How do I get a unemployment account number from NYS Department of Labor?
I'm trying to file my first unemployment claim but I don't have an account number yet. The NYS Department of Labor website keeps asking for one but I've never applied before. Do I need to create a my.ny.gov account first or is there a different process? I'm really confused about where to start and don't want to mess anything up since I just lost my job last week.
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Clarissa Flair
You don't get an account number until after you file your initial claim. Start by creating a my.ny.gov account at labor.ny.gov, then file your initial application for unemployment insurance benefits. Once NYS Department of Labor processes your application (usually takes 2-3 business days), they'll assign you a claimant ID number which is what you'll use for all future weekly claims.
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Eve Freeman
•Thank you! So I should just go ahead and start the application process without worrying about having a number already?
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Caden Turner
yeah same thing happened to me when i first filed. just go to the unemployment section on my.ny.gov and start your claim. they give you the number after you submit everything
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McKenzie Shade
Make sure you have all your employment information ready before you start - previous employer details, dates of employment, reason for separation, and your last four quarters of work history. The NYS Department of Labor application is pretty thorough and you can't save a partial application, so have everything organized first.
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Harmony Love
•This is really important advice! I made the mistake of starting without all my info and had to start over three times because the system timed out.
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Rudy Cenizo
If you're having trouble getting through to file online, I had success using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get connected with an actual NYS Department of Labor agent who walked me through the process. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Way better than sitting on hold for hours trying to call the regular number.
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Eve Freeman
•Is that a legitimate service? I'm worried about giving my information to third parties.
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Rudy Cenizo
•It's just a callback service that connects you to the actual NYS Department of Labor phone system. You're still talking to real state employees, not the service itself.
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Natalie Khan
ugh the whole my.ny.gov system is such a mess. took me forever to figure out where to even start the unemployment application. why can't they just make it simple like other states??
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Clarissa Flair
Once you get your claimant ID, write it down somewhere safe! You'll need it every week when you file your weekly claim certification. Also, your first payment usually takes 2-3 weeks after your initial claim is approved, so don't panic if you don't see money right away.
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Eve Freeman
•Good to know about the delay - I was worried I'd get paid immediately and was already planning my budget around that.
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CyberSamurai
Just went through this process myself last month! @Eve Freeman, don't stress about not having an account number yet - that's totally normal for first-time filers. The key is to go directly to labor.ny.gov and look for the "File a Claim" button. You'll create your my.ny.gov login during that process. One tip: do it early in the morning (like 7-8 AM) when the system is less busy - I had way fewer glitches that way. Also keep your Social Security card and driver's license handy since you'll need to verify your identity. The whole thing took me about 45 minutes once I had all my documents ready.
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Freya Larsen
•Thanks for the detailed breakdown! That early morning tip is really helpful - I was trying to do it during lunch breaks and kept getting timeout errors. I'll definitely try first thing in the morning tomorrow. Do you remember if there were any specific documents besides Social Security card and driver's license that I should have ready?
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