Lost my NY unemployment login info - how to recover account with no information?
I'm completely locked out of my NY unemployment account and can't remember ANY of my login info. Not my username, not my password, nothing! The system keeps asking for my NY.gov ID but I don't even remember setting that up. I've tried the password reset option but it asks for info I don't have. Does anyone know if there's a way to recover everything from scratch? I need to certify this week and I'm getting really stressed about missing my payment.
15 comments
Rita Jacobs
same thing happened 2 me last month...its so frustrating!! did u try clicking the 'forgot username' link on the login page? thats different from the password reset
0 coins
Manny Lark
•Yeah I tried that but it asks for my email and when I enter it, the system says "no account found with this email address" which makes no sense because that's definitely the email I used!
0 coins
Khalid Howes
The NY.gov ID system can be confusing because it's separate from your unemployment account. Here's what you need to do: 1. First, try the NY.gov ID self-service recovery at https://my.ny.gov - click on "Account Recovery" 2. If that doesn't work, you'll need to call the NYSDOL tech support line at 800-833-3000 3. Have your Social Security number, date of birth, and the address on file ready 4. They can verify your identity and help reset everything Don't wait until the last day to certify - start this process ASAP!
0 coins
Manny Lark
•Thank you! I've been trying the account recovery but it keeps asking for my NY.gov ID which is exactly what I'm trying to recover! It's like a circular problem. I'll try calling that number tomorrow morning.
0 coins
Ben Cooper
•I had to call that number once and was on hold for THREE HOURS before getting disconnected!! Their phone system is a joke seriously.
0 coins
Naila Gordon
I went through this EXACT nightmare in January!!! The NY.gov ID system is separate from your unemployment account which is WHY everything is so confusing. I ended up creating a brand new NY.gov ID and then trying to link it to my existing unemployment claim, but that created EVEN MORE problems because the system thought I was trying to commit fraud by having multiple accounts!!! I spent DAYS trying to sort it out. Calling didn't help because I could never get through. I was about to give up when someone told me about Claimyr.com which got me connected to an actual agent in about 20 minutes instead of waiting for hours. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE Once I got through to an actual person, they were able to fix everything in one call. The agent had to verify my identity with several questions, then reset my NY.gov ID, and link it properly to my unemployment account.
0 coins
Manny Lark
•Thank you so much for this info! I was just about to try creating a new account but I'm glad you warned me. I'll check out that service - at this point I'm desperate to get this fixed before I miss my certification.
0 coins
Rita Jacobs
•is that service legit? seems sketchy to me
0 coins
Cynthia Love
For technical account recovery issues, here's the complete process you should follow: 1. Try the self-service options first at https://my.ny.gov 2. If that doesn't work, you need to call the NYSDOL Technical Support at 800-833-3000 (not the regular unemployment number) 3. For account linkage issues between NY.gov ID and your unemployment account, you may need to speak with a specialized account representative 4. Important: If you were previously using the old unemployment direct login system (pre-2024), you must now use the NY.gov ID system instead 5. Have your Social Security number, date of birth, and previous address ready for verification 6. If you've moved recently, make sure to tell them your old address that might be on file Don't create multiple accounts as that will flag the system. If you've tried calling but can't get through, try early morning (7:30am) or use a service like Claimyr to bypass the hold times.
0 coins
Darren Brooks
•I heard u can also go in person to a NYS career center & they can help reset everything??? not sure if thats still a thing in 2025 tho lol
0 coins
Rosie Harper
HOLD UP. Before you do ANYTHING else - try this: check ALL your old email accounts for an email from NY.gov with your username! When I set mine up years ago, it sent a confirmation email with my username (not password). I found it in an old gmail account I barely use anymore and BOOM, at least had my username. Look for emails from noreply@ny.gov or info@labor.ny.gov. Also check your spam/junk folders!
0 coins
Manny Lark
•That's actually a really good idea! I have a couple old email accounts I should check. I'll do that right now before trying anything else. Thanks for the suggestion!
0 coins
Manny Lark
UPDATE: I finally got this resolved! Here's what worked for me in case anyone else gets stuck in the same situation: 1. I couldn't find any old emails with my account info 2. I tried calling the technical support number around 20 times and could never get through 3. I ended up using Claimyr to connect to an agent (took about 15 minutes instead of hours of redial attempts) 4. The agent was able to verify my identity with my SSN, address history, and some questions about my claim 5. They completely reset my NY.gov ID and unemployment account access 6. I received a temporary password by email and was able to create a new password The most important thing is to SAVE YOUR LOGIN INFO SOMEWHERE SECURE this time! I'm using a password manager now so this doesn't happen again. And I was able to certify on time!
0 coins
Naila Gordon
•So glad you got it fixed! Yeah, the NY.gov ID system is honestly terrible but at least you're back in. Good tip about the password manager - I started using one after my nightmare too!
0 coins
Khalid Howes
•Thanks for updating us! This is great information for others who might be in the same situation. Password managers are definitely the way to go - they can generate strong passwords you don't have to remember and store them securely.
0 coins