NYS Department of Labor fact finding letter - what does this mean for my unemployment claim?
I got a letter from NYS Department of Labor saying they need to do 'fact finding' on my unemployment claim and I have no idea what this means. The letter is asking me to call them within 10 days but doesn't really explain what they're investigating. My claim was going fine for 2 weeks and now it's been stuck on pending for the last week. Is this normal? Should I be worried that they're going to deny my benefits? The letter mentions something about my separation from my last job but I was laid off so I don't understand what there is to investigate.
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Klaus Schmidt
Fact finding is basically NYS Department of Labor's way of gathering more information about your claim before they make a decision. It's not necessarily bad - they just need to verify details about why you lost your job. Since you mentioned you were laid off, they might be checking with your former employer to confirm the circumstances. The key is to respond within the timeframe they gave you and be honest about what happened.
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Esmeralda Gómez
•Thanks, that makes me feel a little better. Do you know how long this process usually takes?
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Aisha Patel
same thing happened to me last year!! they sent me a fact finding letter because my employer contested my claim. turned out my boss told them I quit but I was actually laid off. took about 3 weeks to get resolved but I did get my benefits retroactively
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Esmeralda Gómez
•Oh wow, so employers can contest claims? I had no idea. Did you have to provide any documentation to prove you were laid off?
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LilMama23
The fact finding process is standard procedure when there's any question about your eligibility. NYS Department of Labor has to investigate certain red flags - like if your employer reports you quit versus being laid off, if there are attendance issues, or if they think you might have been terminated for misconduct. Don't panic, just gather any documentation you have about your layoff (emails, texts, termination letter) and be prepared to explain your side during the phone interview.
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Dmitri Volkov
•This is exactly what I needed to hear! I've been calling the NYS Department of Labor number for days but can never get through. The hold times are insane and half the time I just get disconnected.
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Gabrielle Dubois
•If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor by phone, I actually found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an agent. You can check them out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. It was super helpful when I needed to discuss my fact finding interview and couldn't get through on my own.
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Tyrone Johnson
ugh the whole system is so confusing! I got one of these letters too and freaked out thinking I did something wrong. Turns out it's just paperwork nonsense
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LilMama23
Just to clarify - fact finding isn't just paperwork. It's a legitimate investigation where NYS Department of Labor interviews both you and potentially your former employer to determine if you qualify for benefits. The outcome can definitely affect whether you get approved or denied, so take it seriously and provide accurate information.
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Esmeralda Gómez
•Good to know. I definitely don't want to mess this up. Should I be preparing specific talking points for when they call me?
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CosmicVoyager
•Yes, definitely prepare! Write down the exact date you were laid off, the reason your employer gave you, and any witnesses who were present. Also have your employment dates ready and be clear about your last day of work. The interviewer will ask specific questions about the circumstances of your separation, so having the facts straight will help you sound credible and consistent.
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