NYS Department of Labor phone interview questions - what to expect during unemployment claim review?
I got a notice that NYS Department of Labor wants to do a phone interview about my unemployment claim next week. This is my first time dealing with this and I'm really nervous about what they're going to ask me. My claim has been in adjudication for about 2 weeks now after I filed. Can anyone tell me what kinds of questions they typically ask during these phone interviews? I want to make sure I'm prepared and don't say anything wrong that could mess up my benefits.
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Yara Nassar
The phone interview is usually pretty straightforward - they'll ask about why you left your last job, whether you were fired or quit, if there was any misconduct involved. They also ask about your availability to work and if you're actively looking for jobs. Make sure you have your employment dates and employer contact info ready. The key is just being honest and consistent with what you put on your initial application.
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Connor O'Neill
AuthorThank you! I left because my hours got cut to basically nothing so I guess that's a layoff situation. Should I mention that I had some disagreements with my manager or just stick to the hours being cut?
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Keisha Robinson
they asked me about my job search activities too like what websites im using and if ive applied anywhere specific. also wanted to know about any income ive had since filing even if its just a few hours here and there
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GalaxyGuardian
I had one of these interviews last year. The interviewer was actually pretty nice, not intimidating at all. They asked me to walk through exactly what happened in my last few weeks at work, whether I received any warnings or write-ups, and if I had any documentation about my separation. They also verified my personal information and asked about my work history for the past 18 months. The whole thing took about 20 minutes.
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Paolo Ricci
Did they ask you anything about being able to work? I'm dealing with some health issues but I can still work most jobs.
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GalaxyGuardian
Yes, they asked if I had any restrictions on the type of work I could do and if I was physically able to work full-time. Just be honest about your situation - they're trying to determine if you meet the able and available requirements.
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Amina Toure
Getting through to NYS Department of Labor for these interviews can be such a hassle sometimes. I missed my first scheduled call because they called from a blocked number and I thought it was spam. Had to reschedule and wait another week. If you're having trouble reaching them or need to talk to someone about your claim status, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually gets you through to a real person at NYS Department of Labor. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals.
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Oliver Zimmermann
How much does something like that cost though? Seems like we shouldn't have to pay extra just to talk to unemployment.
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Amina Toure
I get the frustration but honestly it was worth it for me. The regular phone lines are just impossible most of the time and I needed answers about my adjudication.
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Natasha Volkova
Just went through this whole process myself! They definitely ask about your reason for separation - be super specific about dates and what exactly happened. They might ask if you tried to resolve any issues with HR or management before leaving. Also prepare for questions about your work schedule and if you were considered full-time or part-time. Oh and they'll want to know about any severance pay or vacation payout you received.
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Oliver Zimmermann
ugh the unemployment system is so stressful. why do they make it so complicated just to get benefits we paid into?? but yeah they asked me about whether i quit or got fired and wanted like every detail about my last day
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Connor O'Neill
AuthorRight?? I'm already stressed about not having a job and now I have to worry about this interview too. At least it sounds like most people get through it okay.
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Zoe Stavros
Don't stress too much about it! I just had mine last month and it was way less scary than I expected. The interviewer was professional and patient. They asked about my job search efforts - like how many applications I've submitted per week and what methods I'm using (online job boards, networking, etc.). They also wanted to know if I've turned down any job offers and why. One thing that helped me was writing down key dates and details beforehand - like my last day of work, any final conversations with my boss, and a timeline of events. Having that info ready made me feel more confident and the conversation flowed better. You've got this!
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