How to answer unemployment claim questions correctly on NYS Department of Labor forms?

For separation reason, 'lack of work' and 'laid off' are typically the same thing for NYS Department of Labor purposes. Choose whichever matches the exact wording your employer used when they let you go. If they said 'position eliminated' that's also a form of layoff. For work search, you don't need to start logging job applications until your waiting week is completed and you're actively claiming weekly benefits.

be careful with those questions!! i answered one wrong about my last day worked and it held up my claim for weeks in adjudication. make sure all your dates match exactly what your employer reports

The key is being consistent and honest. NYS Department of Labor will verify your information with your employer anyway. For the work search requirement, you need to make 3 work search contacts per week once you start claiming, but you can register with the job center first to meet part of that requirement. Also make sure you understand the difference between 'able and available' versus being on standby status - that affects how you answer the weekly certification questions.

I had trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor when I had questions about my application. Kept getting busy signals and disconnected calls. Finally found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Made it so much easier to get my questions answered directly instead of guessing on the forms.

ugh the NYS Department of Labor website is so confusing, half the time the questions don't even make sense for normal people

I remember being so stressed about those forms when I filed last year. The good news is even if you make a small mistake, you can usually clarify it during the phone interview if they schedule one. Just be prepared to explain your employment situation clearly and have your pay stubs ready.

I just went through this process last month and totally understand the confusion! One tip that really helped me was to save a draft of your application frequently while filling it out - the NYS DOL website times out pretty quickly and you don't want to lose your progress. Also, if you're unsure about any question, there's usually a small "?" or help icon next to it that gives more detailed explanations. For the work search requirement, you can actually count registering with the career center as one of your contacts, which makes it easier to meet the weekly requirement once you start certifying.

One thing that really helped me when I filed was to call the employer hotline (518-457-2635) to verify what separation reason my employer reported before submitting my claim. Sometimes there's a mismatch between what you think happened and what they officially reported, which can cause delays. Also, keep all your documentation handy - final pay stub, separation notice if you got one, and any emails about the layoff. The NYS DOL moves pretty quickly once everything matches up, but inconsistencies can really slow things down.

Another thing to watch out for - when they ask about your availability to work, make sure you're answering based on your actual situation. If you have childcare issues or transportation problems that limit when you can work, be honest about it but also show you're actively trying to resolve those barriers. I made the mistake of saying I was available "any time" when I actually couldn't work nights due to childcare, and it caused some confusion later during my phone interview. Also, double-check that your direct deposit information is correct - I've seen people wait weeks longer for their first payment because of a wrong account number.

One thing that really saved me was printing out the entire application before submitting it. I went through each section with my HR paperwork side by side to make sure everything matched exactly - dates, job title, reason for separation, even my hourly wage. The NYS DOL form asks for your "gross weekly earnings" which threw me off at first because I was thinking hourly, but they want your total weekly amount before taxes. Also, if you were part-time or had irregular hours, they'll ask for your earnings over the past 18 months, so gather those old pay stubs now if you can. Having everything organized beforehand made the whole process much smoother and I got approved without any follow-up questions.

I just completed my NYS DOL application last week and wanted to share a few things that helped me avoid delays. First, when answering about your last day of work, use the actual last day you performed work duties, not your final pay date - these can be different if you got paid for unused vacation time. Second, for the question about whether you're looking for full-time or part-time work, choose based on what you're genuinely seeking, not what your previous job was. If you lost a part-time job but want full-time work, you can select full-time. Finally, keep your confirmation number from the application - you'll need it if you have to call about your claim status. The whole process took me about 45 minutes once I had all my documents ready, and I heard back within a week for my phone interview.

I went through this exact same struggle when I filed my claim a few months ago! The terminology on those forms is definitely confusing. For the separation reason, I'd suggest being as specific as possible - if your employer used the exact phrase "reducing workforce due to budget cuts" then "lack of work" is probably your best bet since it's the broadest category that covers layoffs. One thing that really helped me was calling the NYS DOL customer service line (888-209-8124) during off-peak hours (usually mid-morning on weekdays) to clarify questions before submitting. Yes, you might be on hold for a while, but it's worth it to get it right the first time. Also, make sure you have your Social Security card handy - they ask for the exact spelling of your name as it appears on your SS card, and any discrepancies can cause delays. Good luck!

I'm going through this same process right now and this thread is incredibly helpful! One thing I want to add - if you worked multiple jobs before becoming unemployed, make sure you list ALL of them in the employment history section, not just your most recent one. I almost missed including a part-time job I had alongside my main job, but it turns out that can affect your benefit calculation. Also, when they ask about any severance pay or vacation payout, be completely accurate about the amounts and dates - they'll verify this with your employer anyway, and any discrepancies will just slow things down. The whole system seems intimidating at first but reading everyone's experiences here makes me feel much more confident about filling it out correctly. Thanks to everyone who shared their tips!