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.

i went through this whole process last year when my company downsized. honestly the hardest part was just getting through to someone at NYS Department of Labor when I had questions. their phone lines are always busy and the wait times are ridiculous. ended up using this service called claimyr.com that helped me get through to an actual agent. they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. was way easier than sitting on hold for hours

Just to add - there are different types of unemployment situations. Regular UI is what most people think of, but there's also partial unemployment if your hours get cut, and standby status for temporary layoffs where you expect to return to the same job. Each has slightly different rules but all go through NYS Department of Labor.

The NYS Department of Labor phone lines have different hours than the online system. If you need to speak to someone, they're typically open Monday-Friday 8am-5pm, but the my.ny.gov portal for weekly claims is always available. Just make sure you file before your weekly deadline.

I always file mine on Sunday nights just to be safe. The system is usually pretty fast then and I don't have to worry about forgetting during the week.

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.

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

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?