I'm having this exact same PIN problem too! Filed my claim about 6 weeks ago and definitely never got anything in the mail. I've been avoiding my weekly certification because I had absolutely no idea what this 4-digit PIN was - I kept thinking maybe I was supposed to make one up myself somewhere in the system. This entire thread is such a lifesaver to read because I was starting to panic that I had completely botched my application somehow. Based on everyone's advice here, I'm going to check my NY.gov account documents/correspondence sections first thing tomorrow morning, then call the 1-888-209-8124 number right at 8 AM with my SSN, claimant ID, and filing date all ready to go. It's absolutely ridiculous that something so crucial for our weekly benefits can just evaporate in the mail with zero backup notification system, but seeing how many people have successfully gotten their PIN over the phone is really reassuring. Thanks so much to everyone for sharing their step-by-step experiences - makes this whole confusing bureaucratic maze feel so much more manageable!

I'm going through this exact same PIN nightmare right now! Filed my claim about 4 weeks ago and never received any PIN letter in the mail. I've been putting off my weekly certification because I had no clue what this random 4-digit PIN was supposed to be - honestly thought maybe it was some security code I was supposed to create myself. Reading through all these experiences is such a huge relief because I was starting to think I was the only one who somehow "lost" their PIN or missed an important step. It's clearly a massive problem with their mail delivery system. I'm definitely going to try the 8 AM calling strategy everyone's recommending with my SSN, claimant ID, and filing date all ready to go. Also going to check my NY.gov account documents section first since so many people found their PIN hiding there. It's honestly insane that something so critical for weekly benefits can just vanish in the postal system with no backup notification, but seeing how many people have successfully resolved this by calling gives me hope. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed advice - this community has been incredibly helpful for navigating this bureaucratic mess!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the anxiety of waiting for a decision when you need those benefits is really tough. But honestly, your case sounds really strong! The fact that you were laid off with 3 other people from your department is huge evidence in your favor. That's clearly a pattern of workforce reduction, not individual misconduct. I dealt with something similar about 9 months ago when my employer tried to claim I was fired for "unprofessional behavior" after they shut down my entire division due to merger restructuring. What saved me was documenting everything I could remember about the circumstances and getting confirmation from other affected employees. NYS Department of Labor investigators are trained to spot these inconsistencies. When employers make false misconduct claims, they usually can't provide specific dates, incidents, or documentation to back up their stories. Meanwhile, you have concrete evidence of a departmental layoff affecting multiple people. Definitely reach out to those other 3 coworkers who were laid off with you - even a simple confirmation that you were all let go the same day for budget reasons completely destroys their misconduct narrative. And that conversation with your supervisor about it not being performance-related is exactly the kind of detail that will help your case. The process took about 5 weeks for me, but I won my appeal and got all back benefits. Stay organized with your documentation, respond promptly to any requests from NYS DOL, and don't let them intimidate you. The truth has a way of coming out in these investigations!

I'm dealing with this exact nightmare scenario right now and it's been keeping me up at night! My former employer is claiming I was fired for "violating company policy" when I was actually part of a mass layoff due to contract losses. What makes it even more frustrating is that they announced the layoffs in a company-wide meeting but are now trying to reframe individual terminations as misconduct to avoid unemployment costs. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both eye-opening and reassuring. It sounds like these dishonest tactics from employers are unfortunately pretty common, but NYS Department of Labor seems to do their homework when investigating these disputes. I'm currently gathering all the documentation I can find - saved emails about the contract losses, the layoff announcement, and I'm planning to reach out to other affected coworkers who might be willing to confirm what really happened. The waiting period while they investigate is absolutely brutal when you're already stressed about finances, but it's encouraging to see so many success stories here. Has anyone had experience with employers trying to reframe company-wide layoffs as individual misconduct? I'm wondering if there are any specific types of evidence that work particularly well in these cases where it's clearly a pattern affecting multiple employees rather than individual performance issues.

Just file already! You paid into this system through your paychecks too (it's not just employer taxes). You earned these benefits. Don't let some misunderstanding about how it works stop you from getting help you need.

I had the exact same concern when I was laid off from my job in Rochester last month! My HR department actually explained this to me - they said the state requires all employers to pay into the unemployment insurance system throughout the year, kind of like how we all pay into Social Security. When you file for benefits, you're just accessing a fund that your employer (and you through payroll deductions) already contributed to. My former employer was actually supportive when I filed because they understood it wasn't coming out of their current budget. Don't let this worry prevent you from getting the support you're entitled to - especially if you were laid off through no fault of your own.

I'm currently in the same pending situation (day 8 for me) and this thread has been a lifesaver! Based on everyone's experiences, it sounds like 10 days is still well within the normal range. I've started doing the daily morning check around 7-8am like @Sophia Rodriguez suggested, and I'm keeping up with my weekly certifications even though it feels weird certifying for something that's still pending. One thing that's helped my anxiety is creating a simple spreadsheet to track when I filed, each time I check my account, and any status changes - it helps me feel like I'm doing something productive while I wait. The not knowing is definitely the hardest part, but reading everyone's timelines here (2-3 weeks seems pretty standard) has helped me set more realistic expectations. Hang in there @Laura Lopez - from what I'm reading, pending at 10 days is frustrating but totally normal!

Just wanted to jump in and say thank you to everyone sharing their experiences here! I'm currently on day 5 of pending status and was starting to panic, but reading through all these timelines has really helped calm my nerves. It sounds like the 2-3 week range is pretty standard, and I love all the practical tips people have shared - especially checking the account early morning and keeping that log/spreadsheet. I'm definitely going to start doing the 7-8am checks and make sure I stay on top of my weekly certifications. One quick question for the group - has anyone noticed if the day of the week matters for when statuses typically update? Like do they tend to process things on certain days, or is it pretty random throughout the week? Thanks again everyone for making this stressful process feel a little less isolating!

I'm going through something similar right now - filed about 10 days ago and still waiting. From what I've learned lurking in these forums, the 10-day employer response window seems pretty standard, but the actual processing time varies a lot depending on your situation. Since you mentioned your employer was disorganized, there's a good chance they might not even respond at all, which could actually work in your favor. Keep documenting everything and filing those weekly claims like others have said. The waiting is definitely stressful but it sounds like most people do get resolved one way or another within a month or so.

I just went through this process a few months ago and can confirm what others have said about the 10-day employer response window. One thing that really helped me was keeping a detailed record of my separation - I wrote down the exact date, circumstances, and any witnesses present when I was laid off. Even though my employer didn't contest the claim, having that documentation ready gave me peace of mind. Also, don't be discouraged if it takes the full 4-6 weeks - the system is backed up but it does work. Since you were laid off due to budget cuts, that's usually pretty straightforward for them to process once they get to it.