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Manny Lark

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.

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

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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!

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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!

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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.

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I had to call that number once and was on hold for THREE HOURS before getting disconnected!! Their phone system is a joke seriously.

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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.

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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.

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is that service legit? seems sketchy to me

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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.

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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

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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.

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This is super helpful! I'm bookmarking this thread because I have a feeling I might need it someday. The NY system seems so confusing with all the different login methods. Quick question - did they make you wait any amount of time before you could access your account again, or were you able to log in immediately after they reset everything?

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@Paolo Conti I was able to log in immediately after they reset everything! The agent stayed on the line while I tested the temporary password they sent to my email, then walked me through setting up a new permanent password. The whole process took maybe 10 minutes once I was connected to someone who could actually help. The key was getting through to the right person - that s'where the callback service really saved me time and frustration.

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Just wanted to add another option that worked for me when I had a similar issue - if you have any old documents from when you first filed your claim (like printouts, emails, or even photos on your phone), they might have your claimant ID or other account details that could help with recovery. I found an old screenshot I took of my confirmation page and it had my claimant ID number, which the phone agent was able to use to locate my account faster. Also, if you ever received paper mail from NYSDOL, those letters usually have your account identifiers on them. Worth checking before you call so you have as much info as possible to speed up the verification process!

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That's brilliant advice! I wish I had thought to look for old documents earlier. I actually do have some old emails from when I first applied - I just didn't think they would have useful account info in them. I'll definitely keep this in mind for the future and save important account details from any government correspondence. It's crazy how many different pieces of information they might ask for during account recovery!

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I had a similar issue a few months back and what really helped me was checking my browser's saved passwords! Even though I couldn't remember my login info, my browser had actually saved it from when I first created the account. Go to your browser settings and look for "Passwords" or "Saved Passwords" - search for ny.gov or labor.ny.gov. You might be surprised what's stored there! Also, if you use Chrome, Firefox, or Safari on your phone, check those saved passwords too since sometimes we log in from different devices. It's worth a shot before going through all the phone call hassles!

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Oh wow, I never thought to check my browser's saved passwords! That's such a simple solution that I completely overlooked. I just checked and unfortunately nothing is saved there - I must have been using incognito mode or cleared my browser data at some point. But this is definitely something everyone should try first before going through all the phone call drama. It would have saved me so much stress if I had found my login info that way! Thanks for sharing this tip - I'm sure it'll help other people who are stuck in the same situation.

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Just went through something similar myself! One thing that helped me was calling early in the morning (like 8:00 AM sharp) - the wait times are much shorter then. Also, if you've ever used your unemployment account on a public computer (like at a library or workforce center), sometimes those computers have browser password managers that might still have your info saved. It's a long shot but worth checking if you remember using any public computers. The most important thing is don't panic - even if you miss one certification week, you can usually backdate it once you get back into your account. Just make sure to document all your job search activities in the meantime so you're ready when you do get access back!

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Great advice about calling early! I wish I had known that tip when I was dealing with my account issues. The part about public computers is really smart too - I never would have thought to check those. Your point about not panicking is so important because when you're stressed about missing payments, it's easy to make hasty decisions like creating duplicate accounts which just makes everything worse. Thanks for mentioning the backdating option too - that's reassuring to know that missing one week isn't the end of the world as long as you get it sorted out eventually.

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I've been reading through all these responses and they're super helpful! I'm actually dealing with a similar situation right now where I can access my NY.gov ID but it's not properly linked to my unemployment account. When I try to log in, it takes me to a page that says "no claims found" even though I know I have an active claim. Has anyone else run into this specific linking issue? I'm wondering if I should call the technical support number or if there's a way to fix the linkage online. Really don't want to sit on hold for hours if there's a simpler solution!

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I actually had that exact same "no claims found" issue! It's usually a linkage problem between your NY.gov ID and your unemployment account. Don't try to fix it online - you'll just end up in circles. Call the technical support number (800-833-3000) and specifically tell them your NY.gov ID isn't linked to your existing unemployment claim. They can see both accounts on their end and merge them properly. It took about 5 minutes once I got through to someone. If you can't get through on the phone, that Claimyr service that others mentioned worked for me too. The key is explaining that you have access to your NY.gov ID but it's not connected to your claim - that's different from a complete lockout situation.

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I just want to thank everyone who contributed to this thread - this is exactly the kind of information that should be stickied or made into a guide somewhere! The NY unemployment system is so unnecessarily complicated with all the different login methods and account linking issues. I'm saving this whole thread for future reference. A few quick tips to add based on what I've learned from dealing with government websites: 1. Always use the same browser when accessing government sites - they can be finicky with cookies and sessions 2. Never use incognito/private browsing mode for important accounts because you lose all the auto-save benefits 3. Screenshot or write down your account details immediately after creating any government account - don't rely on memory! 4. If you move, update your address with ALL your government accounts separately - they don't talk to each other The system really needs to be simplified but at least we can help each other navigate the mess. Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions!

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This is such valuable information, thank you for compiling these tips! I'm new to the NY unemployment system and honestly feeling pretty overwhelmed by all the different account requirements. Your point about using the same browser is something I never would have thought of - I usually switch between my phone and laptop depending on where I am. I'm definitely going to screenshot everything from now on after reading about all these lockout horror stories. Quick question - when you say "update your address with ALL your government accounts separately," does that include things like the IRS and Social Security too, or are you mainly talking about NY state accounts? I just want to make sure I'm covering all my bases since I recently moved and don't want to run into issues later!

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