I went through this exact same frustration a few months ago! The 8-digit PIN is definitely one of the most confusing parts of the NYS DOL system. In my case, it turned out the PIN was printed on a tiny perforated stub attached to one of the forms - almost like a tear-off receipt. I had actually thrown it away thinking it was just extra packaging! If you've thoroughly checked all your paperwork and still can't find it, don't panic about the weekly certification deadline. You can file for an extension if you miss it due to system access issues, but you'll need to call and explain the situation. One thing that helped me was organizing all the DOL paperwork by date received and going through each piece systematically. Sometimes they send the PIN information separately from the main determination letter, so it might arrive a few days later. The key is to keep calling early in the morning until you get through - persistence really does pay off with their phone system.

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!

I'm 57 and have been watching this conversation with great interest since I'm starting to think about my own retirement timeline. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the impact on your final pension calculations if you're in a pension system. In many state pension plans, your benefits are calculated based on your highest earning years, and if you get laid off instead of retiring voluntarily, any severance pay or continuation of benefits might count toward those calculations. Also, some pension systems have "rule of 85" or similar provisions where your age plus years of service need to hit a certain number - getting laid off might allow you to collect pension benefits earlier than if you just retired voluntarily. I'd strongly recommend checking with your pension administrator about how different separation scenarios would affect your benefits. The unemployment benefits are temporary, but pension decisions affect you for life. Has anyone else dealt with how unemployment versus voluntary retirement impacts pension benefits?

I'm 55 and this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I've been with my current employer for 25 years and was starting to think about early retirement options, but clearly I need to do a lot more research first. The complexity around voluntary vs involuntary separation, pension implications, tax consequences, and timing is way more nuanced than I realized. One thing I'm wondering about that I haven't seen discussed much - what about partial retirement or phased retirement programs? My employer has mentioned these as options, where you could reduce to part-time hours over a period of time before fully retiring. Would working part-time affect unemployment eligibility if you did eventually get laid off from the reduced position? Also, for those who successfully navigated getting laid off instead of retiring - how long did you typically have to wait between when you first started positioning yourself and when layoffs actually happened? I'm trying to figure out if this is something I need to start thinking about now or if it's more of a short-term strategic move. Thanks to everyone sharing their real experiences - this is so much more helpful than trying to decode government websites!

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago! Lost my main job but kept my small weekend gig. The key thing is to file your initial claim right away - don't wait. When you file, you'll report the income from BOTH jobs during your base period (the 4 quarters they use to calculate your benefits). Then each week when you certify, you report whatever you earn from your remaining catering job. The 25% reduction formula mentioned above is correct - so if you earn $200 that week, they'll reduce your benefit by $50 (25% of $200). Just make sure you're available for full-time work and actively job searching, even though you have the part-time catering gig. The NYS Department of Labor website has a partial benefits calculator that can help you estimate what you might receive.

I'm in a similar boat right now - lost my main retail job but still working a few shifts at a restaurant. From what I've learned, you definitely qualify for partial unemployment benefits in NY. The most important thing is to file your claim as soon as possible after losing your retail job, even though you're still working the catering gig. When you file, they'll look at your earnings from BOTH jobs over the past year to determine your weekly benefit amount. Then each week when you certify, you'll report your catering hours and earnings, and they'll reduce your benefit by 25% of whatever you earned that week. So if you make $150 from catering one week, they'll subtract $37.50 from your full benefit amount. Just make sure you're actively looking for work to replace that lost retail income - they'll ask about your job search activities each week. Good luck!

I've been dealing with a pending issue for about 10 days now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea there were so many different strategies beyond just calling the main line over and over. I'm definitely going to try that technical support number (1-888-209-8124) tomorrow morning and also look into contacting my state representative - I never thought about using constituent services for unemployment issues but it makes perfect sense. One thing I wanted to share that might help others - I found that if you go to the "Payment History" section of your account, sometimes there are error codes or status updates there that don't show up on the main dashboard. Mine shows a code that I'm going to ask about when I call tech support. Also, I've started screenshotting everything daily like some of you suggested because I'm paranoid about information disappearing. The waiting and not knowing what's wrong is honestly worse than just being denied - at least then you'd know where you stand. Thanks to everyone for sharing real actionable advice instead of just generic suggestions. It gives me hope that there are actual steps I can take instead of just sitting here helplessly waiting!

I've been stuck in pending status for 2 weeks and this thread has been a lifesaver! I tried calling that technical support number (1-888-209-8124) this morning around 7:30 AM and actually got through after about 30 minutes on hold. The agent was really helpful and explained that my case is pending because they're waiting for wage verification from one of my previous employers from 2023. She said sometimes employers don't respond promptly to their requests, which can delay everything. She also gave me the reference number for my case so I can mention it if I call back. I'm going to contact that employer's HR department directly to see if I can help speed things up. Also planning to reach out to my assembly member like others suggested. One tip - when you call tech support, have your SSN, claim confirmation number, and any dates of employment ready because they ask for all of that upfront. Thanks to everyone for sharing these strategies - finally feel like I'm making progress instead of just waiting in the dark!

@Sofia I'm sorry to hear about your back injury - that sounds really stressful with the potential surgery ahead. From what I understand, the key issue is whether you're considered "able and available" for work. Since you're on workers comp and haven't been cleared by your doctor, you likely won't qualify for regular unemployment benefits right now. However, I'd suggest getting clarity from your doctor about what types of work (if any) you could potentially do with your current restrictions. If there's any possibility of light duty or modified work, that could change your eligibility. Also, look into whether NYS has any disability programs that might bridge the gap while you're recovering. Hang in there!

@Sofia I went through something very similar when I injured my shoulder at work last year. The whole process is really confusing and stressful when you're already dealing with an injury. What I learned is that you need to focus on getting very specific documentation from your doctor about your work capacity. Don't just ask "can I work?" - ask for a detailed report about what physical activities you can and cannot do. For example, can you sit for extended periods? Can you lift anything? Can you type/use a computer? If your doctor says you can do sedentary work but not physical labor, that might open the door for unemployment benefits while you search for appropriate positions. Also, make sure to document everything with NYS Department of Labor - save emails, keep notes from phone calls with dates and names. The process took me about 6 weeks to sort out, but I eventually got approved for benefits while I was cleared for light duty but my employer couldn't accommodate. Don't give up, and definitely explore the state disability options that others mentioned too!