NY unemployment keeps asking for 'personal identification' during phone calls - what exactly do they need?

When they ask for 'personal identification' they usually mean they need to verify your identity beyond just your SSN. Typically they want a combination of: your claim ID number, the last 4 digits of your SSN, your date of birth, full name as it appears in the system, and sometimes your mailing address. They started requiring more verification points in 2025 after that big data breach. Also make sure the phone number you're calling from matches what's in your account - that can sometimes trigger additional verification requirements.

they asked me this to. its super anoying. i think they want ur drivers license number or state id number. thats what i gave them and it worked

It's definitely confusing! When they say "personal identification" they're using their internal terminology. What they're asking for is TWO forms of ID verification. They need: 1. Your SSN (which you already provided) AND 2. ONE of the following: driver's license/state ID number, your PIN that you created when you first filed, OR your NYSDOL KeyBank debit card number (if you chose that payment method) If you don't have any of those secondary forms, they can sometimes verify with your exact claim filing date and the exact amounts of your last 3 payments (if you've received any yet). I work as a benefits counselor, and this trips up almost everyone!

I WENT THROUGH THE EXACT SAME THING LAST MONTH!!! It's so frustrating because they don't tell you what they need until you've been on hold for like an hour!!! What worked for me was giving them: - Full name EXACTLY as on my application - Last 4 of SSN - Date of birth - My PIN number - My mailing address And STILL they kept asking me security questions like what bank I used for direct deposit and the exact date I filed my last claim. It's ridiculous how much verification they need now!!

I had this exact same problem and wasted hours trying to get through to them. After trying to call for 3 days straight and getting nowhere, I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an agent in under 10 minutes. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE The agent told me that "personal identification" is their code for identity verification protocol. They need to verify at least 3 different pieces of information that match your profile. For me it was my NY.gov ID, the last 4 of my SSN, and my driver's license number. Once I had all three ready, the call went super smoothly. Worth checking out if you keep getting stuck in the phone queue.

This happens because there's been so much fraud with unemployment claims. My neighbor works for NYSDOL and they told me they're required to get multiple verification points before discussing ANY account details now. It has something to do with the new identity protection regulations that went into effect in January. Just be patient with the agents - they're just following the rules they have to follow.

UPDATE: I called again this morning with all my info ready (SSN, PIN, claim ID, driver's license, address) and got through much more easily! The agent even apologized and said they should be more specific about what they mean by "personal identification" because lots of people get confused. My issue is now resolved and my payment should be processed within 3 business days. Thanks everyone for your help!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now - been trying to get through for days and getting nowhere with that vague "personal identification" request. Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like I need to have my PIN, claim ID number, driver's license number, and exact filing date all ready before I call again. It's really frustrating that they don't just tell you upfront what specific information they need instead of using confusing terminology. Thanks to everyone who shared what worked for them - this gives me hope that I can finally get my claim sorted out!

This thread is a lifesaver! I've been stuck in the same loop for over a week now. Every time I call, they ask for "personal identification" and when I give them my SSN, they say it's not enough. I had no idea they meant things like my PIN or driver's license number. The most frustrating part is that different agents seem to want different combinations of info - one wanted my claim ID and PIN, another wanted my driver's license and bank info. I'm going to try calling tomorrow with EVERYTHING ready: SSN, PIN, claim ID, driver's license number, filing date, address, and bank account info. Hopefully that covers all their bases! Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here because the official website is absolutely no help with this stuff.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Been trying to call for almost two weeks and keep getting stuck on that "personal identification" requirement. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea they meant things like PIN numbers and claim IDs when they said "personal identification." It's so frustrating that they use such vague language instead of just telling you exactly what documents or information they need upfront. I'm definitely going to try calling again tomorrow morning with everything ready: my SSN, PIN from when I first filed, claim ID number, driver's license number, exact filing date, and mailing address. Hopefully that will finally be enough to get past their verification process! Thanks to everyone who shared what worked for them - this gives me so much more confidence going into my next call attempt.

This thread has been so helpful! I'm currently dealing with the exact same "personal identification" runaround and was getting nowhere until I found this conversation. I've been calling for over a week and getting frustrated because they keep saying my SSN isn't enough but won't specify what else they need. After reading everyone's experiences, I realize I was missing key pieces like my PIN and claim ID number. It's really annoying that they use such confusing terminology instead of just saying "we need your SSN, PIN, and claim ID to verify your account." I'm going to call back tomorrow with everything ready: SSN, PIN, claim ID, driver's license number, filing date, and address. Fingers crossed this finally gets me through to someone who can help with my delayed benefits! Thanks everyone for sharing your actual experiences - this is way more useful than anything on the official NYSDOL website.