How do I find my unemployment account number for NYS Department of Labor claims?
I've been trying to access my unemployment benefits information but I can't seem to locate my account number anywhere. I filed my initial claim about two weeks ago through the NYS Department of Labor website but never wrote down any confirmation numbers. Now when I try to check my claim status or file my weekly certification, some pages are asking for an account number that I don't have. I've looked through all my emails and can't find anything with a specific account number on it. Does anyone know where this number is supposed to be or how I can retrieve it? I'm worried I might miss my weekly filing deadline while trying to figure this out.
17 comments


Oliver Weber
Your unemployment account number should be on the confirmation page you got right after filing your initial claim. It's also called a confirmation number sometimes. Check your email for anything from ny.gov - they usually send a confirmation email with your account details within 24 hours of filing. If you can't find it, you can also log into your my.ny.gov account and look under the unemployment services section. Your account number should be displayed on your claim summary page.
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Amina Diop
•I checked my my.ny.gov account but I'm only seeing my claim status as 'pending' and no specific account number listed anywhere. Should it be obvious or is it buried somewhere in the details?
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Natasha Romanova
ugh same thing happened to me last month!! the nys department of labor system is so confusing. i finally found mine by going to the weekly claim filing page and it shows up there before you submit. also try looking at any letters they mailed you - mine had the account number printed on it
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Amina Diop
•I haven't received any mail yet but it's only been two weeks. I'll check the weekly claim page - thanks for the tip!
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NebulaNinja
If you're having trouble finding your account number and need to speak with someone at NYS Department of Labor directly, I had success using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) when I couldn't get through on the phone lines. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. It helped me connect with an actual agent who could look up my account information when I was stuck in a similar situation. Much easier than spending hours trying to call.
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Javier Gomez
Your account number is usually the same as your Social Security number for most NYS Department of Labor transactions, but some parts of the system use a separate confirmation number. When you log into my.ny.gov, go to unemployment services and then look for 'View Claim Details' or 'Claim Summary.' The account identifier should be listed there along with your claim effective date and weekly benefit amount.
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Emma Wilson
•Wait, is it safe to use your SSN as the account number? That seems like a security risk...
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Javier Gomez
•NYS Department of Labor uses your SSN for identification purposes in their system, but they should never ask you to enter it on public pages. Always make sure you're on the official ny.gov site when entering personal information.
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Malik Thomas
I've been dealing with unemployment claims for years and the account number situation is always confusing for new filers. Here's what to look for: 1) Check your email for anything from 'no-reply@labor.ny.gov' 2) Log into my.ny.gov and navigate to unemployment services 3) Look for any document downloads in your account - sometimes the account number is on PDF documents they generate 4) If all else fails, the weekly certification system will usually display your account info when you start the process. Don't panic about missing deadlines - you have some flexibility with weekly filings if you're having technical issues.
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CyberNinja
I had this exact same issue when I first filed! What worked for me was calling the NYS DOL customer service line early in the morning (around 8 AM) - the wait times are shorter then. When I finally got through, the representative was able to give me my account number over the phone after verifying my identity with SSN and date of birth. They also explained that sometimes the confirmation emails get caught in spam folders, so definitely check there too. The account number should be a 9-digit number that's different from your SSN. Also, don't stress too much about the weekly filing deadline - if you miss it due to technical issues, you can usually file for that week later and explain the delay.
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Lucy Lam
•This is really helpful! I didn't think to check my spam folder - I just looked and sure enough there's an email from labor.ny.gov that I missed. It has my confirmation number right at the top. Thank you so much for the tip about calling early in the morning too, I'll keep that in mind if I run into other issues. It's such a relief to know I can still file for missed weeks if needed!
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Brooklyn Knight
Adding to what others have said - if you're still having trouble locating your account number, try looking for a document called "Monetary Benefit Determination" in your my.ny.gov account. This document gets generated after your initial claim is processed and usually contains your account number along with your weekly benefit amount. Also, when you do find your account number, I'd recommend writing it down or taking a screenshot and storing it somewhere safe - you'll need it for future weekly certifications and any correspondence with NYS DOL. The system can be really frustrating to navigate when you're already stressed about unemployment, so don't feel bad about having trouble finding this info!
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Mikayla Brown
•Great advice about the Monetary Benefit Determination document! I just wanted to add that if you're still having trouble after checking all these places, you can also try looking for any text messages from NYS DOL - they sometimes send account confirmation info via SMS if you provided a mobile number during your initial filing. Also, when you do weekly certifications through the phone system (1-888-581-5812), they'll usually prompt you to enter your account number, but if you press 0 a few times you can sometimes get to speak with someone who can help you locate it. The key is being persistent - the NY unemployment system has a lot of different entry points and your account number might show up in places you wouldn't expect!
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CosmicCadet
I went through this same frustrating experience a few months ago! One thing I didn't see mentioned yet is that your account number might also be in the URL when you're logged into your unemployment account on my.ny.gov. Sometimes it appears as part of the web address when you're viewing your claim details. Also, if you filed your claim over the phone initially, check any notes you might have written down during that call - they usually give you the confirmation/account number verbally. Another tip: if you're still stuck, try using the "Forgot Account Number" link on the weekly certification page - it's not always obvious but some people have had success with that feature. The NY unemployment system is definitely not user-friendly, but once you find that number, make sure to save it in multiple places!
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Sofia Morales
•That's a great tip about checking the URL! I never would have thought to look there. I'm dealing with this same issue right now and have been going in circles trying to find my account number. I did file over the phone initially but didn't think to write anything down at the time - lesson learned for next time! I'm going to try the "Forgot Account Number" link you mentioned since I haven't seen that option yet. It's so reassuring to know I'm not the only one who's struggled with navigating this system. Thanks for sharing all these different places to look - hopefully one of them will work for me!
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Chloe Harris
I just went through this exact same frustration last week! What finally worked for me was logging into my.ny.gov and going to the "Documents" section under unemployment services - there was a PDF called "Initial Claim Acknowledgment" that had my account number right on the first page. I had completely overlooked it before because it was just listed as a generic document name. Also, if you're still having trouble, try clearing your browser cache and cookies before logging back in - sometimes the system glitches and doesn't display all your account information properly. The account number is usually formatted as UI followed by some numbers (like UI1234567). Once you find it, definitely screenshot it or write it down somewhere safe because you'll need it every week for certifications. Don't worry about the filing deadline - as long as you file within a reasonable time and explain any delays, they're usually understanding about technical difficulties with their system.
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Andre Dubois
•This is so helpful! I've been struggling with the same issue for the past few days and was getting really stressed about it. I just checked my Documents section like you suggested and found that "Initial Claim Acknowledgment" PDF - there it was right at the top! I can't believe I missed it before. The UI number format you mentioned really helped me identify it too. I'm so relieved to finally have this sorted out. Thank you for the tip about clearing browser cache as well - I'll keep that in mind if I run into other technical issues with the system. It's amazing how something so important can be hidden in such an obscure place in their system!
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