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Talia Klein

Can't find my award letter on ny unemployment website - help!

I've been searching everywhere on the NY unemployment website for my award letter and I'm totally lost. Been unemployed since April after my company downsized our entire department without warning. Applied for benefits right away and got approved in May. I need to show proof of my unemployment income for my apartment renewal but can't figure out where to find the official award letter showing my benefit amount. I've looked through all the tabs on my online account and checked the messages section, documents area, payment history... nothing! Called the automated line but it just gives payment info, not the actual letter. My leasing office needs this by Friday or they'll charge me a late fee. Anyone know exactly where to find this document or is there a special request I need to make? This website is so frustrating to navigate.

Go to your account page, then look for the 'Monetary Determination' tab. It should be on the left side menu. Click that and you'll see all your award letters. You can download them as PDFs. If you can't find it there, check under 'Documents' or 'Correspondence' because sometimes they move things around on the site.

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Thank you! I swear I looked at every tab but I'll check again. Is it near the payment history section or somewhere completely different?

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It's in a completely different section. After you log in, don't go to the payment history area. Look for the main navigation menu and find either 'Determination' or 'Documents' - should be there.

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That section is actually called 'Monetary Benefit Determination' not just 'Determination' - that might be why ur missing it. The UI site is garbage tho so who knows 🤷‍♂️

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After spending HOURS trying to find my documents and getting nowhere, I ended up using claimyr.com to get a callback from an actual human at unemployment. Cost some $ but totally worth it to get my issue fixed in minutes instead of weeks of frustration. The agent sent my letter right to my email while on the phone! Best money I ever spent to get this resolved quickly. Check out this video to see how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

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Is this for real? I'm so tired of trying to navigate that disaster of a website and calling just to be on hold for 3 hours.

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Absolutely! I was at my wits end too. The claimyr service called for me, stayed on hold, then connected me directly when a rep picked up. Whole process took about 45 min but I didn't have to do the waiting part. The rep solved my issue immediately.

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sounds too good to be true tbh... the unemployment system is designed to be impossible to navigate 🤔

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I was skeptical too! But I had already wasted 2 weeks trying to get through on my own. The callback worked exactly as promised and the unemployment rep sent me everything I needed while on the call.

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wait does this really work? I've been trying for a month to talk to someone

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The award letter is NOT on the website anymore! At least not where it used to be. I had the same issue last month and you actually need to specifically request them to mail it to you. Go to Contact Us and submit a message asking for it. They sent mine in about a week.

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Ugh seriously?? I don't have a week, the rental office needs it by Friday! This is so frustrating. Did they give you an option to get it emailed instead of mailed?

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No email option that I found. But maybe try calling? I know thats impossible but if u get thru they might email it.

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I just went through this exact headache and found out you CANT get it online anymore. The NY unemployment system removed that function in February. You have to call and specifically request it be mailed. So annoying! My landlord ended up accepting my payment history screenshot as proof though - maybe ask if yours will too?

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There's no dedicated tab for award letters anymore on the NY unemployment portal. I spent 3 days searching too. 😭 But I found a work-around! If you go to your payment history and take screenshots showing your weekly benefit amount, most places will accept that instead. Just make sure it shows your name and claim ID at the top. That's what I did for my mortgage refinance last month.

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Thanks for the idea! I'll try that if I can't get the actual letter. Did you have to get the screenshots notarized or anything to make them official?

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Nope! Just regular screenshots. I explained the situation and they were fine with it. Most places understand how broken the unemployment system is lol

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Try checking your email inbox from when you first applied. They usually send the initial determination letter as an attachment when you first get approved. I needed mine for an apartment application too and found it in my email from 3 months ago. Subject line was something like 'Your UI Benefit Determination

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Great idea! I'll search my email now. Fingers crossed I didn't delete it...

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Literaly no one at ny unemployment knows how their own system works 🤣 I called 4 different times and got 4 completely different answers about this same issue. One agent told me to look online, one said they'd mail it, one said I needed to fax a request (WHO HAS A FAX MACHINE IN 2023???) and the last one finally just emailed it to me directly. Such a joke.

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omg this is so true!! I swear they're making it up as they go. The unemployment system feels designed to make people give up.

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Fax machine?? Were they also gonna send a carrier pigeon as backup? 😂

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RIGHT?? I was like what century are we in??? The whole system is stuck in 1995 I swear

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Here's what I did to get my award letter. Login > Go to your dashboard > Click on 'Payment History' > At the bottom of that page is a tiny link that says 'Document Request' > Select 'Monetary Determination Letter' from the dropdown > Submit. It'll get emailed to you within 1-2 business days. The link is almost impossible to see, its like they hide it on purpose!

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This is wrong. There's no Document Request link at the bottom of Payment History page. I'm literally looking at it right now.

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They must have removed it AGAIN. It was there last week when I did it!! This system is a nightmare, they keep changing it 🤦‍♀️

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I'm a former NYSDOL employee (quit last year thank god) and I can tell you they deliberately make these documents hard to find online. The system was designed in the 1980s and barely updated since. Your best bet is honestly to call, but be prepared to wait 2-3 hours minimum. Pro tip: documents are usually in a folder called 'Correspondence' which is hidden in a submenu under 'Messages' - the UI is terrible.

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I don't have a solution but just wanted to say I'M IN THE EXACT SAME SITUATION! My apartment complex needs proof too and I've been searching everywhere for this stupid letter. The whole unemployment website is like a maze designed by sadists. Following this thread hoping someone has an answer 😫

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Dealing with NY unemployment is like trying to solve a Rubik's cube blindfolded while riding a unicycle 🤡

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Lmaoooo for real! And the unicycle is on fire. And there's bees.

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And the bees are also on fire 🔥🐝

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Listen up everyone - I work in property management and deal with this exact issue all the time with tenants. **Most** landlords will accept the PAYMENT HISTORY printout instead of the formal award letter. Print your payment history showing at least 4 weeks of payments, make sure your name and claim ID are visible at the top. This works for 90% of rental verifications. If they insist on the official letter, you need to call NY unemployment directly.

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Thank you so much for this info! I'll try the payment history printout first.

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Hey OP if ur still looking - they just updated their website AGAIN in March and now award letters are under ur DOCUMENTS section, but u have to click the 3 little dots at the top right corner of the dashboard first to find that menu. It's completely unintuitive! Took me forever to find it too.

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Those 3 dots don't show up on mobile btw - you have to use a desktop computer. Yet another brilliant design choice 🙄

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The best way to get ANY document from NY unemployment is to actually talk to a human (shocking, I know). After trying for weeks to navigate their website, I finally got through to someone using claimyr.com - it's a service that waits on hold for you then calls when an agent picks up. My problem was solved in 5 minutes once I actually got to talk to someone. Their website is practically useless for anything important.

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Am I the only one who thinks the entire unemployment system is DELIBERATELY designed to be confusing so people give up trying to get benefits they're entitled to? 🙄 Every single thing from finding documents to weekly certifications seems designed to trip people up. I've been on unemployment 3 times in my career and it gets WORSE every time.

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100% this. It's not a bug, it's a feature. They make it impossible on purpose.

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Facts. The harder it is to navigate, the fewer people get benefits, the better their numbers look 🤷‍♀️

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There should be a detailed guide how to handle EVERYTHING with NY unemployment. Their website is so freaking frustrating. Good luck OP, I've been where you are and it sucks.

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I feel your pain! I went through this exact nightmare last month. Here's what finally worked for me: Log into your account, then look for "Inbox" or "Messages" - NOT the main messages section, but there's usually a smaller inbox link somewhere. My award letter was buried in there as an attachment from when I first got approved. Also try searching your email for "monetary determination" or "benefit amount" - they sometimes email copies automatically. If all else fails, I ended up calling at exactly 8:00 AM on a Tuesday and got through after about 90 minutes on hold. The rep was able to email me the letter immediately. Don't give up - you ARE entitled to that document!

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I had this same issue a few months ago and it was incredibly frustrating! What worked for me was going to the main menu after logging in and looking for "Claims" or "Claim Information" - there should be a subsection called "Determination Letters" or something similar. The exact wording keeps changing but it's usually nested under your active claim details. If you still can't find it, try clearing your browser cache and cookies first - the site is notorious for glitches. Also, make sure you're using a desktop browser, not mobile, as some features don't display properly on phones. I know it's maddening when you have a deadline, but hang in there - the document definitely exists somewhere in that maze of a website!

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This is super helpful! I'm going to try the desktop browser approach - I've been doing everything on my phone which might explain why I'm missing stuff. The clearing cache tip is great too, I never would have thought of that. Thanks for the detailed steps!

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I went through this exact same frustrating experience a few weeks ago! After hours of searching, I discovered that NY unemployment actually moved the award letters to a completely different system. You now have to go to the main login page and look for a separate link called "Document Center" or "UI Document Portal" - it's NOT in your regular account dashboard. It's like a completely separate mini-website within the unemployment system. Once you find that link and log in again with the same credentials, all your determination letters should be there as downloadable PDFs. It's such a ridiculous design choice to have documents in a totally separate portal, but that's where they're hiding them now. Hope this helps and you can get it sorted before your Friday deadline!

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This is exactly what I was looking for! I had no idea there was a separate Document Center - that explains why I couldn't find anything in my regular account. The NY unemployment system design is absolutely bonkers having documents in a completely different portal. I'm going to try this right now and hopefully get my letter before Friday. Thank you so much for sharing this, you might have just saved me from those late fees!

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OMG yes I'm dealing with this exact same nightmare right now! Been unemployed since June and need my award letter for a mortgage application. I've literally spent DAYS trying to navigate that disaster of a website. Reading through all these comments it's clear they keep moving stuff around and nobody knows where anything is anymore. The fact that we need to use third-party services just to talk to someone at our own state unemployment office is absolutely insane. I'm going to try the Document Center suggestion first, then the desktop browser approach with cache clearing. If all else fails I might have to bite the bullet and try one of those callback services people mentioned. This whole system feels designed to make us give up - which honestly might be the point. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, at least I know I'm not alone in this madness!

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I totally feel your frustration! I've been in a similar situation before and it's maddening how they make something so basic so complicated. One thing that helped me was checking my original email confirmation from when I first applied - sometimes they attach the initial determination there. Also, if you're comfortable with it, I'd recommend trying that claimyr service that others mentioned. I was skeptical at first but it really does work - they handle all the waiting on hold and connect you directly when someone picks up. For a mortgage application you definitely need the official document, so if the Document Center doesn't pan out, getting an actual human on the phone might be your best bet. Good luck with everything - you shouldn't have to jump through these hoops just to get documentation you're entitled to!

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I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Been unemployed since March and desperately need my award letter for a housing application. After reading through all these responses, it's clear that NY has made this way more complicated than it needs to be. I'm going to try the Document Center approach first since that sounds most promising, then check my original emails from when I first got approved. If those don't work, I might have to try one of those callback services people mentioned - honestly at this point I'm willing to pay someone else to deal with the phone maze if it means getting my documents faster. It's ridiculous that we have to become detectives just to access our own benefit information! Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences here - at least we know we're not going crazy and this really is as confusing as it seems.

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I'm in the same boat as everyone here! Been searching for my award letter for weeks with no luck. The NY unemployment website is seriously the worst designed government site I've ever encountered. I tried all the usual places - messages, documents, payment history - nothing! After reading through this thread I'm definitely going to try that Document Center approach that @Lourdes Fox mentioned, and also check my old emails from when I first applied. It s'absolutely crazy that we need to become IT specialists just to find basic documentation. If I can t'find it through those methods, I might have to bite the bullet and use one of those callback services too. Thanks everyone for sharing your struggles and solutions - misery loves company but at least we re'all figuring this out together! 🤦‍♀️

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I just went through this exact same headache a couple weeks ago! After trying everything mentioned here, what finally worked for me was logging in on a desktop computer (not mobile) and looking for a tiny "View All Documents" link at the very bottom of the main dashboard page. It's easy to miss because it's in super small text. Once I clicked that, it took me to a separate documents portal where all my determination letters were available as PDFs. The mobile site completely hides this link which is why so many of us miss it! Also pro tip - if your landlord is being difficult about accepting payment history printouts, most will accept a letter from the unemployment office confirming your benefits. You can request this through the "Contact Us" form and they usually email it within 24-48 hours. Way faster than waiting for the official award letter to be mailed. Hope this helps and you get it sorted before your Friday deadline! The whole system is designed to frustrate us but don't give up - you ARE entitled to that documentation! 💪

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This is incredibly helpful! I've been pulling my hair out trying to find this document and never thought to look at the very bottom of the page for that tiny link. It's like they deliberately hide these things to make our lives harder. I'm going to try the desktop approach right now and look for that "View All Documents" link. The tip about requesting a confirmation letter through Contact Us is brilliant too - having a backup option in case the award letter doesn't work out is exactly what I needed. Thanks so much for taking the time to share these detailed steps, you might have just saved my apartment application! 🙏

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I've been dealing with NY unemployment for over a year now and can confirm that finding documents on their website is like trying to find a needle in a haystack while blindfolded! Based on my experience, here are the most reliable methods that have worked: 1. **Desktop browser ONLY** - The mobile site hides tons of features 2. **Clear your cache first** - The site is super glitchy 3. **Check your original approval emails** - They often attach the determination letter there 4. **Look for "Monetary Determination" under Claims section** - Sometimes it's nested pretty deep 5. **Try the "View All Documents" link at the bottom of your dashboard** - It's in tiny text and easy to miss If none of those work, honestly your best bet is calling right at 8am when they open - I know the wait times are brutal but once you get through they can email it to you immediately. I've also heard good things about that claimyr callback service if you want to avoid the hold time. For your Friday deadline, I'd also suggest asking your leasing office if they'll accept payment history screenshots as a backup - many places will work with you since they know how terrible the unemployment system is. Good luck! 🤞

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This is such a comprehensive list, thank you! I've been struggling with this for days and your step-by-step approach gives me hope. I had no idea the mobile site hides so many features - I've been doing everything on my phone which probably explains why I keep hitting dead ends. The tip about clearing cache is something I never would have thought of. I'm definitely going to try the desktop approach first thing tomorrow morning, and if that doesn't work I'll bite the bullet and try calling at 8am sharp. It's so frustrating that we need a strategy guide just to access our own documents, but I really appreciate you taking the time to share what actually works! 🙏

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I just dealt with this exact same nightmare last week! After reading through everyone's suggestions, here's what finally worked for me: Log in on a desktop computer (super important - mobile hides everything), then look for "UI Online Services" in the main menu. From there, click on "View Claim Details" and then look for a tab called "Determinations" or "Monetary Determinations." Your award letter should be downloadable as a PDF from there. If you can't find that tab, try going to "Messages/Correspondence" and check for any emails with "Monetary" in the subject line - they sometimes bury it there too. The NY unemployment website is absolutely terrible and they seem to move stuff around constantly just to mess with us! If you're still stuck by Thursday, definitely try that claimyr callback service people mentioned - I was skeptical but it really does work and saved me hours of being on hold. Hope you get it sorted before Friday! 🤞

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