What happens after NYS Department of Labor unemployment phone interview - next steps?
Had my phone interview with NYS Department of Labor last Tuesday about my UI claim that's been in adjudication for almost 5 weeks. The rep asked me about why I left my last job and wanted details about my availability to work. She said she'd review everything and make a determination but didn't give me any timeline. My claim status still shows 'adjudication in progress' and I haven't received any letters or updates. Does anyone know what typically happens after these interviews? How long before they make a decision? I'm getting really anxious because I haven't received any payments yet.
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Michael Adams
After your phone interview, the adjudicator will review all the information they collected along with your employer's response and any documentation you provided. They typically make a determination within 7-14 business days, though it can take longer during busy periods. You should receive a written determination letter explaining their decision. If approved, your back payments will be released. If denied, the letter will explain the reason and your appeal rights.
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Chloe Mitchell
•Thanks, that's helpful! Do you know if they contact your employer again after the interview or is that part already done?
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Michael Adams
•Usually the employer response is already in your file before they schedule your interview. The adjudicator uses the interview to clarify any discrepancies between your version and what the employer reported.
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Natalie Wang
same thing happened to me in march, took exactly 10 days after my phone interview before i got the determination letter. mine was approved and all my back pay hit my account 2 days later
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Chloe Mitchell
•That gives me hope! Were you able to check your claim status online during those 10 days or did it stay the same until the decision?
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Natalie Wang
•stayed the same until the day before i got the letter, then it switched to approved
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Noah Torres
I'm still waiting 3 weeks after my phone interview and NOTHING!! This is ridiculous. How are people supposed to survive without any income? The NYS Department of Labor system is completely broken. I've called multiple times and they just say 'it's still being reviewed' with no real timeline.
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Samantha Hall
•I had success reaching an actual NYS Department of Labor agent through a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when an agent picks up. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Might be worth trying if you need to check on your specific case.
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Ryan Young
Keep filing your weekly claims even while waiting for the determination! A lot of people don't realize this but you need to keep certifying or you'll lose those weeks. The determination is just about your initial eligibility - the weekly claims keep your case active for when they do approve you.
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Sophia Clark
•Yes this is super important! I made this mistake and lost 2 weeks of benefits because I stopped filing while waiting for my determination.
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Katherine Harris
honestly the whole phone interview thing is just them going through the motions most of the time... they probably already decided before they even called you based on what your employer said. just my experience but dont get your hopes up too much
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Lim Wong
I just went through this exact same process last month! After my phone interview, it took about 12 days to get the determination letter. The key thing is to keep checking your online account - mine updated to show "determination issued" about 2 days before I actually received the letter in the mail. Also, make sure you're still filing your weekly claims like others mentioned. The waiting is brutal but try to stay patient. In my case, they did approve me and I got all my back pay within 3 business days of the approval. The adjudicator told me they really just want to make sure your story matches what your employer reported, so as long as you were honest about your situation, you should be okay.
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