Does unemployment check with your employer when you file for NYS Department of Labor benefits?

Yes, the NYS Department of Labor does contact your employer as part of the standard verification process. They send what's called a 'Notice of Unemployment Insurance Claim Filed' to your former employer within a few days of you filing. The employer has 10 days to respond with information about your separation, including whether they contest the claim. They'll ask about your last day worked, reason for separation, and any final wages paid.

They usually start with a written notice but if there are discrepancies or if the employer contests your claim, then yes they might do a phone interview. The employer can't just make stuff up though - they need documentation to support their claims. If you were fired for misconduct they have to provide specific examples and dates.

ugh this is exactly why i was scared to file too. my old manager was such a liar i knew she'd probably make up some BS about me. but honestly the NYS Department of Labor people seem pretty good at seeing through employer nonsense if you have your side of the story ready

If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to check on your claim status or get updates about employer responses, I used a service called Claimyr that helped me reach an actual agent. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really saved me hours of trying to call the regular number and getting busy signals.

Keep all your documentation! Pay stubs, emails, performance reviews, disciplinary actions (if any), doctor notes for sick days, etc. If your employer contests the claim you'll want evidence to back up your side of the story. The NYS Department of Labor adjudicator will look at all the evidence from both sides.

Just file already! You're entitled to benefits if you lost your job through no fault of your own. Don't let fear of what your employer might say stop you from getting the money you're owed. The worst thing that happens is they contest it and you have to go through an appeal process.

I went through something similar last year. Yes, they do contact employers, but here's what I learned - document everything NOW before you file. Screenshot any text messages, save emails, and write down dates/times of conversations with your boss. If your employer tries to give false information, having your own documentation makes a huge difference. The NYS DOL investigators are pretty thorough and they've seen every trick in the book from employers trying to avoid paying into the system. Don't let fear of retaliation stop you from filing - you earned those benefits through your work history. Just make sure you're prepared with your side of the story backed up by whatever proof you have.

I had a similar experience and want to reassure you - the NYS DOL process is actually pretty fair even when employers try to contest claims unfairly. In my case, my former employer claimed I was fired for "poor performance" but I had email evidence showing they were actually laying people off due to budget cuts. The key thing is that NYS DOL doesn't just take the employer's word for it. They look at the separation notice the employer filed, any unemployment insurance charges on the employer's account, and patterns of claims from that workplace. If your employer has a history of contesting valid claims, the adjudicators notice that. Also, remember that employers have to pay higher UI taxes when former employees collect benefits, so some will contest legitimate claims just to avoid those costs. Don't let that intimidate you from filing - you paid into this system through your paychecks and you have every right to collect when you need it.

I just went through this process a few months ago and can share what actually happens. The NYS DOL sends an automated notice to your employer within 2-3 business days of filing called Form IA 12.3. Your employer has 10 calendar days to respond with details about your separation. Most of the time it's just paperwork - they fill out why you left, your last day, final wages, etc. Phone interviews only happen if there are major discrepancies or if the employer specifically contests your eligibility. Here's what helped me: I filed on a Sunday night and immediately started organizing all my documentation - final pay stub, any termination paperwork, emails, performance reviews. By the time my employer responded (they did contest initially), I had everything ready. The whole thing was resolved in about 3 weeks. Don't let anxiety about your former boss stop you from filing - you've earned these benefits through your work history and the system is designed to be fair to both sides. The investigators have seen every type of employer behavior and false claims, so they know what to look for.

I'm going through this exact situation right now and wanted to add some reassurance from my recent experience. Yes, NYS DOL does contact employers, but the process is actually more structured and fair than you might worry about. They send a standardized form (not just a random phone call where your boss can ramble), and employers have to provide specific information with documentation to back up any claims about misconduct or performance issues. What really helped my peace of mind was realizing that the NYS DOL investigators deal with dishonest employers all the time - they're trained to spot inconsistencies and require actual evidence, not just hearsay. If your boss tries to make false claims without proper documentation, it actually works against them. My advice: file your claim and focus on gathering your own evidence (emails, texts, pay stubs, any written communications about your termination). The system is designed to protect workers who legitimately qualify for benefits. Don't let fear of what your former employer might say prevent you from accessing benefits you've earned through your work contributions. The worst case scenario is a contestation that you can appeal with your evidence - but many times these things resolve smoothly without drama.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now and can totally understand your concerns about what your employer might say. What's helped me is learning that NYS DOL has specific procedures in place to handle exactly these kinds of disputes. They don't just take anyone's word at face value - they require documentation and evidence. If your former boss makes claims about your termination, they need to back it up with written records, not just their opinion or version of events. The investigators are trained to look for red flags when employers provide inconsistent or unsupported information. I'd suggest starting to compile your own timeline of events while everything is still fresh in your memory - dates, witnesses, any written communications you have. Even if you don't have access to work emails anymore, you might have personal texts or emails where you mentioned issues to friends or family. The key thing to remember is that this system exists to help workers who lost their jobs through no fault of their own, and the people running it understand that some employers will try to avoid paying higher UI taxes by making false claims. Don't let fear keep you from filing for benefits you've rightfully earned!

I've been in a very similar position and want to share what I learned from my experience. The NYS DOL does contact employers, but the process is much more standardized than you might fear. They send Form IA 12.3 which asks specific questions about your separation - it's not an open forum for your boss to vent or make unsubstantiated claims. If they want to contest your claim, they need actual documentation like write-ups, attendance records, or performance reviews. Here's what really helped me: I treated filing like building a case from day one. I gathered every piece of documentation I could find - final paystub, any termination paperwork, emails I had saved, even screenshots of my schedule or work assignments. I also wrote down everything I could remember about my last few weeks of employment while it was still fresh. The investigators at NYS DOL see dishonest employers all the time, so they're good at spotting inconsistencies. If your boss tries to claim you were fired for cause but can't provide proper documentation, it actually hurts their credibility. Don't let anxiety about their potential lies keep you from accessing benefits you've earned through your payroll contributions. The system has protections in place for exactly this type of situation.

I just wanted to add that timing can be really important here. The sooner you file, the sooner the process starts, and you can't get retroactive benefits for weeks before you actually submit your claim. I delayed filing for almost a month because I was worried about the same thing - what my employer would say and whether they'd try to block my claim. That ended up costing me about $1,200 in benefits I could have received during that time. What I wish I had known earlier is that even if your employer contests the claim, you often still receive benefits during the appeal process (called "pending appeal benefits"). So the worst case scenario isn't that you get nothing while fighting - it's that you might have to pay some back if the final decision goes against you, which honestly is pretty rare if you were legitimately laid off or fired without cause. My employer did respond to the NYS DOL form and claimed I was terminated for "performance issues" but they couldn't provide any documentation of progressive discipline, performance improvement plans, or written warnings. The adjudicator saw right through it and approved my claim within two weeks. Don't let fear of your employer's potential dishonesty rob you of benefits you've earned and deserve!