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Ava Thompson

How do I log into my unemployment account - NYS Department of Labor login help needed

I'm trying to access my unemployment benefits online but I'm having trouble figuring out how to log into my unemployment account. I filed my initial claim a few weeks ago and got some paperwork in the mail, but I can't seem to get into the online system to file my weekly claims. Is there a specific website I should be using? I've tried a couple different sites but keep getting error messages. Any help would be appreciated - I really need to get my weekly certification done today.

You need to go to my.ny.gov - that's the official portal for all NYS Department of Labor unemployment services. Once you're there, look for the 'Unemployment Insurance' section. You'll need your Social Security number and the PIN they mailed you after you filed your initial claim. Make sure you're using the exact PIN from your paperwork, it's case sensitive.

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Ava Thompson

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Thank you! I found the PIN in my paperwork. Do I need to create a new account or should I already have one from when I filed?

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Zainab Ali

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If you filed your claim online originally, you should already have a my.ny.gov account. If you filed by phone, you might need to register online first. The system can be confusing - I had the same problem when I first started claiming. Just make sure you're using the right login credentials.

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Connor Murphy

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This is exactly what happened to me! I filed by phone and then couldn't figure out why I couldn't log in online.

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Yara Nassar

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I had so much trouble with the NYS Department of Labor website when I was trying to access my account. The system kept timing out and I couldn't get through on the phone lines either. If you keep having issues logging in, I actually found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent who could reset my account access. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustration trying to call myself.

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StarGazer101

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Interesting, never heard of that service before. Did they charge you for it?

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Yara Nassar

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They do charge but it was worth it for me since I was about to miss my certification deadline. Much easier than spending all day redialing the NYS Department of Labor number.

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make sure ur browser cookies are cleared sometimes that messes up the login

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Also make sure you're not using Internet Explorer if you still have that - the my.ny.gov site works much better with Chrome or Firefox. I wasted so much time trying to get it to work on an older browser before I realized that was the issue. And if you're still having trouble after trying the official site, try calling early in the morning around 8 AM when the phone lines first open - you'll have a better chance of getting through to someone who can help reset your account access.

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Harper Hill

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Great advice about the browser compatibility! I'm dealing with the same login issues right now and was using an older version of Safari. Going to try Chrome and see if that helps. The 8 AM tip is really helpful too - I've been trying to call during lunch breaks but those lines are probably swamped by then.

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I just went through this same struggle last month! One thing that really helped me was making sure I had all my documents ready before trying to log in - not just the PIN but also your confirmation number from when you filed. Sometimes the system asks for additional verification. Also, if you're still getting error messages, try logging in during off-peak hours like early morning or late evening when fewer people are using the system. The my.ny.gov site can get overloaded during busy times. Don't give up - once you get in the first time, it gets much easier!

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PixelWarrior

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This is really helpful! I didn't realize they might ask for the confirmation number too. I've been trying during my lunch break around noon but that's probably peak time. Going to try early tomorrow morning with all my paperwork ready. Thanks for the encouragement - I was getting pretty frustrated with all the error messages!

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I had this exact same issue a few months ago! What worked for me was double-checking that I was using the right URL - make sure you're going directly to my.ny.gov and not one of those third-party sites that come up in search results. Also, when you enter your PIN, don't include any spaces or dashes even if that's how it appears on your paperwork. The system is really picky about formatting. If you're still having trouble after trying the official site with the correct PIN format, you might need to call the technical support line (not the regular claims line) - they have a separate number just for login issues that's usually less busy.

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Miguel Diaz

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This is exactly the kind of detailed help I needed! I think I might have been going to a wrong site - I was using some unemployment portal that looked official but probably wasn't my.ny.gov. And you're absolutely right about the PIN formatting, I was copying it exactly as written with the dashes. Going to try again with just the numbers and make sure I'm on the right URL. Do you happen to remember what the technical support number is, or should I look for it on the my.ny.gov site?

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I don't have the technical support number memorized, but you can find it on the my.ny.gov site under the "Contact Us" or "Help" section. They usually have different numbers listed for different types of issues. When I called, I think I selected the option for "website technical problems" rather than "claims questions" and got through much faster. Also wanted to add - if you're using a mobile device, sometimes the desktop version of the site works better than the mobile version for initial login setup. Good luck!

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I went through this exact same frustration a few weeks ago! One thing that really helped me was making sure I was logged out of all other NY.gov services first before trying to access the unemployment portal. Sometimes having multiple NY state accounts open at once can cause conflicts. Also, if you're getting error messages, try refreshing the page and waiting a few minutes before trying again - the system sometimes has temporary glitches that resolve themselves. And definitely save your login info once you get in successfully, because going through this process multiple times is exhausting! Hope you get it sorted out before your deadline today.

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Emma Morales

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This is such great advice about logging out of other NY.gov services first! I never would have thought of that but it makes total sense that they could conflict with each other. I've been so stressed about missing my certification deadline today, but reading through all these helpful responses is giving me hope that I can figure this out. Going to try the step-by-step approach: clear my browser, go directly to my.ny.gov, make sure I'm logged out of everything else, and use just the PIN numbers without any formatting. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's so reassuring to know I'm not the only one who struggled with this system!

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Chloe Martin

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I just want to add that if you're still having trouble after trying all the great suggestions here, don't panic about your certification deadline! You can usually file your weekly claim by phone if the online system isn't working. The automated phone system is available 24/7 at 1-888-581-5812. It's not as convenient as online, but it's a good backup option when you're pressed for time. I've had to use it a few times when the website was down for maintenance. You'll need the same information - your SSN and PIN - but at least you can get your certification done while you work on getting the online access sorted out. Just wanted to mention this since I saw you're worried about today's deadline!

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Elijah Jackson

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Thank you so much for mentioning the phone backup option! I had no idea there was a 24/7 automated line. That takes so much pressure off knowing I can still file today even if I can't get the website working. I'm definitely going to try all the online troubleshooting steps first since that seems more convenient long-term, but it's huge relief to know I have a fallback. Writing down that number now - 1-888-581-5812. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to share their experiences and solutions!

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Jamal Brown

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Just wanted to share my recent experience since I see so many helpful responses here! I had the exact same login issues last week and what finally worked was a combination of several suggestions mentioned here. First, I cleared my browser cache completely, then went directly to my.ny.gov (not through any search results), made sure I was using Chrome instead of Safari, and entered my PIN without any dashes or spaces. The key thing for me was also making sure I had both my Social Security number AND the confirmation number from my initial filing ready - the system prompted me for both during the verification process. It took me about 3 tries over 2 days, but I finally got in. One more tip - if you get a "session timeout" error, don't immediately try again. I waited about 15 minutes and then it worked perfectly. The system seems to lock you out temporarily if you make too many failed attempts in a row. Hang in there, everyone - once you're in the first time, it really does get much easier!

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