What is my 8 digit personal identification number for NYS Department of Labor unemployment claim?

The 8-digit PIN is created when you first file your claim over the phone or online. It should have been in your determination letter or monetary determination that NYS Department of Labor mailed you. Check all the paperwork you received - it's usually labeled as your 'Personal Identification Number' or 'PIN' and is different from your SSN.

mine was on a separate paper that came with the determination stuff, not on the main letter itself. it was like a small slip that said something about keeping it secure for weekly claims

If you can't find your PIN anywhere in the paperwork, you'll need to call NYS Department of Labor to get it reset. The issue is getting through to someone - the phone lines are always jammed. I had this same problem last month and it took me 3 days of calling to reach an agent. You could try using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to help you get through faster. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. I used them when I couldn't get my adjudication issue resolved and they got me connected within an hour.

The NYS Department of Labor system is ridiculous! Why do they need so many different numbers and passwords? I've got my claim number, my customer ID, my SSN, and now this mystery 8-digit PIN. It's like they don't want people to actually get their benefits!

Just to clarify for everyone - the PIN is specifically for phone access to the NYS Department of Labor Tele-Serv system and some online functions. If you're only using my.ny.gov, you might not need it depending on what you're trying to access. But for weekly claim certification by phone, you definitely need that 8-digit PIN.

I had the exact same issue when I first filed! The 8-digit PIN isn't always obvious in the paperwork. Mine was actually printed on the back of one of the forms they sent - check behind all the pages. Also, if you filed online initially, they might have displayed it on the confirmation screen after you submitted your application. Some people screenshot that page but if you didn't, you're not alone in missing it. The PIN is definitely different from your SSN and claim number. If you still can't locate it anywhere, calling early morning (like 8:00-8:30 AM) tends to have shorter wait times than later in the day.

Just went through this nightmare myself last week! After reading through all these helpful responses, I want to add that if you're still stuck, there's actually a "Forgot PIN" option buried in the my.ny.gov system that I almost missed. When you get to the login screen where it asks for your 8-digit PIN, look for tiny text at the bottom that says something like "Reset PIN" or "Forgot PIN" - it's not obvious at all. You'll need to answer some security questions using info from your original application (like your mother's maiden name or previous employer details). It took me about 10 minutes to reset it this way, which was way faster than trying to get through on the phone. Worth a shot before spending hours on hold!