How do I change my mother's maiden name on NYS Department of Labor unemployment account?

You'll need to contact NYS Department of Labor directly to change security question information. You can't modify this through the my.ny.gov portal yourself. Call the customer service line and they can verify your identity using other methods and update your security questions. Make sure you have your Social Security number and claim confirmation number ready when you call.

ugh this happened to me too but with a different security question. took me 3 weeks to get through to someone who could actually help

I had the same exact problem last year! Getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone was impossible with their call volume. I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo showing how it works at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Basically they handle the calling and waiting for you and then patch you through when they get an agent on the line. Saved me hours of frustration and I got my security questions updated the same day.

In addition to calling, you can also try visiting a local One-Stop Career Center if you have one nearby. They sometimes have direct lines to NYS Department of Labor that can help with account issues like this. You'll need to bring photo ID and your Social Security card to verify your identity for security question changes.

Just wanted to say be careful about what maiden name you use going forward. I made the mistake of using my mom's married name instead of her actual maiden name and it caused problems later when they asked for verification documents.

I went through this exact same issue a few months ago! The phone lines are absolutely brutal - I must have tried calling 50+ times over two weeks. What finally worked for me was calling right at 8:00 AM when they open. Set multiple alarms and start dialing at exactly 8:00. I got through on my third try that morning. Have all your info ready: SSN, confirmation number, and be prepared to answer other identity verification questions like previous employers and dates. They were actually really helpful once I got someone on the line and fixed my security question within 10 minutes. Don't give up - you'll get through eventually!

I just went through this nightmare last month! The security question issue is so frustrating because you can't access anything without it. Here's what worked for me: I called the Teleclaim line (888-581-5812) instead of the main customer service number. It's specifically for filing claims but they can transfer you to someone who handles account security issues. I found this number had shorter wait times, especially if you call around 2-3 PM on weekdays. When you get through, explain that you can't file your weekly claim because of the security question error - they prioritize people who can't file. Make sure to have your Social Security number, your confirmation number from when you first applied, and info about your most recent employer ready. They'll ask you to verify your identity with other questions before they can update your mother's maiden name. The whole process took about 20 minutes once I got someone on the line. Don't waste time with the regular customer service line - go straight to Teleclaim!

I had this exact same problem a couple months ago and it was such a headache! What ended up working for me was actually going through the "Forgot Password" process on the ny.gov login page. Even though it wasn't really a password issue, when you go through that process they give you options to verify your identity in different ways that bypass the security questions. You can choose to get a verification code sent to your phone or email instead. Once I got back into my account that way, I was able to go to the security settings and update my mother's maiden name to the correct one. It's kind of a roundabout way but it saved me from having to wait on hold forever. Worth trying before you spend hours on the phone!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now and it's been so frustrating! I accidentally put my grandmother's maiden name instead of my mother's when I first set up my account, and now I'm completely locked out. Reading through all these suggestions is really helpful - I had no idea about the Teleclaim number or the "Forgot Password" workaround. I'm going to try the password reset method first since that seems like it might be quicker than waiting on hold. If that doesn't work, I'll definitely try calling the Teleclaim line at 2-3 PM like AstroExplorer suggested. It's crazy that such a simple mistake can cause so many problems, but at least it sounds like there are multiple ways to get it fixed. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this gives me hope that I'll actually be able to file my weekly claims soon!

I'm actually going through this right now too! Been locked out for 3 days because I mixed up my mom's maiden name with her middle name when I first applied. Reading all these suggestions has been super helpful - I had no idea there were so many different approaches to try. I'm going to start with @Mei Wong's password reset trick since that sounds like the fastest option, and if that doesn't work I'll try the Teleclaim number that @AstroExplorer shared. It's honestly ridiculous that one small typo can cause such a huge headache, but I'm glad to see there are actual solutions that work. Has anyone tried multiple methods at once or is it better to try them one at a time? Don't want to accidentally make things worse by confusing the system!

I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now! Made a typo in my mother's maiden name when I first applied and now I'm completely locked out of my account. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea there were so many different approaches to try. I'm planning to start with the password reset method that @Mei Wong suggested since that sounds like the quickest solution. If that doesn't work, I'll definitely try the Teleclaim number (888-581-5812) during the 2-3 PM window that @AstroExplorer recommended. It's frustrating that such a simple mistake can cause so many problems, but I'm grateful for all the detailed advice here. Has anyone had success with the One-Stop Career Center approach that @Clay blendedgen mentioned? There's one about 20 minutes from me and I'm wondering if it's worth the drive as a backup plan.

I just successfully resolved this exact same issue last week! I was locked out for 6 days due to a maiden name error and tried several approaches from this thread. The password reset method @Mei Wong suggested worked perfectly - I was able to get back into my account within 10 minutes and update my security questions immediately. The key is when you're going through the "Forgot Password" process, make sure to choose the phone verification option rather than email if given the choice - it seemed to work faster for me. Once I was back in, I went straight to the security settings and corrected my mother's maiden name. I also took screenshots of my updated security questions just in case I need them later. For anyone still struggling with this, definitely try the password reset route first before spending hours on hold. It's such a relief to finally be able to file my weekly claims again!

I'm currently dealing with this same frustrating situation! Been locked out of my account for over a week now because I accidentally entered my mother's married name instead of her maiden name when setting up my security questions. Reading through all these solutions has been incredibly helpful - there are way more options than I realized. I'm going to start with the password reset method that several people have had success with, and if that doesn't work I'll try the Teleclaim number during the 2-3 PM window. It's amazing how one small error can cause such a big headache, but at least there seem to be multiple ways to get it fixed. Has anyone had issues with the password reset method not working, or does it seem pretty reliable? I'm hoping to get this sorted out today so I don't miss another weekly claim filing!

I just went through this exact same issue two weeks ago and it was such a headache! I had entered my mom's middle name instead of her actual maiden name and got completely locked out. After reading through similar threads like this one, I tried the password reset method first and it worked like a charm. The key is to be patient during the process and definitely choose phone verification over email when given the option - it's much faster. Once I got back in, I immediately went to security settings and corrected the maiden name, then took screenshots of everything just in case. The whole process took about 15 minutes from start to finish. If the password reset doesn't work for you, I'd definitely recommend trying that Teleclaim number (888-581-5812) that others have mentioned - seems like calling between 2-3 PM gives you the best shot at getting through quickly. Don't give up, there are definitely solutions that work!

I'm going through this exact same problem right now and it's been so stressful! I accidentally typed my mother's maiden name wrong when I first set up my account (used her stepfather's last name instead of her biological father's) and now I'm completely locked out. I've been trying to call the main customer service line for three days straight with no luck - just endless busy signals or getting disconnected after hours on hold. Reading through all these solutions has been incredibly helpful though! I'm definitely going to try the password reset method that @Mei Wong and @Luca Romano had success with first thing tomorrow morning. If that doesn't work, I'll try calling that Teleclaim number (888-581-5812) during the 2-3 PM window that @AstroExplorer recommended. It's so frustrating that one small mistake can cause such a huge problem, but I'm really grateful for all the detailed advice here. This community has been a lifesaver - I was starting to panic about missing multiple weeks of claims! Will definitely update with what ends up working for me.