Can't find "Certify to Claim Weekly Benefits" button on NY unemployment portal - UI dashboard doesn't match email instructions
I can't find where to certify for my weekly benefits. The email says to go to labor.ny.gov/signin, click unemployment services, then click 'Certify to Claim Your Weekly Benefits Here' but that button doesn't exist on my screen. When I log in, all I see is a dashboard that shows "You have no messages" and "You have 0 pending forms" at the top. There's a section that says "NYS Labor Department Forms Available for Filing include:" with buttons for "GO TO MY INBOX" and "GO TO MY ONLINE FORMS". Under "Important Information," there are several bulletins: - You may not be eligible for benefits when outside the United States - Beware of text messages email and phone scams - Beware of companies charging - Verify receipt of benefits - Work Search Requirements - Resources for Families Then there's a section called "Unemployment Insurance Services" that lists: - File a Claim - Claim Weekly Benefits - View Payment History - Direct Deposit - View/Print 1099-Gs - Change Tax Withholding But I don't see a direct "Certify to Claim Your Weekly Benefits Here" button anywhere. Instead, I see these main navigation options: - VIRTUAL CAREER CENTER - UNEMPLOYMENT SERVICES - WORK SEARCH RECORD - JOBZONE There's also text explaining that the Virtual Career Center offers "Targeted Job Searching using Eightfold's Advanced Artificial Intelligence" and "Building a Job Search Profile based on your knowledge skills, and experience to find a job that's right for you." And JobZone apparently offers tools to "Create a resume" and "Employability Scoring." Anyone else having this issue or know where the right button is? Do I need to click on "UNEMPLOYMENT SERVICES" first and then the certification option will appear? The interface doesn't match what the email instructions told me to do.
37 comments


Carmen Ruiz
The website is super confusing now after they updated it. Click on 'Unemployment Services' first, then there should be a 'Claim Weekly Benefits' option. If you dont see it, try clearing your cache and cookies or use a different browser. The site works better on Chrome tbh
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Andre Lefebvre
•this didnt work for me either... the whole site is broken rn 🤮
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Carmen Ruiz
•try logging out completely and logging back in. worked for me after doing that
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Zoe Alexopoulos
I had the same problem but found a solution. I used claimyr.com to get through to an agent who helped fix my account access. It costs $20 but totally worth it since I couldn't certify for weeks. Here's a video about how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE
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Jamal Anderson
•sounds sketchy... ur sure its legit? 🤔
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Zoe Alexopoulos
•100% legit, they just call and wait on hold for you. saved me hours of trying to get through
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Mei Wong
•can confirm it works, used it last month when my account was locked
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QuantumQuasar
DETAILED SOLUTION: Let me help you navigate this. Here's what you need to do: 1. Make sure you're using a desktop/laptop (mobile can be glitchy) 2. Clear your browser cache 3. Log in at labor.ny.gov 4. Click 'Unemployment Services' 5. Look for 'Claim Weekly Benefits' not the exact wording from email If still no luck, you might have a technical issue with your account. In that case, you'll need to speak with an agent. I recommend using claimyr.com - they'll get you through to someone quickly. The system is frustrating but hope this helps! 💯
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Liam McGuire
•this is exactly what worked for me ty!!
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Amara Eze
•saving this for later, super helpful
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Giovanni Greco
lmao ny unemployment website is a joke fr fr 🤡 been trying to certify for 3 weeks now
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Fatima Al-Farsi
•fr its like they dont want us to get paid smh
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Dylan Wright
Try calling them early morning like 7:30am. Sometimes the website glitches but phone certification still works
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Sofia Torres
•phone lines are always busy tho...
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Dylan Wright
•use claimyr.com if u cant get thru, worked for me
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GalacticGuardian
anyone else notice how the website looks totally different from what the emails describe? like they never updated their email templates or something
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Dmitry Smirnov
•YES! driving me crazy. wish theyd get their act together
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Keisha Johnson
I'm having the exact same issue! The email instructions are completely outdated. What worked for me was clicking on "UNEMPLOYMENT SERVICES" from the main menu, then scrolling down to find "Claim Weekly Benefits" - it's not the prominent button the email describes but it's buried in there. Also make sure you're using Chrome or Firefox, the site seems to have issues with Safari. If you still can't find it after clicking Unemployment Services, try refreshing the page a few times. The NY DOL really needs to update their email templates to match the actual website layout!
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Ben Cooper
•@f90c33271baf Thanks for the detailed explanation! I just tried your method and it worked. The "Claim Weekly Benefits" link was indeed buried under the Unemployment Services section - not at all like the email described. It's so frustrating that they haven't updated their instructions to match the actual website layout. Really appreciate you taking the time to write out the step-by-step process!
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Jamal Wilson
I had this exact problem last week! The email instructions are completely wrong now. Here's what actually worked for me: 1. Log into labor.ny.gov 2. Click on "UNEMPLOYMENT SERVICES" (not the other options) 3. Look for "Claim Weekly Benefits" - it's NOT a big button like the email says, it's just a regular link in the list 4. Make sure you're using Chrome or Edge - I had issues with other browsers The whole interface got redesigned but they never updated the email instructions. Super annoying but once you know where to look it's pretty straightforward. Hope this helps!
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Fatima Al-Mansour
•@6b519d0a2948 This is exactly what I needed! I was getting so frustrated trying to follow those outdated email instructions. Just tried your steps and found the "Claim Weekly Benefits" link right where you said it would be under Unemployment Services. You're absolutely right that it's just a regular text link, not the big prominent button the email describes. Thanks for saving me from pulling my hair out over this! 🙏
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Emma Taylor
I ran into this same frustrating issue a few months ago! The NY DOL website redesign really messed things up and their email instructions are totally outdated. Here's what finally worked for me: 1. Go to labor.ny.gov and sign in 2. Click "UNEMPLOYMENT SERVICES" from the main dashboard 3. Scroll down and look for "Claim Weekly Benefits" - it's just a plain text link, NOT the big button the email mentions 4. If you don't see it right away, try refreshing the page or clearing your browser cache 5. Use Chrome or Firefox - I had weird display issues with Safari The key thing is ignoring the email instructions completely since they don't match the current website at all. Once you find that "Claim Weekly Benefits" link under Unemployment Services, you should be able to certify normally. It's buried in there but it definitely exists! Really hope NY DOL updates those misleading emails soon because this is confusing so many people. Good luck!
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Andre Dupont
•@c88ce36ae9de Thank you so much for the detailed walkthrough! I just followed your steps and finally found the "Claim Weekly Benefits" link buried under the Unemployment Services section. You're absolutely right that the email instructions are completely useless now - I wasted so much time looking for that non-existent big button they keep mentioning. It's ridiculous that NY DOL hasn't bothered to update their email templates after redesigning the whole website. Your step-by-step guide should be pinned at the top of this thread because I bet tons of people are having this same issue. Really appreciate you taking the time to help fellow New Yorkers navigate this mess! 🙏
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Paolo Romano
I'm dealing with this exact same problem right now! The disconnect between the email instructions and the actual website is so frustrating. I've been clicking around for 20 minutes trying to find this mythical "Certify to Claim Your Weekly Benefits Here" button that simply doesn't exist. Based on what everyone is saying here, it sounds like I need to click on "UNEMPLOYMENT SERVICES" first and then look for "Claim Weekly Benefits" as a regular link instead of the big button described in the email. Going to try that approach now. It's honestly mind-boggling that NY DOL redesigned their entire website but never bothered to update the email templates that thousands of people rely on every week. This is causing unnecessary stress for people who are already dealing with unemployment. Thanks to everyone who shared the actual working steps - this thread is way more helpful than the official instructions!
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Ryan Kim
•@2fc7063621dc I feel your frustration completely! Just went through this same runaround last week and it's absolutely maddening how disconnected the email instructions are from reality. You're on the right track though - definitely click "UNEMPLOYMENT SERVICES" first and then look for that plain text "Claim Weekly Benefits" link. It took me forever to find it because I kept looking for the big prominent button the email promised. One tip that helped me: after clicking Unemployment Services, if you don't immediately see the "Claim Weekly Benefits" option, try scrolling down a bit or refreshing the page. Sometimes it takes a second to load all the links properly. Also make sure you're using Chrome or Firefox - I had display issues with other browsers. It's seriously ridiculous that they can redesign an entire website but can't be bothered to update a simple email template. You'd think someone at NY DOL would have noticed this massive disconnect by now! Hope you get it sorted out quickly 🤞
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Mateo Gonzalez
I just went through this exact same nightmare last week! The email instructions are completely useless now - that "Certify to Claim Your Weekly Benefits Here" button they mention literally doesn't exist anymore. Here's what actually works: 1. Log into labor.ny.gov 2. Click "UNEMPLOYMENT SERVICES" (ignore everything else on the dashboard) 3. Scroll down and look for "Claim Weekly Benefits" - it's just a plain text link buried in the list, NOT the big prominent button the email describes 4. Use Chrome if possible - other browsers seem glitchy with the new site The whole thing is so poorly designed. They completely redesigned the website but couldn't be bothered to update their email templates that literally millions of New Yorkers depend on every week. I wasted hours clicking around looking for that non-existent button before figuring this out. Pro tip: if you still can't find the "Claim Weekly Benefits" link after clicking Unemployment Services, try refreshing the page or clearing your cache. Sometimes it doesn't load properly on the first try. Hope this saves you some of the frustration I went through!
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Freya Ross
•@b4d0d26267bb Thank you for sharing this! I'm completely new to the NY unemployment system and was getting so confused by those email instructions. I kept refreshing the page thinking something was wrong on my end, but it sounds like this is just how the site works now. Really appreciate you breaking down the actual steps - going to bookmark this thread because I have a feeling I'll need to reference it again. It's pretty shocking that they can't keep their emails updated with the actual website layout!
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William Schwarz
I'm having the exact same issue and it's driving me crazy! The email instructions are completely outdated - there's no "Certify to Claim Your Weekly Benefits Here" button anywhere on the site. I've been searching for over an hour thinking I was missing something obvious. Based on all the helpful responses here, it sounds like the solution is: 1. Click "UNEMPLOYMENT SERVICES" from the main dashboard 2. Look for "Claim Weekly Benefits" as a regular text link (not the big button the email describes) 3. Use Chrome or Firefox for better compatibility It's really frustrating that NY DOL redesigned their entire website but never bothered to update the email instructions that thousands of people rely on every week. This thread has been way more helpful than any official documentation! Thanks everyone for sharing the actual working steps - you're saving people a lot of unnecessary stress and confusion. Going to try the Unemployment Services route now and hopefully finally get my certification done!
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Payton Black
•@1594b71af970 You're absolutely right about how frustrating this is! I just went through the same experience last month as a newcomer to the NY unemployment system. The disconnect between the email instructions and the actual website is shocking - it's like they're describing a completely different site! I ended up calling my friend who had used the system before and they walked me through the real steps. Definitely click "UNEMPLOYMENT SERVICES" first and then look for that plain text "Claim Weekly Benefits" link. It's so buried and not at all obvious like the email makes it sound. Hope you get it sorted quickly and don't have to waste as much time as I did searching for that mythical button! 🤞
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Daniela Rossi
I'm experiencing the exact same issue right now! Just got my weekly email reminder and spent 30 minutes looking for that "Certify to Claim Your Weekly Benefits Here" button that apparently doesn't exist. The email instructions are totally misleading and don't match the actual website at all. From reading all these responses, it's clear I need to: 1. Click on "UNEMPLOYMENT SERVICES" from the main menu 2. Look for "Claim Weekly Benefits" as a regular text link (not the prominent button described in emails) 3. Make sure I'm using Chrome for best results It's honestly unbelievable that NY DOL can redesign their entire website but can't update a simple email template that millions of New Yorkers depend on every week. This is causing so much unnecessary confusion and stress for people who are already dealing with unemployment challenges. Thanks to everyone who shared the real steps - this community thread is infinitely more helpful than the official "instructions" we keep getting via email! About to try the Unemployment Services approach now.
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Marcelle Drum
•@96e72a217e0e I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm brand new to the NY unemployment system and was getting incredibly frustrated trying to follow those email instructions. I spent almost an hour clicking around looking for that mysterious "Certify to Claim Your Weekly Benefits Here" button before realizing it just doesn't exist. It's reassuring to know I'm not the only one dealing with this - the disconnect between the emails and the actual website is absolutely ridiculous. I'm about to try the "UNEMPLOYMENT SERVICES" approach that everyone's recommending. Really appreciate all the detailed explanations from folks who figured this out - you're literally saving people hours of confusion! 🙏
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Ian Armstrong
I'm going through this exact same frustrating experience right now! Just tried to certify this morning and spent forever looking for that "Certify to Claim Your Weekly Benefits Here" button mentioned in the email - it's nowhere to be found on the actual website. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful though. Sounds like the real process is: 1. Click "UNEMPLOYMENT SERVICES" from the main dashboard 2. Look for "Claim Weekly Benefits" as a plain text link (not the big button the email describes) 3. Use Chrome or Firefox for best compatibility It's absolutely mind-boggling that NY DOL can completely redesign their website but can't be bothered to update the email templates that thousands of people rely on every week. The disconnect between their instructions and reality is causing so much unnecessary stress for people already dealing with unemployment. This community thread has been 100x more helpful than any official documentation. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share the actual working steps - you're saving fellow New Yorkers hours of confusion and frustration! About to try the Unemployment Services route now 🤞
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Kayla Jacobson
•@819d43898689 I'm so relieved to find this thread! Just started dealing with NY unemployment and was losing my mind trying to find that button from the email. I literally thought there was something wrong with my account or browser since I couldn't find the "Certify to Claim Your Weekly Benefits Here" button anywhere. It's crazy that so many people are having this exact same issue - you'd think NY DOL would have noticed by now that their email instructions don't match their website at all! Going to try clicking "UNEMPLOYMENT SERVICES" like everyone suggests. Thanks for confirming I'm not going insane trying to follow those outdated instructions! 😅
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Dmitry Petrov
I'm dealing with this exact same issue! Just tried to certify today and couldn't find that "Certify to Claim Your Weekly Benefits Here" button anywhere. The email instructions are completely useless - it's like they're describing a totally different website. Thanks to everyone who shared the real steps! Just to confirm what worked for me: 1. Log into labor.ny.gov 2. Click "UNEMPLOYMENT SERVICES" (not any of the other dashboard options) 3. Scroll down and look for "Claim Weekly Benefits" - it's just a regular text link buried in the list, NOT the prominent button described in emails 4. Using Chrome definitely helps - had display issues with Safari It's honestly ridiculous that NY DOL can redesign their entire website but can't update a simple email template. I wasted so much time looking for that non-existent button! This thread has been way more helpful than any official instructions. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to share the actual working process - you're saving people hours of unnecessary frustration! 🙏
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Freya Collins
•@c42dcc408bd5 Thank you for confirming this! I'm completely new to the NY unemployment system and was starting to think I was doing something fundamentally wrong. I've been staring at my dashboard for the past hour trying to find that button from the email, clicking on everything possible. It's such a relief to know this is a widespread issue with their outdated instructions rather than user error on my part. Just tried your steps and finally found the "Claim Weekly Benefits" link buried under Unemployment Services - you're absolutely right that it's nothing like the prominent button they describe! It's honestly shocking that they haven't fixed this disconnect between their emails and the actual website yet. Thanks for taking the time to lay out the real process - this thread is a lifesaver for confused newcomers like me! 🙏
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Aisha Patel
I'm having the exact same problem! Just tried to certify this morning and couldn't find that "Certify to Claim Your Weekly Benefits Here" button anywhere on the site. The email instructions are completely outdated and don't match the actual website interface at all. After reading through all these helpful responses, I tried clicking on "UNEMPLOYMENT SERVICES" from the main dashboard and scrolling down to find "Claim Weekly Benefits" as a regular text link (not the big prominent button the email describes). That finally worked for me! It's really frustrating that NY DOL redesigned their entire website but never bothered to update the email templates that thousands of people depend on every week. This is causing so much unnecessary confusion for people who are already stressed about unemployment. Thanks to everyone who shared the actual working steps - this community thread has been way more helpful than the official instructions! For anyone else struggling with this: ignore the email directions completely and just look under the Unemployment Services section for that plain text link.
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Paolo Esposito
•@defef4c9b885 This is exactly what I needed to hear! I'm completely new to this whole process and was getting so frustrated trying to follow those email instructions. I kept refreshing the page thinking something was broken on my end, but it sounds like this is just a known issue with their outdated templates. Just tried your approach of clicking "UNEMPLOYMENT SERVICES" and looking for the plain text "Claim Weekly Benefits" link instead of that mythical button from the email - worked perfectly! It's crazy that such a simple fix isn't documented anywhere official. Thanks for sharing your experience and helping fellow New Yorkers navigate this confusing mess! 🙏
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