters really shows there s'a major problem with their mail system. I m'planning to follow everyone s'advice here: check my NY.gov account documents section first thing tomorrow morning, then call at exactly 8 AM with all my verification info ready. It s'encouraging to see how many people have successfully gotten their PIN over the phone once they reach an agent. Thanks for adding your voice to this thread - it really helps to know we re'all dealing with the same frustrating system issues together!
I'm dealing with this exact same PIN problem! Filed my claim about 2 months ago and never received any PIN letter either. I've been putting off my weekly certification for way too long because I had no idea what this 4-digit PIN was - I actually spent hours searching through the NY.gov website thinking I missed creating one during signup. This whole thread is such a lifesaver because I was starting to think I was going crazy or had somehow messed up my entire application. It's clearly a massive systemic issue with their mail delivery system when this many people are missing their PIN letters. I'm definitely going to follow everyone's game plan: check my NY.gov account documents section first thing in the morning, then call that 1-888-209-8124 number right at 8 AM with my SSN, claimant ID, and filing date all organized and ready. It's honestly ridiculous that something so critical for our weekly benefits can just disappear into the postal void with zero backup notification system, but seeing all these success stories with the phone approach gives me real hope. Thanks so much to everyone for sharing such detailed step-by-step advice - this community support makes navigating these bureaucratic nightmares so much more manageable!
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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!
That's such a great point about the password reset emails! I never would have thought to check those for my unemployment number. And the debit card paperwork tip is really valuable too - I remember getting one of those KeyBank cards but I probably tossed all the documentation without looking at it carefully. It's amazing how many obscure places this number can be found. This entire thread has been so incredibly helpful - it's like everyone has become unemployment number detectives sharing all their discoveries! Reading through all these experiences makes me realize that NYS DOL really needs to hear about how confusing their system is for users. Maybe they don't realize how much time people are spending just trying to find basic information about their own claims. Thanks for adding even more places to search - between everyone's suggestions here, I think we've covered every possible hiding spot!
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'm so glad this thread has been helpful for you! I went through this same nightmare a few weeks ago and I know exactly how frustrating it is. One thing I'd suggest is to start with the easiest options first - definitely check that "View Claim Details" section since multiple people have confirmed finding it there labeled as "UI Number." Also, don't forget to look in your spam/junk email folder since those confirmation emails sometimes end up there. The mobile app suggestion is worth trying too since some people said the number shows up more clearly there than on the website. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to go through all this just to find our own basic account information, but you're definitely not alone in this struggle. Keep us posted on what works for you - and don't give up, it's definitely somewhere in your records!
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I'm a bit late to this conversation but wanted to share my recent experience with 1099 work while on unemployment. I started doing some freelance marketing work about 3 months ago - similar hours to what you're considering, around 18 hours per week. The reporting process was actually pretty straightforward once I got the hang of it. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here is to keep a backup copy of your weekly certifications - I take a screenshot AND print a PDF copy because I'm paranoid about technology glitches. Also, I found it helpful to set up a dedicated email address just for 1099 client communications so everything stays organized. The work has been a real confidence booster during my job search, and I've actually gotten two job interviews through connections I made with my freelance clients. My advice would be to definitely take the opportunity - just stay on top of the administrative side and you'll be fine!
@Natalia Stone Thank you for sharing your experience! It s'really reassuring to hear from someone who s'been doing exactly what I m'considering for several months now. The backup documentation idea is smart - taking both screenshots AND PDF copies seems like good insurance against any technical issues. I love the dedicated email address suggestion too - that would definitely help keep all the freelance communications separate and organized. The fact that you ve'gotten job interviews through your freelance client connections is amazing! That s'such an unexpected benefit that I hadn t'really considered. It makes me even more excited about this opportunity - not just for the income but for the potential networking possibilities. Thanks for the encouragement about taking the opportunity. Between all the advice in this thread, I m'feeling much more confident about moving forward with proper documentation and reporting practices in place.
This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually in a very similar situation - just got offered some part-time 1099 consulting work while I've been collecting unemployment for about 5 weeks. Reading through everyone's experiences has given me so much confidence about moving forward with it. I'm definitely going to set up that tracking spreadsheet that several people mentioned, and the tip about screenshotting weekly certifications is brilliant. One question I still have - has anyone dealt with clients who want to pay through platforms like PayPal or Venmo for 1099 work? I'm wondering if there are any special considerations for reporting earnings that come through those payment methods versus traditional checks or bank transfers. The client I'm considering working with prefers to pay through PayPal, and I want to make sure I handle the reporting correctly from the start. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is amazing!
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I just successfully got through this morning using a variation of the strategies shared here! Called at 8:47am (slightly later than the usual 8:00am rush everyone talks about) and got connected after 28 minutes. What worked for me was calling the main number (1-888-209-8124) and when I got the automated system, I pressed 2 for existing claims, then 4 for payment issues instead of 3. This routed me to a different department but they were able to help with my benefit calculation question anyway. The agent discovered that my previous employer had reported incorrect wage information, which was causing my weekly benefit amount to be way lower than it should be. She corrected it immediately and said I should see the adjustment in my next payment. One tip that really helped: I called from my landline instead of my cell phone like someone mentioned earlier in this thread. Not sure if that actually made a difference but I figured it was worth trying. For anyone still fighting this system - don't give up! The morning window (8:30-9:15am) seems to work just as well as the afternoon one everyone's been having success with. Just avoid that initial 8:00am rush and be patient once you're on hold.
Mason, this is really encouraging to hear about the morning window working too! I've been so focused on trying the afternoon times that everyone's been successful with, but it makes sense that there would be multiple good windows throughout the day. Your tip about pressing 4 for payment issues instead of 3 is interesting - sounds like different menu paths can still get you to helpful agents who can handle various types of problems. The landline vs cell phone thing is something I keep seeing mentioned, so there might actually be something to that in terms of connection quality or how their system processes the calls. It's great that you got your wage information corrected - seems like incorrect employer reporting is a really common issue that's causing a lot of people's benefit amounts to be wrong. I'm going to try both the morning window (around 8:45am) and the afternoon one to see which works better for my schedule. Thanks for sharing another successful strategy and giving us more options for timing our calls!
Mason, thank you for sharing the morning window success! This gives me another option since my work schedule makes it hard to call during those afternoon hours everyone's been recommending. I'm really intrigued by your experience pressing 4 for payment issues instead of 3 - it's good to know that different menu paths can still lead to helpful agents who can address multiple types of problems. The wage reporting error you discovered is something I'm definitely going to ask about when I call, since my benefit amount also seems lower than expected based on my previous salary. Your landline tip is smart too - I've been using my cell phone this whole time but maybe the connection quality really does make a difference in getting through their system. Planning to try the 8:45am window tomorrow morning using a landline and see how it goes. This thread has become such an amazing resource with all these different timing strategies and menu options. Really appreciate you adding another successful approach to help those of us still trying to crack this impossible 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!
Hi. Thank you for this amazing thread and all the support. I've been struggling to get through for 9 weeks. When I call the main number (1-888-209-8124) and press 2, it then directs me to enter my SSN and PIN without providing an option 3 to connect. Any advice on when to enter 3?
Lucas Turner
Same thing happened to me but with my car breaking down constantly. Filed anyway and got approved after they investigated. The key is showing it wasn't intentional misconduct.
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Luca Bianchi
I work in HR and can tell you that attendance issues don't automatically disqualify you from unemployment benefits. The NYS Department of Labor looks at whether the behavior was willful misconduct or due to circumstances beyond your control. Childcare emergencies can be considered compelling circumstances. Make sure to file your claim immediately and be completely honest about the situation. Keep any documentation you have about the childcare issues - texts, emails, etc. Even if your claim goes to adjudication, don't give up. Many people win their appeals when they can show the attendance problems weren't due to deliberate misconduct.
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Andrew Pinnock
•This is really helpful advice, especially coming from someone in HR! I'm definitely going to gather all those texts from my babysitter and any emails I sent to my supervisor about the childcare issues. It's reassuring to know that they actually look at the circumstances rather than just automatically denying for attendance. How long does the adjudication process typically take when they're investigating these types of cases?
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