Back to Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) Requests
Unemployment Insurance Records: Unemployment Insurance records and information are confidential under both federal and state law and cannot be released under FOIL unless the Department receives proof of identification, a notarized authorization, or under other circumstances prescribed by law. For more information, see section 537 of New York’s Labor Law.
Electronic requests should not include your full Social Security Number; instead, if you send an electronic request for records, you should immediately follow up your electronic request with a fax or mail request containing the Social Security Number and the additional information identified below. (Make certain to include identifying information with your fax or mail request so we can make certain to connect your fax or mail information with the correct electronic request.)
Requesting Your Own Unemployment Insurance (UI) Records:
If you are requesting your own UI records, you must provide:
- Your name
- Your Social Security Number (unless the request is submitted electronically)
- A request for records containing a description of the specific information you are requesting from the Department (e.g. the forms, documents, or information you are requesting, and the time period covered by the request)
- Your mailing address
- Your request form must contain either your notarized signature, or
- In lieu of a notarized signature, you must provide your signature and a copy of your driver’s license or equivalent proof of identification containing your signature
Requesting Another Person’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) Records:
If you are requesting the UI records of someone other than yourself, you must provide the following:
- The name and Social Security Number of the individual whose records you are requesting
- A request for records containing a description of the specific information you are requesting from the Department (e.g. the forms, documents, or information you are requesting, and the time period covered by the request)
- An authorization signed by that individual allowing you to obtain that individual’s records. The authorization must:
- Contain a notarized signature of that individual
- Specifically state that the Department of Labor is permitted to release his or her Unemployment Insurance records to you
- State the purposes for which the records will be used
- State the timeframe of the records sought, and
- State that the records will be used solely for that purpose, and no other