How do I get my PIN number for NYS Department of Labor unemployment benefits?

You should have received a PIN setup letter in the mail within a few days of your claim being approved. Check your mailbox carefully - sometimes it comes in a plain envelope that doesn't look official. If you didn't get it, you can call the NYS Department of Labor Tele-Cert line at 888-581-5812 to request a new one.

The PIN is mailed automatically but there have been delays lately. You can also set it up through your my.ny.gov account if you have one linked to your unemployment claim. Go to the unemployment services section and look for PIN management options.

ugh the pin thing is so confusing!! i waited forever for mine too and then when i finally got it the number was wrong or something because it wouldn't work. had to call like 50 times before someone answered

If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone, I had success using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get connected to an actual agent instead of sitting on hold forever. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling when I had PIN issues last month.

Just want to add that your PIN is different from your my.ny.gov password. The PIN is specifically for the phone certification system. Don't make the same mistake I did and spend an hour trying to use the wrong number!

I went through this same situation last month! If it's been over a week and you haven't received the PIN letter, definitely call the Tele-Cert line that Liam mentioned. When you do get through, they can verify your identity and either give you the PIN over the phone or expedite a new letter. Also, make sure to check with your post office - sometimes mail gets held up there. Don't stress too much about missing your certification deadline - as long as you're actively trying to resolve the PIN issue, you should be able to backdate your certification once you get it sorted out.

I had the exact same issue when I first applied! The PIN letter took almost 2 weeks to arrive for me. In the meantime, I recommend calling early in the morning (like 8 AM sharp) - that's when I had the best luck getting through to someone. Also, if you're really worried about missing your certification window, you can visit a local Department of Labor office in person. They can help you with the PIN setup on the spot and you won't have to wait for the mail. Just bring your ID and any documentation from your unemployment claim. The staff there were actually pretty helpful when I went.

I just went through this exact same process a few weeks ago! Here's what worked for me: First, check your spam/junk mail folder - my PIN letter ended up there for some reason. If it's really not there after 10 business days, call the Tele-Cert line at 888-581-5812 but try calling right at 8:00 AM when they open - I got through on the second ring that way. They can actually give you your PIN over the phone once they verify your identity with your SSN and claim details. Also, don't panic about missing your certification deadline - you have a grace period and can usually backdate as long as you're actively working to resolve the issue. The whole PIN system is honestly poorly explained on their website, so you're definitely not alone in being confused about it!