Does NY unemployment really audit weekly certifications? Anyone been through one?

I got audited last year. They asked me to provide proof of all my job searches for like 3 months straight. Had to upload every email confirmation, screenshot of applications, names/numbers of ppl i talked to. It was a HUGE pain in the ass. Took me like 6 hours to gather everything. They do check so dont mess around with that stuff.

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Ive been on unemployment 3 times in the last 10 years in NY and never been audited once. I know plenty of ppl who just click through without actually applying anywhere and nothings ever happened to them. The system is too overwhelmed to check everyone.

Better safe than sorry. Document EVERYTHING. I save screenshots of every job I apply to, every networking email, every followup. Keep a spreadsheet with dates, company names, position, method of application, and any response. Trust me, if you get audited, you'll be thankful you were organized.

My roommate got audited last month and it turns out they do random spot checks. he had to provide evidence of his work searches for specific weeks. luckily he had been saving emails and screenshots. they dont audit everyone but they definitely do audit some people. dont risk it.

I work for a small business and unemployment actually contacted us to verify that someone had applied for a job with us. So yes, they do check sometimes.

I know someone who just clicked through without doing the required job searches and they got caught. Had to pay back thousands in benefits plus a penalty. NOT worth the risk.

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Here's what I know about NY unemployment audits after being on it twice: 1. They do conduct random audits - I've seen people get audited and others who never do 2. They can request up to a year of work search activities 3. You need to show 3+ work search activities each week 4. They sometimes contact employers to verify applications 5. If you can't prove your work searches, they can make you repay ALL benefits 6. The burden of proof is on YOU If you're struggling to reach someone at unemployment to resolve issues, I'd recommend claimyr.com - they'll wait on hold for you and connect you with an agent when one is available. After weeks of failing to get through on my own, they got me connected and I was able to get my claim fixed immediately. Always keep detailed records of your work search - company name, position, date, method of application, contact info if available. Take screenshots of online applications. Save confirmation emails. Document networking activities with dates/names/discussions. It's a pain but way better than having to repay thousands.

I was randomly selected for a work search audit back in 2021. They asked for documentation of my job search activities for about 8 specific weeks. I had to submit copies of applications, emails confirming applications, screenshots of job postings I applied to, etc. If you're doing the required searches, just make sure you're keeping records and you'll be fine.

i never got audited but my friend did. he couldnt prove he was looking for work and had to pay back like $7000 in benefits 💀

Keep in mind NYS unemployment audits can happen up to a year after your benefits end. Always save your documentation for at least that long.

I didnt get audited but i know theyre doing more of them now. The dept of labor has been talking about cracking down on fraud. Better to play it safe and actually do the work searches and document everything!

wait I'm confused, are we supposed to be keeping track of everywhere we apply? I thought just doing the applications was enough??

FYI, NY unemployment says on their website that you need to keep records of your work search activities for one year. That's how long they can request documentation for an audit.

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Always document ur job search activitys!!! Screenshot everything, save all emails. The one time u dont is the time theyll audit u 🤦‍♂️

I got audited twice during my claim last year. The first time they just asked for proof for 4 random weeks. The second time they wanted documentation for all weeks in a specific month. I had all my screenshots and confirmation emails saved so it wasn't a problem, but it was definitely stressful seeing those notices.

NY unemployment is definitely verifying job searches. I know this firsthand because I recruit for a tech company, and we've had the DOL contact us multiple times to verify if people actually applied for positions they claimed they did.

Thanks for sharing this - it's really helpful to hear from someone on the recruiting side! This confirms what I suspected about them actually verifying applications. I've been keeping detailed records of everything I apply to (screenshots, confirmation emails, job posting links, etc.) but it's reassuring to know I'm not being overly cautious. Do you remember if the DOL calls were for specific people who were flagged somehow, or did it seem like they were doing broader verification checks?

This is really eye-opening - I had no idea they actually verify with employers! I've been pretty good about keeping screenshots and confirmation emails, but hearing that they actually call companies makes me want to double-check my documentation. @Ravi Sharma, when the DOL contacted your company, did they ask for specific details about the applications or just confirm whether someone applied? Also wondering if there's a pattern to who gets audited - seems like some people never get checked while others get hit multiple times.

This thread has been super informative! I've been doing my job searches legitimately but honestly wasn't keeping great records until now. Reading about people having to pay back thousands in benefits is terrifying. I'm definitely going to start a spreadsheet this week to track everything - company names, positions, dates, application methods, and save all my screenshots/confirmation emails. Better to be over-prepared than get hit with an audit I can't back up. Has anyone found a good system for organizing all this documentation? I'm thinking maybe a Google Drive folder with weekly subfolders?

I've been on NY unemployment for about 6 months now and got audited just last month. They asked for documentation for 8 specific weeks - not consecutive ones, just random weeks from my claim period. Had to provide screenshots of job applications, confirmation emails, networking activities, everything. It was stressful but I had been keeping good records so I was able to provide what they needed. The whole process took about 2 weeks from when I got the letter to when they confirmed everything was approved. Definitely keep detailed records of EVERYTHING - company names, positions applied for, dates, method of contact, any responses you get. I use a simple Excel spreadsheet and save all screenshots in folders by week. Takes a few extra minutes each week but totally worth it for the peace of mind. They're definitely doing more audits now so don't risk it!

This is really helpful info everyone! I've been doing my job searches legitimately but honestly haven't been great about documenting everything - just saving some confirmation emails here and there. After reading about people getting hit with huge overpayment demands, I'm definitely going to step up my record keeping game. Starting this week I'm going to create a spreadsheet with all the details (company, position, date, method, etc.) and save screenshots of everything. Better to spend a few extra minutes each week than potentially owe back thousands! Has anyone here actually had the DOL contact their references or former colleagues when verifying networking activities during an audit?

This is super helpful to read everyone's experiences! I've been pretty diligent about my job searches but honestly my documentation has been hit or miss. Sometimes I screenshot applications, sometimes I don't. After reading about people getting audited and having to pay back thousands, I'm definitely going to get my act together with record keeping. Starting a spreadsheet this week with all the details - company, position, date, application method, confirmation emails, etc. It sounds like they really can and do check, so better to be over-prepared than get slammed with an overpayment notice. Thanks for sharing your stories, especially @Aisha Mohammed and @Camila Castillo - really eye-opening to hear what the audit process actually looks like!

This thread is exactly what I needed to see! I've been collecting for about 2 months now and honestly have been pretty sloppy with my documentation - just saving the occasional confirmation email but not being systematic about it. Reading about people getting hit with $7-8k overpayment notices is absolutely terrifying. I'm definitely going to start keeping better records immediately. Does anyone have recommendations for what specifically to include when documenting networking activities? Like if I reach out to a former coworker on LinkedIn asking about openings at their company, should I screenshot the message, their response, etc.? And for online applications, is just the confirmation email enough or should I also save screenshots of the actual job posting? Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - better to learn from others' mistakes than make them myself!

Wow, this thread is incredibly helpful! I've been on unemployment for about 3 months now and honestly hadn't given much thought to documentation until reading everyone's experiences. I've been legitimately doing my job searches - applying online, reaching out to contacts, going to networking events - but I've been terrible about keeping records. Just saving the occasional confirmation email but nothing systematic. Reading about @Aisha Mohammed's 6-hour documentation marathon and people owing back $7-8k in benefits is definitely a wake-up call! I'm starting a spreadsheet TODAY to track everything going forward - company names, positions, dates, application methods, screenshots, the works. Better late than never, right? For anyone else who's been sloppy about record-keeping like me, let's get organized before we potentially get audited. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences - this is exactly the kind of info you can't find on the official DOL website!

This thread has been a huge eye-opener for me! I've been on unemployment for about 3 weeks now and honestly thought the weekly certifications were just a formality. Reading about actual audits happening and people having to pay back thousands is seriously scary. I've been doing legitimate job searches - probably 4-5 applications per week plus some networking - but my documentation has been pretty much nonexistent. Just whatever confirmation emails happen to land in my inbox. After reading @Aisha Mohammed's story about the 6-hour documentation scramble and @Camila Castillo's experience with getting audited for 8 random weeks, I'm definitely going to start keeping proper records immediately. Setting up a spreadsheet tonight with columns for date, company, position, application method, and confirmation received. Also going to start taking screenshots of everything and organizing them by week in Google Drive. Better to spend a few extra minutes each week than potentially get hit with a massive overpayment demand later. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical info you need but can't find anywhere official!