How to answer unemployment questions during NYS Department of Labor phone interview?
I have a phone interview scheduled with NYS Department of Labor next week about my unemployment claim and I'm really nervous about what they're going to ask. My claim has been in adjudication for almost a month now and they finally called to schedule this interview. I'm worried I'll say something wrong and mess up my benefits. Does anyone know what kind of questions they typically ask during these calls? Should I have any documents ready? I've never been through this process before and don't want to blow it.
22 comments


Jacinda Yu
The phone interview is usually about the reason you left your last job or became unemployed. They'll ask for specific dates, what happened, and whether you had any warnings or disciplinary actions. Have your employment records, any termination paperwork, and a calendar handy. Be honest and stick to the facts - don't volunteer extra information they don't ask for. Take notes during the call too.
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Brian Downey
•Thanks! Should I mention that my supervisor was really difficult to work with or just stick to the basic facts about why I left?
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Landon Flounder
I went through this last year. They asked me about my last day of work, whether I was offered any other positions, if I looked for work before filing my claim, and details about my job search efforts. The interviewer was actually pretty nice and walked me through each question. Just answer what they ask and don't ramble. Mine took about 20 minutes.
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Callum Savage
•Did they approve your claim right away after the interview or did you have to wait longer?
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Landon Flounder
•It took another week after the interview before my claim was approved and I got my first payment.
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Ally Tailer
ugh these interviews are so stressful!! i had mine 2 weeks ago and kept second guessing everything i said. they asked about my availability for work and whether i had any restrictions. make sure you emphasize that youre actively looking for work and available to start immediately
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Aliyah Debovski
I've been trying to reach someone at NYS Department of Labor for weeks about my own adjudication issue. The phone lines are always busy and when I do get through, I get disconnected. I actually found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to unemployment agents - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Might be worth checking out if you need to talk to someone before your interview.
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Brian Downey
•Interesting, never heard of that before. Do they actually help you get through to real NYS Department of Labor people?
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Aliyah Debovski
•Yeah, they basically handle the calling and waiting for you. When an agent picks up, they conference you in. Saved me hours of trying to get through myself.
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Miranda Singer
bring any documentation about your separation from work - termination letter, final paycheck stub, anything that shows your last day. they might ask about severance pay or unused vacation time too since that can affect your claim start date
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Cass Green
Most important thing is DON'T LIE about anything even if you think it might hurt your case. They can verify everything and lying will definitely disqualify you. I know someone who got caught lying about their reason for leaving and they had to pay back everything plus penalties.
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Brian Downey
•That's scary! I wasn't planning to lie but good to know they take it that seriously.
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Ryan Vasquez
I just went through this process a few months ago and it was way less scary than I expected! They basically want to confirm the details you already provided in your application. Common questions include: exact reason for separation, your last day of work, any final payments received, whether you're able and available to work, and your job search activities. Write down key dates and details beforehand so you don't get flustered. The interviewer was professional and just doing their job - not trying to trip me up. You've got this!
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Amara Nnamani
•This is really reassuring to hear! I've been overthinking it so much. Did they ask you to provide any specific documentation during the call, or was it mostly just verbal questions? I have all my paperwork ready but wasn't sure if they'd want me to reference specific documents while we're talking.
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Amara Okafor
•They mostly just asked verbal questions, but I did have my termination letter handy when they asked about the exact reason for leaving. Having the documents ready definitely helped me give precise dates and details. The interviewer didn't ask me to read anything word-for-word, but being able to reference my paperwork kept me confident and accurate. Good luck with yours!
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Grace Lee
I had my phone interview last month and it went smoother than expected. They asked about my job search activities in detail - how many applications I've submitted, what websites I'm using, if I've registered with any staffing agencies. Make sure you have specific examples ready because they might ask for names of companies you've applied to or dates of recent applications. Also, they confirmed my contact information and asked if there were any times I wouldn't be available for work (like if you have childcare issues or transportation problems). The whole thing took about 15 minutes. Just be prepared and honest - you'll do fine!
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Fiona Sand
•This is super helpful, thank you! I've been keeping a log of my job applications but wasn't sure how detailed they'd want me to be. Should I have the exact dates and company names written down, or is it okay to give general timeframes like "I applied to about 10 positions this week"? I'm worried about getting put on the spot and not remembering specific details.
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Andre Moreau
•I'd definitely have specific dates and company names written down if possible. During my interview, they asked for the names of 3 companies I'd applied to recently and the approximate dates. Having that info ready made me sound more credible and organized. You don't need every single detail memorized, but having a few concrete examples shows you're genuinely looking for work. I kept a simple spreadsheet with company name, position, and date applied - really helped during the call!
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Oliver Weber
I had my interview about 6 weeks ago and here's what really helped me prepare: they asked detailed questions about my work schedule at my last job (full-time vs part-time, hours per week), whether I received any benefits that might affect my claim timing, and if I had any pending workers' comp or disability claims. One thing that caught me off guard was when they asked if I had turned down any job offers since becoming unemployed - make sure you're honest about that! They also wanted to know about any training programs or education I was pursuing. The key is to answer directly and don't elaborate unless they ask follow-up questions. I wrote down a timeline of my last few weeks at work beforehand which really helped me stay organized during the call. You'll do great!
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Haley Bennett
•Wow, thanks for such a detailed breakdown! I hadn't even thought about them asking about benefits timing or workers' comp claims. That's a great point about writing down a timeline - I'm going to do that this weekend. The part about not elaborating unless they ask follow-ups is really good advice too, since I tend to ramble when I'm nervous. Did they give you any indication during the call about how your case was looking, or did you just have to wait for their decision?
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Danielle Mays
One thing that really helped me during my interview was practicing my answers out loud beforehand. I wrote down the basic facts about my job separation and rehearsed explaining it clearly and concisely. They asked about whether I had any conflicts with coworkers or management, if there were any performance issues, and whether I was given any warnings before my termination. The interviewer was very matter-of-fact and professional - not trying to catch me in anything. They also asked if I understood the work search requirements and confirmed I was physically able to work. The whole process took about 12 minutes and I got my determination letter about 5 days later. Don't stress too much - just be prepared with your facts and you'll be fine!
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Nina Fitzgerald
•This is such great advice about practicing out loud! I never would have thought to do that but it makes total sense - when you're nervous it's so easy to stumble over your words or forget important details. I'm definitely going to write out my key points and practice explaining my situation clearly. It's reassuring to hear that the interviewer was professional and straightforward rather than adversarial. Did you prepare answers for any other types of questions, or did you mainly focus on the job separation details? I want to make sure I'm covering all my bases here.
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