Can't remember PIN for NY Unemployment claim, fraud statement filed. What now?
I applied for unemployment benefits recently and the system asked for a 4-digit PIN I don't remember setting up. When I tried to change it using my mother's maiden name, that was wrong too. I ended up filing a fraud statement last week, but haven't heard back and can't continue my application. The last time I applied was back in the 70s, so everything's different now. I've been trying to reach someone on the phone, but it's impossible. What should I do next?
34 comments


Tom Maxon
I found a way to solve NY unemployment PIN reset issues, watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pb9qxasiG3E
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Ava Thompson
Ugh, classic ny unemployment nonsense. Have you tried resetting your PIN online? Sometimes there's an option for that if you can verify your identity another way.
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Dmitry Kuznetsov
•I looked everywhere on the site, but couldn't find a reset option that worked. It's like they want to make this as difficult as possible 🤦♂️
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Miguel Ramos
•Same boat here. The online system is a joke. I spent hours trying to reset my PIN and got nowhere. Feels like we're stuck in the stone age with this stuff.
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Zainab Ibrahim
I found a method to get someone on the phone. I used this site's (claimyr.com) calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, waits for a live agent to pick up, then sends the call to my phone. It does cost $20, but it works. Here's a video explaining it: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE
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StarSailor
•Sounds interesting, but $20? Is it really worth it? How long did you have to wait?
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Connor O'Brien
•Idk man, seems kinda sketchy. Has anyone else tried this?
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Zainab Ibrahim
•I get the skepticism, but it saved me hours of frustration. I waited maybe 30 minutes before I got the call back. Totally worth it for me, especially after trying to get through for weeks.
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Yara Sabbagh
•Just used it myself. Can confirm it works. Beats the hell outta listening to that hold music for hours 🎵🔇
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Keisha Johnson
Have you tried contacting your local state representative? Sometimes they can help push things through faster with unemployment issues.
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Paolo Rizzo
Bruh, the 70s? You're basically a time traveler dealing with this mess now 😂 But for real, the system is so broken. Good luck!
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Dmitry Kuznetsov
•Lol, right? I feel like I need a DeLorean just to navigate this system. Thanks for the laugh, needed that 😅
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QuantumQuest
Here's what I'd recommend based on my experience with NY unemployment: 1. Keep trying to call. Use the claimyr.com service if you're desperate. It costs $20 but can save you hours of hold time. 2. Check your email spam folder daily. Sometimes important messages end up there. 3. If you haven't already, create an NY.gov ID account. This can sometimes help with PIN issues. 4. Reach out to your state senator or assembly member. They often have staff dedicated to helping with unemployment issues. 5. If you filed a fraud statement, follow up on it every few days. Be persistent. 6. Try visiting a NYS Career Center in person if possible. They might be able to help or at least point you in the right direction. 7. Document everything. Keep a log of all your attempts to contact them, including dates and times. 8. Check the NYSDOL Twitter account for updates. They sometimes post about system issues there. Remember, persistence is key. Don't give up! The system is frustrating, but keep at it and you'll get through eventually.
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Dmitry Kuznetsov
•Wow, thank you so much for this detailed response! I'll definitely try these steps. Really appreciate you taking the time to write all this out.
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Amina Sy
•This is gold 💯 Saving this for future reference!
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Oliver Fischer
Have you tried sacrificing a goat to the unemployment gods? Might work better than their actual system 🐐🔮
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Natasha Petrova
•Lmaooo 💀 Don't give them ideas for the next 'system upgrade
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Javier Morales
I had a similar issue last month. Turns out my account was flagged for potential fraud because I hadn't claimed in so long. Had to verify my identity again. Might be worth asking about that when you finally reach someone.
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Destiny Bryant
I went through something similar a few years back. The fraud statement process can take 2-3 weeks unfortunately. In the meantime, try calling the fraud hotline directly at 1-888-598-2077 - it's a separate number from the main line and sometimes easier to get through. Also, if you have any old tax documents or W-2s from recent years, gather those up because they'll likely ask you to verify your identity with employment history. The wait is frustrating but hang in there!
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Freya Larsen
I feel your pain - NY unemployment system is notorious for these PIN issues. Since you filed the fraud statement last week, I'd recommend being patient for at least another week as they typically take 2-3 weeks to process. In the meantime, try calling early in the morning (like 8:00 AM sharp) or late in the day - sometimes the hold times are shorter. Also, if you have any old pay stubs or tax documents from recent employment, gather those up because they'll likely need them to verify your identity. The 70s reference made me chuckle - the system has definitely "evolved" but not necessarily in user-friendly ways! Keep us posted on how it goes.
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Ravi Gupta
•Thanks for the encouragement! I'm definitely gathering all my old documents - found some W-2s from 2022 that should help. You're right about the system "evolving" 😅 It's like they took something that worked and decided to make it as confusing as possible. I'll try calling at 8 AM sharp tomorrow and see if I have better luck. Really appreciate everyone's advice here!
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CosmicCruiser
I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! The PIN reset system is completely broken - I had the same issue where my security questions weren't working. What finally worked for me was going to a local One-Stop Career Center in person. They have direct access to the system and can actually reset your PIN on the spot. You'll need to bring photo ID, Social Security card, and any recent pay stubs or tax documents. It's worth the trip instead of waiting weeks for the fraud statement to process. The staff there are way more helpful than trying to navigate the phone system. Also, once you get back in, write down that PIN somewhere safe - learned that lesson the hard way! 😅
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Emily Nguyen-Smith
•This is super helpful! I had no idea the One-Stop Career Centers could reset PINs directly. That sounds way better than being stuck in phone hell or waiting weeks for the fraud statement. Do you know if they need an appointment or can you just walk in? And yeah, definitely learned my lesson about writing down important info - back in the 70s we didn't have to remember so many passwords and PINs! 😂
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Brady Clean
I'm dealing with a similar PIN issue right now! Been trying to get through to NY unemployment for weeks. The system locked me out after too many failed attempts and now I'm stuck in limbo. Reading through all these suggestions - the One-Stop Career Center idea sounds promising, and I might have to bite the bullet on that $20 calling service if I can't get through soon. It's crazy how something as simple as forgetting a 4-digit PIN can turn into such a nightmare. Has anyone tried showing up at a career center without an appointment? I'm wondering if they're busy or if you can usually get help the same day.
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Victoria Jones
•I feel your frustration! I'm actually going through something similar right now - been locked out for days after trying to reset my PIN too many times. From what I've read in this thread, it sounds like the One-Stop Career Centers might be our best bet. I'm planning to try walking into one tomorrow morning with all my documents ready. If that doesn't work, I might have to try that claimyr service too, even though paying $20 just to talk to someone feels wrong. This whole system is such a mess - it shouldn't be this hard to access benefits we're entitled to! Let me know if you end up trying the career center route, would love to hear how it goes.
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StardustSeeker
I went through this exact nightmare last year! The PIN system is absolutely broken - I was locked out for over a month. Here's what finally worked for me: I called the fraud hotline (1-888-598-2077) that someone mentioned earlier, but I also sent a written complaint to the NY Department of Labor Commissioner's office explaining my situation. Include your SSN, the dates you've been trying to access your account, and mention that you filed a fraud statement. Sometimes a formal complaint gets faster action than waiting in their system. Also, if you have any old unemployment paperwork from the 70s (I know it's a long shot!), bring copies - it might help prove your identity. The whole thing is ridiculous, but don't give up. You've got this! 💪
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Anastasia Kuznetsov
•This is really helpful advice! I never thought about writing directly to the Commissioner's office - that's a great idea. Unfortunately I don't have any paperwork from the 70s (who keeps unemployment documents for 50+ years? 😅), but I'll definitely try the formal complaint route if the career center doesn't work out. It's encouraging to hear that you eventually got through after a month - gives me hope that persistence will pay off. Thanks for sharing your experience and the encouragement!
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Aisha Mohammed
I've been dealing with NY unemployment issues for months and can definitely relate to your frustration! One thing that worked for me was calling right when they open at 8:00 AM - I actually got through after about 45 minutes on hold, which was way better than the usual hours of waiting. When you do get someone on the phone, make sure to have your SSN, the date you filed the fraud statement, and any employment history from the last 18 months ready. They'll likely need to manually reset your account rather than just the PIN. Also, keep calling back on the fraud statement - I had to follow up three times before they actually processed mine. The squeaky wheel definitely gets the grease with this system. Hang in there, it's incredibly frustrating but you'll get through eventually!
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Paolo Longo
•That's great advice about calling right at 8 AM! I've been trying random times throughout the day with no luck. 45 minutes on hold sounds like a dream compared to what I've been dealing with. I'll definitely have all my documents ready - SSN, fraud statement date, and I've been gathering up all my recent employment info just in case. It's good to know that following up multiple times on the fraud statement actually helps. Sometimes I wonder if they just hope people will give up, but your success story gives me motivation to keep pushing. Thanks for the encouragement - really needed to hear that persistence pays off! 💪
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Logan Scott
I'm going through almost the exact same situation right now! Filed for unemployment a few weeks ago and got completely locked out when I couldn't remember my PIN. The security questions weren't working either, and like you, I haven't dealt with this system since way back (early 90s for me). I also filed a fraud statement and have been waiting with no response. It's incredibly frustrating how a simple PIN issue can derail the entire process. I've been reading through all the suggestions here and I think I'm going to try the One-Stop Career Center approach first since it sounds like they can actually fix the PIN issue on the spot. If that doesn't work, I might have to try that calling service people mentioned. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through so many hoops just to access benefits we're entitled to, but at least it's reassuring to know we're not alone in this mess. Keep us posted on what ends up working for you - your experience could help others in the same boat!
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Fatima Al-Farsi
•I'm in a similar boat - forgot my PIN and got locked out of the system completely! It's crazy how something so simple can turn into such a nightmare. I've been following this thread closely and the One-Stop Career Center approach sounds like the most promising solution. The fact that they can reset PINs directly instead of going through the broken online system is huge. I'm planning to gather all my documents (ID, Social Security card, recent pay stubs) and try walking into one this week. If you end up trying it before me, definitely let us know how it goes! It would be great to have a confirmed success story before making the trip. This whole situation is so frustrating but at least we're all in it together 😅
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Ravi Malhotra
I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Got locked out after too many PIN attempts and the security questions aren't working either. It's like they designed this system to keep people OUT instead of helping them get benefits. I've been reading through all these suggestions and I'm definitely going to try the One-Stop Career Center approach - sounds way more reliable than waiting weeks for a fraud statement or spending hours on hold. Has anyone had success getting their PIN reset at a career center recently? I want to make sure it's still working before I make the trip. Also gathering all my documents just in case - ID, Social Security card, recent pay stubs. This whole situation is such a mess but at least we're not suffering alone! 😤
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Adriana Cohn
•I'm in the exact same situation! Just got locked out yesterday after multiple failed PIN attempts and I'm so frustrated. Reading through this thread has been really helpful though - sounds like the One-Stop Career Center is definitely the way to go. I called one near me and they said to bring photo ID, Social Security card, and any recent employment documents. They couldn't guarantee same-day service but said walk-ins are usually seen within a few hours. Way better than the alternative of waiting weeks or paying for calling services! I'm planning to go first thing tomorrow morning. If it works, I'll definitely update this thread - we need more success stories to give people hope! This system really is designed to frustrate people into giving up, but we can't let them win 💪
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Lilly Curtis
I'm currently going through this exact nightmare too! Been locked out for over a week after forgetting my PIN and the security questions failing. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both frustrating and reassuring - frustrating because it's clear this system is completely broken, but reassuring because I'm definitely not alone in this mess. I'm planning to try the One-Stop Career Center approach based on all the positive feedback here. Already called ahead and they confirmed they can help with PIN resets if you bring proper ID, Social Security card, and employment documents. The staff person I spoke with said walk-ins are usually seen within 2-3 hours, which beats waiting weeks for fraud statement processing or spending $20 on calling services. For anyone else in this situation - don't give up! It sounds like persistence really does pay off with this system. I'll definitely update this thread once I try the career center route. We need more success stories to help others navigate this bureaucratic maze! 🤞
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