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.