How to get proof of unemployment online through NYS Department of Labor - need it ASAP

You need to look for the 'Monetary Determination' letter in your online account. Log into my.ny.gov, go to unemployment services, then look under correspondence or documents section. That letter shows your benefit amount and qualification status which most places accept as proof. You can also request a benefit verification letter through the same portal.

same issue here last week!! finally figured it out - go to payment history and print that screen, it shows all your weekly payments. worked for my apartment application

OMG this is so frustrating! I spent an hour on the phone trying to get someone from NYS Department of Labor to help me with this exact thing. They kept transferring me and then the line would go dead. Why is it so hard to get a simple piece of paper?? My case worker said I could get it online but the website is impossible to navigate.

I think you're looking in the wrong place. Try going to Online Services > Unemployment Insurance > View Benefit Payment History. From there you should see an option to generate a benefit statement or verification letter. It took me forever to find it too because the NYS Department of Labor website layout is confusing.

glad someone figured it out! the unemployment system makes everything way harder than it needs to be

For future reference, you can also call the NYS Department of Labor's automated phone system at 1-888-209-8124 and use the menu options to request documents by mail if the online system is giving you trouble. It usually takes 3-5 business days but it's an official backup option when you can't navigate the website. Also make sure to keep screenshots of your payment history as backup documentation - some landlords will accept those along with your initial determination letter.

Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble finding the verification letter option that others mentioned, sometimes clearing your browser cache or trying a different browser helps with the NYS Department of Labor website. I had issues with Chrome but Firefox worked fine. Also, if you need it super fast and the online system isn't cooperating, some local Department of Labor offices can print verification letters on the spot if you go in person with your ID - though you'd want to call first to make sure they're not swamped. The wait times can be brutal but it's another option if you're really stuck and need it by Friday.

I just went through this same process last month and wanted to share what worked for me! After struggling with the online portal, I discovered you can also get a benefit verification letter by logging into your NY.gov account, going to "Services" then "Unemployment Insurance Services" and looking for "Request Documents" or "Correspondence." The verification letter shows your current benefit status and weekly amount, which is exactly what most landlords need. If you're still having trouble finding it online, another quick option is to take screenshots of both your payment history AND your most recent weekly certification confirmation - I've had landlords accept this combination as proof of active benefits. The key is making sure the screenshots clearly show your name, benefit amount, and recent payment dates. Hope this helps and you get it sorted before Friday!

Just wanted to chime in with another option that saved me when I was in a similar time crunch! If you're still having issues with the online portal, you can also request a "Statement of Benefits" through the NYS Department of Labor's secure messaging system within your online account. Go to your unemployment dashboard and look for "Contact Us" or "Send Secure Message" - you can request the verification letter there and they usually respond within 24-48 hours with a downloadable PDF. This worked when I couldn't find the right buttons in the regular document sections. Also, make sure you specify in your message that you need it for rental application purposes - they seem to prioritize those requests. The secure messaging route gave me an official letter with the state seal that my landlord accepted without any questions. Worth trying if the other methods aren't working out!

Just dealt with this exact situation two weeks ago! If you're still struggling with the online portal, here's what finally worked for me: Log into my.ny.gov, go to Unemployment Insurance Services, then look for "Account Summary" or "Benefit Information." There should be a section that shows your current claim status and weekly benefit amount - you can usually find a "Print Summary" or "Generate Report" button there. This creates an official document that shows you're actively receiving benefits. Also, if you're really pressed for time, try calling the main UI number (888-209-8124) early in the morning around 8 AM - I got through in about 15 minutes and they were able to email me a verification letter within an hour. The key is being persistent with the phone system and having your SSN and PIN ready. Good luck getting it sorted before Friday!

I ran into this same issue a few months ago and it was such a headache! What finally worked for me was going through the mobile app instead of the website - sometimes it's easier to navigate. Download the "NY.gov Services" app and log in with your my.ny.gov credentials. The unemployment section in the app has a cleaner layout and I was able to find the "Benefit Verification Letter" option more easily there. If that doesn't work, another trick is to look for your most recent "Weekly Claim Confirmation" emails in your inbox - these often have enough detail (benefit amount, dates, confirmation numbers) that some landlords will accept them as proof, especially if you forward multiple weeks showing consistent payments. The emails usually come from noreply@labor.ny.gov so search for those. Hope this helps and you get it sorted in time!

Hey Connor! I see you already found the solution through Oliver's help, but wanted to add one more tip for anyone else reading this thread. If you ever need this documentation again in the future, bookmark the direct path: my.ny.gov > Unemployment Insurance Services > View Benefit Payment History > Print Benefit Verification. I also keep a saved PDF copy of mine on my phone since rental applications and other situations come up unexpectedly. The NYS Department of Labor website is definitely not intuitive, but once you know exactly where to click it's pretty straightforward. Glad you got it sorted out before your Friday deadline!

Pro tip for anyone still struggling with this - if you can't find the "Print Benefit Verification" button that everyone's mentioning, try logging out of your my.ny.gov account completely and logging back in. Sometimes the portal gets glitchy and doesn't load all the buttons properly. I had this exact issue last month where I could see my payment history but the verification options weren't showing up. After logging out and back in, everything appeared normally. Also, if you're using an older browser or have strict privacy settings, that can sometimes hide certain functionality on government sites. Worth trying before you spend hours on the phone!

Just went through this nightmare myself last month! One thing that worked when I got completely stuck was using the "Contact Us" form on the NYS Department of Labor website and specifically requesting they email me a benefit verification letter. I marked it as urgent for housing application and got a response with an official PDF within 6 hours. Also, if you're really pressed for time, try visiting your local Career Center - they can access your account and print official documents on the spot. I know it's frustrating when you just need one simple document! The Career Center route saved me when I had a same-day deadline for a mortgage application.

I went through this same frustrating experience a few weeks ago! What finally worked for me was calling the NYS Department of Labor right when they open at 8 AM - I got through in about 20 minutes and they walked me through finding the verification letter online. Turns out I was looking in the wrong section completely. They told me to go to my.ny.gov > Unemployment Insurance Services > Correspondence & Forms > Request Benefit Verification Letter. There's also a "quick print" option if you go to your weekly claim history and scroll to the bottom - it generates a summary that shows your active claim status and benefit amounts. The representative was super helpful and even stayed on the line while I found it. If you're still having trouble, that early morning call strategy really works! Also keep screenshots of everything just in case - some places will accept multiple forms of documentation together even if one piece isn't "official" enough on its own.

This thread is a goldmine of solutions! I just bookmarked it because I know I'll need this info again. What strikes me is how many different paths there are to get the same document - it really shows how poorly designed the NYS Department of Labor portal is when people have to share 10+ different workarounds. For anyone reading this in the future, here's my takeaway of the most reliable methods based on everyone's experiences: 1) Try the mobile app first (NY.gov Services), 2) Early morning phone calls around 8 AM to 888-209-8124, 3) Visit local Career Center for same-day printing, and 4) Use secure messaging through your online account. It's frustrating that getting basic documentation is this complicated, but at least this community has figured out all the shortcuts! Thanks everyone for sharing your solutions - this is exactly the kind of practical help people need when dealing with government bureaucracy.