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Wait, are you sure you filled out the separation reason correctly? Sometimes if the employer reports it wrong or if there was any voluntary aspect to the closure process, it can affect your eligibility. Did you check what your employer reported as the reason for separation?
Been there! The key is the appeal hearing - that's where you can present all your evidence about the closure being involuntary. Bring the WARN notice, any company communications about the shutdown, and if possible, testimony from other laid-off workers. The initial denial might just be a processing error.
The whole online system is honestly pretty terrible but it's your only real option. Don't expect it to work smoothly - I had to restart my application three times because it kept crashing. And good luck if you need to talk to an actual person at NYS Department of Labor, their phone system is basically designed to hang up on you.
Just wanted to add that once you file your initial claim, you'll need to file weekly claims every week to keep getting benefits. Don't forget about that part! The weekly claims are much shorter but you have to do them consistently.
There's also the possibility that if your school was accredited and you're eligible for a closed school discharge of student loans, there might be additional support available. Contact your state's higher education agency as well as filing with NYS Department of Labor. Document everything about the school closure - dates, notifications, any communications.
I had trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor during my layoff situation last year - kept getting busy signals and disconnected calls. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Really helped me get answers about my claim status when the online system wasn't updating.
Evan Kalinowski
i thought you could get unemployment if you quit for good reason like if your boss was being abusive or something? my friend got benefits after she quit because her manager was harassing her but she had to prove it
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William Rivera
•Your friend was right - that would fall under "good cause" but she needed evidence. The key is having documentation like emails, witness statements, or formal complaints filed with HR.
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Victoria Charity
The NYS Department of Labor will scrutinize voluntary quits very carefully. Even if you think you have good cause, they might still initially deny your claim and you'll have to go through the appeal process. That could take weeks or months before you see any money. Are you sure you can't try to resolve the workplace issues first or look for another job while still employed?
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Kayla Jacobson
•I've been trying to find another job for months but nothing has come through yet. The situation at work is getting really bad and affecting my mental health.
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