What is a UI number for unemployment - NYS Department of Labor explanation needed
I keep seeing references to a 'UI number' on my NYS Department of Labor paperwork and online account but I'm not sure what this actually is. Is this the same as my Social Security number or is it something different? I just filed my initial claim last week and want to make sure I understand all the terminology. The my.ny.gov portal shows a bunch of different numbers and I don't want to use the wrong one when I call or fill out forms.
11 comments
Join the conversation
Ayla Kumar
UI stands for Unemployment Insurance. Your UI number is a unique identifier assigned by NYS Department of Labor specifically for your unemployment claim. It's different from your SSN - think of it as your claim number. You'll need this UI number when calling NYS Department of Labor, filing weekly claims, or any correspondence about your benefits. It should be on your determination letter and visible in your my.ny.gov account under the unemployment section.
0 coins
Clay blendedgen
•Thank you! That makes so much sense. I was worried I was missing something important. Where exactly do I find this number in my online account?
0 coins
Lorenzo McCormick
Look for it on your benefit determination letter - it's usually a series of numbers and sometimes letters. Mine was like 12 digits long. You can also find it when you log into my.ny.gov and go to the unemployment insurance section. It's usually displayed at the top of your claim summary page.
0 coins
Carmella Popescu
•Mine is 10 digits, no letters. I think the format might have changed over the years or vary by when you first filed.
0 coins
Kai Santiago
I've been trying to reach NYS Department of Labor for weeks about my claim status and they always ask for this UI number first thing. If you're having trouble getting through to them by phone, I recently discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you actually connect with agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. It was a lifesaver when I needed to resolve an adjudication issue and couldn't get through the regular phone lines.
0 coins
Lim Wong
•Interesting, never heard of that service before. Did it actually work for you? The hold times with NYS Department of Labor are absolutely insane.
0 coins
Kai Santiago
•Yeah it worked really well. I was able to speak with someone within about 15 minutes instead of waiting hours or getting disconnected. Worth checking out if you're stuck.
0 coins
Dananyl Lear
wait is the UI number the same thing as your claim number?? ive been so confused about this whole process
0 coins
Ayla Kumar
•Yes, they're essentially the same thing. Different people call it different names - UI number, claim number, unemployment insurance number - but they all refer to the unique identifier for your specific unemployment claim with NYS Department of Labor.
0 coins
Noah huntAce420
Just want to add that you should NEVER share your UI number with anyone except official NYS Department of Labor representatives. There are scammers out there who try to get this information. Always verify you're on the official my.ny.gov website or speaking with real NYS Department of Labor staff before giving out any claim details.
0 coins
Owen Jenkins
Great advice from everyone here! Just to add one more tip for finding your UI number - if you're having trouble locating it in your online account, it's also printed on any correspondence you receive from NYS Department of Labor, including your monetary determination letter and any notices about your claim. I always keep a screenshot of mine saved on my phone since you need it so frequently when dealing with unemployment stuff. Also seconding what Noah said about keeping it secure - treat it like you would any other important account number.
0 coins