Thanks everyone for confirming this is a scam! I've reported the number to the DOL fraud department using the link provided. Going to try the main number again tomorrow morning when they open. This community is so helpful!

Just want to add another red flag about these scam calls - legitimate DOL representatives will never pressure you to provide information immediately or threaten that your benefits will be cut off if you don't comply right away. Scammers use urgency and fear tactics to get you to act without thinking. The real DOL understands that people need time to verify calls and will always allow you to call back through official channels. If anyone ever says "we need this information right now or your claim will be denied," that's a guaranteed scam!

Just wanted to add that if NYS Department of Labor does call you, make sure to verify it's really them before giving any personal information. There have been some scam calls going around claiming to be from unemployment offices. The real NYS Department of Labor will already have your information and won't ask for your SSN or bank details over the phone.

From my experience, NYS DOL will definitely call for adjudication interviews - I got called about 10 days into my pending status. They left a voicemail with a callback number and specific times I could reach them. The call was to verify some employment details that were flagging in their system. My advice is to make sure your voicemail is set up and check it regularly. Also keep checking your online account because they usually send a message there first before calling. Two weeks isn't unusual for adjudication unfortunately, but if you haven't heard anything by week 3-4 I'd try calling them directly.

Definitely report it to be safe! I had the same dilemma last year and decided to officially notify them through the online portal - it was super quick and gave me peace of mind. You can find the option to report employment changes in your NY.gov account under the unemployment section. That way you're covered if they ever do any audits later. Most people do just stop certifying and it works out fine, but taking the extra 5 minutes to report it officially is worth it IMO. Good luck with the new job! 🎉

I was in the exact same boat when I got my job back in October! I ended up doing both - stopped certifying AND reported it online through my NY.gov account just to cover all bases. The online reporting literally took 2 minutes and there's a specific section for employment status changes. While everyone here is right that most people just stop certifying without issues, I figured better safe than sorry since I've heard they can be really strict about overpayments if there's ever a question later. Plus it felt good to officially close that chapter, you know? Congrats on the new gig! 🎉

After reading all the comments here, it definitely sounds like your claim is in adjudication because of the multiple employers situation. Once I got through to an actual claims specialist (using Claimyr to bypass the phone wait), they told me exactly what was happening with my claim. Turns out they were waiting on my former employer to respond to their inquiry about my job separation. The specialist was able to expedite this and note on my account that I had provided all necessary documentation. Within two weeks, my claim was approved with the correct amount and I received all my backpay. The key is getting to someone who can actually SEE and WORK on your claim, not just the frontline people who can only see basic notes.

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation! Filed my claim in early February and it's been stuck at $0 for over a month now. I also had two employers last year - worked at a retail job until June, then started at an office job in August that I got laid off from in January. The frustrating part is they keep telling me it's "under review" but won't give any specifics about what they're actually reviewing or how much longer it might take. I've been certifying every week religiously because I'm terrified of missing out on backpay when this finally gets resolved. It's so stressful not knowing if there's something I should be doing or if I just have to wait it out. Thanks for posting this because I was starting to think I was the only one going through this nightmare!

good luck with your hearing! the whole system is so stressful but at least if they don't show up you won't have to deal with them trying to make you look bad

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! My employer contested my unemployment claim after I was laid off due to company restructuring, but they didn't show up to the hearing. The administrative law judge proceeded with the hearing as scheduled and I was able to present my case without any pushback. The whole thing took maybe 30 minutes - the judge asked me to explain what happened, reviewed my documentation (layoff notice, final paycheck stub showing "reduction in force"), and ruled in my favor about a week later. My advice: arrive early, dress professionally even though it's usually by phone, and have all your documents organized and ready to reference. The judges are generally fair and understand that employers sometimes don't participate. You've got this!