NYS Department of Labor scheduled phone interview for unemployment - why do I have a phone interview for unemployment?
Got a notice from NYS Department of Labor that I have a phone interview scheduled next week for my unemployment claim. I'm really confused about why they need to interview me - I thought I filled out everything correctly when I applied. My claim has been pending for about 2 weeks now. The letter doesn't really explain what the interview is about, just says it's required to determine my eligibility. Has anyone else had to do one of these phone interviews? What kind of questions do they ask and should I be worried about something being wrong with my claim?
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Javier Morales
Phone interviews are pretty common, especially if there's something in your application that needs clarification. Could be anything from conflicting information about your last day of work, questions about why you left your job, or if you reported any earnings. Don't stress too much - just be honest and have your employment history ready. They might ask about your job search efforts too since that's a requirement for UI benefits.
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Natasha Kuznetsova
•Thanks that makes me feel better. I did have a weird situation where my last employer gave me different dates on my separation papers than what I put on my application. Maybe that's what triggered it?
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Emma Anderson
Yeah I had one of these last year. Mine was because I had worked for a temp agency and they needed to verify my wages and work history. The interviewer was actually pretty nice and it only took about 15 minutes. Just make sure you answer the phone when they call because if you miss it, you'll have to reschedule and that delays everything even more.
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Malik Thompson
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask questions about your interview, I used this service called Claimyr that helped me connect with an actual agent. They have a website claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really saved me time instead of sitting on hold for hours trying to get answers about my claim status.
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Natasha Kuznetsova
•Interesting, I've been trying to call them but keep getting busy signals. How much does that service cost?
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Malik Thompson
•It's worth it honestly, especially when you need to talk to someone before an important interview like this. Much better than wasting whole days trying to get through on your own.
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Isabella Ferreira
ugh the phone interviews are such a pain! I had mine last month and they asked me like 20 questions about every single job I had in the past 18 months. Why I left each one, what my duties were, how much I made... it was exhausting. But I got approved after so I guess it worked out.
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CosmicVoyager
Don't overthink it too much. They just want to make sure you're eligible and that everything adds up. Common reasons for interviews include voluntary quit situations, misconduct allegations, or if your employer contests your claim. Just be prepared to explain your work history clearly and why you're unemployed now.
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Ravi Kapoor
•This is good advice. Also make sure you know your social security number and have any documentation handy about your previous jobs in case they ask for specific details.
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