Why am I being investigated by NYS Department of Labor unemployment - what triggers this?

Investigations can be triggered by several things - your former employer might have contested your claim, there could be discrepancies in your reported earnings, or it might be a random audit. The most common reason is when employers challenge the reason for separation (like if they claim you were fired for misconduct vs. laid off). Don't panic though - just gather all your documentation including pay stubs, termination letter, and any communication with your employer.

same thing happened to me a few months ago... turned out my old boss reported that i quit instead of being laid off. took like 3 weeks to resolve but everything worked out fine once i provided my documentation

If you're having trouble reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor about your investigation status, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really helped when I needed to clarify some adjudication issues and couldn't get through on the regular phone lines.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS A JOKE! They investigate honest people who need help but let fraudsters slip through constantly. I went through this investigation nightmare last year and it took MONTHS to resolve even though I had all my paperwork in order. Meanwhile people are stealing benefits left and right with no consequences.

investigations are pretty routine nowadays, especially after all the fraud during covid. they're just being extra careful. as long as you were truthful on your application you should be fine

I went through something similar last year. In my case, it was triggered because there was a discrepancy between what I reported as my last day of work and what my employer reported to the state. Even though it was just a one-day difference (I worked a partial day but reported the full day), it flagged the system for review. The investigation took about 2-3 weeks, but once I provided my final pay stub showing the exact dates and hours worked, everything was cleared up. Just make sure you respond to their requests promptly and provide exactly what they're asking for - don't send extra documentation that wasn't requested as it can sometimes slow things down.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now - got my investigation letter about 2 weeks ago. From what I've learned talking to others who've been through it, the most common triggers are employer contests (especially around the reason for separation), wage discrepancies between what you reported and what your employer reported, or sometimes just random quality control audits. The key thing is to respond quickly with exactly what they're asking for. I submitted my termination paperwork and pay stubs within 3 days of getting the letter. Still waiting to hear back but my case worker told me most investigations wrap up within 2-4 weeks if there are no major issues. Keep certifying your weekly claims even during the investigation - you might not get paid immediately but you won't lose those weeks if everything gets approved.