New York Unemployment: How often are mandatory DOL appointments?

Been on UI since August and had 2 appointments so far. They just verify your job search and make sure your actively looking. Nothing to stress about just keep good records of where you applied.

Hey guys I was struggling with getting through to unemployment but I found this site claimyr.com that calls and waits on hold for you then connects you when theres an agent. Costs $20 but beats calling 100 times. Here's a video about it: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

Its totally random tbh. I went 6 months with nothing then got 2 appointments in 3 months 🤷‍♂️

The whole appointment system is such bs. They expect you to drop everything and come in whenever they say so or risk losing benefits. Some of us are actually trying to find work 🙄

Listen up cause this is important: They usually schedule these appointments every 3-4 months but it varies. Keep ALL your job search records - minimum 3 job contacts per week. Document everything with dates, company names, position, how you applied, and any responses. They can ask for up to a year of records. Virtual appointments are available now too. If you miss an appointment, call them ASAP using claimyr.com cause getting through is impossible otherwise. Missing appointments without good reason can mess up your benefits fr fr.

got my first one after 4 months. wasnt bad at all just boring af 😴

Thanks for asking this! I'm also relatively new to the system (started in December) and haven't had an appointment yet either. From what everyone's saying here, sounds like I should start organizing my job search records better now rather than scrambling later. Really helpful to know it's every 3-4 months on average - gives me a timeline to work with. Appreciate everyone sharing their experiences! 🙏

Same here! Been on since November and was getting anxious about when that first appointment would come. Really glad you asked this question Victoria - the responses here are super reassuring. Sounds like I have a bit more time to get my documentation in order. I've been pretty casual about tracking my job searches but definitely need to step up my game after reading Charlotte's advice. Better to be over-prepared than scrambling at the last minute! Has anyone had luck with the virtual appointments or are they still mostly in-person?

Just had my first appointment last week after being on benefits since September. Super straightforward - they just wanted to see my job search log and asked a few questions about what types of positions I'm applying for. The whole thing took maybe 20 minutes. One tip: bring printed copies of your records even if they say they don't need them. My caseworker appreciated having the hard copy to flip through. Also they were running about 30 mins late so plan for some wait time!

Been on unemployment since January and this thread is exactly what I needed! Haven't had an appointment yet but good to know the 3-4 month timeline. Already started a simple Excel sheet tracking my applications after reading all this. Question though - do they care about quality of jobs you're applying to or just that you hit the 3 per week minimum? Like if I apply to some positions that are maybe a bit below my usual level just to meet the requirement, is that cool or do they expect you to only go for "suitable" work?

Been on unemployment since late November and this whole thread is so reassuring! I was starting to worry something was wrong since I hadn't gotten called yet. The 3-4 month timeline makes total sense now. Already started keeping better records after reading Charlotte's breakdown - switched from just jotting notes to a proper spreadsheet with all the details they might ask for. Really appreciate everyone sharing their actual experiences instead of just speculation. Makes the whole process feel way less intimidating knowing it's usually just a quick check-in about your job search. Definitely going to bookmark that claimyr site too just in case I ever need to get through to someone urgently 📝

This thread is incredibly helpful! I've been on unemployment since mid-January and was starting to wonder when I'd get my first appointment. The 3-4 month timeline everyone's mentioning gives me some peace of mind. I've been pretty loose with tracking my job applications - just keeping a basic list in my phone notes - but after reading Charlotte's detailed breakdown, I realize I need to up my game big time. Going to create a proper spreadsheet this weekend with all the specifics they might ask for (dates, company names, positions, how I applied, responses, etc.). Better to be over-prepared than scrambling when that first appointment notice comes! Thanks Victoria for asking what we're all wondering about 🙌

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been through a few of these appointments - the key thing is don't stress about it too much! I've had 3 appointments over the past year and they really are pretty chill. The caseworkers aren't trying to trip you up, they just want to see that you're genuinely looking for work. One thing I'd add to Charlotte's excellent advice is to also keep track of any networking events, job fairs, or career workshops you attend - they count toward your job search activities too. And if you're doing any online courses or certifications related to your field, document those as well since they show you're actively working to improve your employability. The whole process usually feels way scarier in your head than it actually is in person!

This thread has been so helpful! I've been on unemployment since December and was starting to get anxious about not having an appointment yet. The 3-4 month timeline everyone's sharing really puts things in perspective. I've been pretty casual about tracking my job search - just keeping basic notes in a notebook - but reading all these detailed responses, especially Charlotte's breakdown, I realize I need to get way more organized. Going to set up a proper spreadsheet this weekend with all the details they might ask for (dates, companies, positions, application method, responses, etc.). Also really appreciate the tip about claimyr.com - hopefully won't need it but good to know there's an option if I can't get through the regular way. Thanks Victoria for asking what so many of us newcomers are probably wondering about! 🙏

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else wondering - I've been on unemployment since early October (so about 4 months now) and finally got my first appointment scheduled for next week! The timing lines up perfectly with what Charlotte mentioned about the 3-4 month window. They gave me about 10 days notice which was nice. Reading everyone's experiences here has made me feel so much more prepared. I've been keeping decent records but definitely going to beef them up this weekend with more specific details. One thing I learned from calling the office is that they're pretty flexible if you have a job interview conflict - just call as soon as you know. Thanks everyone for sharing, this thread has been incredibly helpful! 🙌

Been on unemployment since late December and this thread is exactly what I needed! Was starting to worry since I haven't gotten an appointment yet, but the 3-4 month timeline everyone's sharing makes perfect sense. I've been super basic with my job search tracking - just keeping a mental note mostly 😅 But after reading Charlotte's detailed breakdown and everyone's experiences, I'm definitely setting up a proper spreadsheet this weekend. Really appreciate all the real-world advice here instead of just guessing what to expect. The fact that most people say it's pretty straightforward and just a routine check-in is so reassuring. Thanks Victoria for asking what probably a lot of us newer folks are wondering about!