How to reset mother's maiden name for NYS Department of Labor unemployment account login

You'll need to use the account recovery option on the my.ny.gov login page. There should be a link that says 'Forgot your security answers' or something similar. You'll have to verify your identity using other information like your SSN and employment history.

same thing happened to me!! i put my mom's current last name instead of her maiden name and got locked out for weeks. had to go through the whole identity verification process

If the online recovery isn't working, you might need to call the NYS Department of Labor identity verification line. I know the regular unemployment line is swamped, but there's usually a separate number for account access issues. Check the my.ny.gov help section for the specific number.

Why do they make these security questions so confusing?? Half the time people don't even know if they should use maiden name or married name. The whole system is a mess.

Pro tip for anyone setting up new accounts - write down EXACTLY what you enter for security questions and keep it somewhere safe. I learned this the hard way after getting locked out of multiple government accounts over the years.

I had the exact same issue! What worked for me was going to a local Department of Labor office in person with my ID and Social Security card. They were able to reset my security questions on the spot. I know it's a pain to take time off work, but it was faster than waiting weeks for phone support. Check the DOL website for office locations and hours - some have walk-in hours for account issues.

Another option that worked for me was using the NY.gov mobile app instead of the website. Sometimes the app has slightly different recovery options or the process works better on mobile. I was able to reset my security question through the app when the desktop site wasn't working. Worth downloading if you haven't tried it yet - it's called "NY.gov Services" in the app store.

I went through this exact same nightmare a few months ago! What finally worked for me was creating a completely new my.ny.gov account with a different email address, then linking it to my existing unemployment claim through the DOL website. You'll need your original claim confirmation number and SSN to link the accounts. It's a bit of a workaround but it saved me from weeks of waiting for account recovery. Just make sure to write down your security answers this time - I now keep mine in a password manager so I never forget again!

I had this same issue a couple months ago! The trick that finally worked for me was using the "Identity Proofing" option in the my.ny.gov account recovery process. Instead of trying to answer the security questions, look for a link that says something like "Verify Identity Another Way" or "Identity Proofing." It will ask you to upload photos of your driver's license and sometimes a selfie for verification. The whole process took about 24-48 hours for approval, but once verified, I was able to reset all my security questions. Much faster than waiting on hold for hours! Make sure your ID photos are clear and well-lit - that seems to speed up the approval process.

I went through this exact same frustration last month! One thing that helped me was clearing my browser cache and cookies completely before trying the account recovery process again. Sometimes the my.ny.gov site gets stuck with old session data. Also, try using an incognito/private browsing window when attempting recovery. I know it sounds basic, but after trying everything else, this simple step actually let me access recovery options that weren't showing up before. If you're still stuck after trying the identity proofing method others mentioned, this might be worth a shot before going the in-person route.

I just went through this exact same situation two weeks ago! After trying everything else mentioned here, what finally worked for me was using the NY.gov chat feature during off-peak hours (early morning around 7-8 AM). Most people don't know there's a live chat option buried in the help section of my.ny.gov. The wait was only about 10 minutes compared to hours on the phone, and the chat agent was able to escalate my case to someone who could reset my security questions within the same day. They sent me a secure link via email to set up new questions. The chat is usually available weekdays from 7 AM to 6 PM, but mornings definitely have shorter wait times. Worth trying before making the trip to a physical office!

I had this same problem a few months back! What saved me was finding the "My Account Settings" section after logging into ny.gov with any method that works (even if it's not your main account). Sometimes you can access account recovery tools from there that aren't visible on the main login page. Also, if you have any old emails from when you first set up unemployment, they sometimes contain hints about what information you used. I found an old confirmation email that reminded me I had used my mom's maiden name with her middle initial included, which I had completely forgotten about. Worth checking your email archives before trying the more complex solutions!