I'm dealing with a similar situation at my company right now - they just announced a 25% pay cut for everyone in our department. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful, especially knowing that NYS Department of Labor does recognize substantial pay cuts as good cause for quitting. I've been with my company for 3 years and this would drop my salary from $48,000 to $36,000, which would make it impossible for me to cover my rent and basic expenses. I'm planning to start documenting everything immediately like you all suggested - the original announcement, my current pay stubs, and any follow-up communications. It's scary to think about quitting, but it sounds like there's a real path forward with unemployment benefits if I handle it properly. Thanks for sharing all your experiences and advice - it's making me feel less alone in this difficult situation.

I'm a labor law attorney and wanted to add some legal perspective to this discussion. You're all on the right track - New York does recognize "constructive discharge" when employers make substantial unilateral changes to employment terms. A 30% pay cut definitely qualifies as substantial under NYS case law. However, there are some important timing considerations: 1) Don't accept even one paycheck at the reduced rate if possible, as this could be seen as accepting the new terms, 2) File your unemployment claim within the same week you quit, and 3) Be prepared for the employer to contest your claim - they often do in these situations. Also keep in mind that unemployment benefits in NY are typically 50% of your average weekly wage (up to the maximum), so plan your finances accordingly. Document everything, including any verbal communications, and consider sending a formal resignation letter clearly stating you're resigning due to the substantial reduction in compensation. This creates a clear record of your reasoning.

being in school full time can also disqualify you unless you meet certain exceptions. NYS Department of Labor wants to see that you're available for full time work

Another important disqualifier to be aware of is if you're receiving certain types of pension or retirement income - NYS Department of Labor will reduce or deny benefits depending on how much you're getting and whether your employer contributed to it. Also, if you're not a US citizen or don't have work authorization, that can disqualify you even if you were working legally before. The key thing is to be completely honest on your application because any false information is considered fraud and will definitely disqualify you.

honestly the whole system is designed to trip you up and deny claims. they'll find any excuse to say no. even if you qualify they'll put you through adjudication hell for months. just be prepared for a fight

File your claim as soon as possible even if you're not sure about eligibility. It's better to apply and get denied than to wait and miss out on benefits you're entitled to. The worst they can say is no, but if you don't apply you definitely won't get anything.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - what you've described sounds absolutely horrible and no one should have to endure that kind of treatment, especially after 15 years of dedication. From everything I've read here, it really sounds like you have a strong case for unemployment benefits. The fact that your doctor directly linked your migraines to work stress is huge, and your long tenure shows this wasn't a rash decision. New York does recognize "good cause" resignations for health reasons, so don't let anyone tell you that quitting automatically disqualifies you. A few things that might help based on what others have shared: - Get that formal letter from your doctor using specific language about the work environment being "detrimental to your health" - Gather all those emails where you raised concerns about the workload - they show you tried to fix things before leaving - When you apply, make sure to select "quit with good cause" not just "quit" - Document everything chronologically to show the clear progression from increased workload to health problems Even if you get an initial denial (which unfortunately happens a lot with resignation cases), don't give up! The appeals process seems to work much better when you have proper medical documentation. You did the right thing by prioritizing your health. Wishing you all the best with your claim!

Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! I'm also dealing with a work-related health situation and was worried I wouldn't qualify for unemployment after resigning. The advice about getting specific medical language in the doctor's letter is so important - I made the mistake of just bringing visit notes to my first appointment and they weren't detailed enough. One thing I wanted to add that helped me: if you have any text messages or emails from family/friends where you talked about the work stress affecting your health, save those too. They can help establish a timeline and show that the health issues were ongoing and documented in real-time, not just something you claimed after deciding to quit. Obviously the medical documentation is most important, but having that additional evidence of how the situation was affecting you personally really strengthened my case. Also, for anyone waiting on the phone with NYSDOL - I've had better luck calling right when they open at 8 AM rather than during peak hours. Still takes forever, but at least you get in the queue earlier. Good luck with your doctor appointment tomorrow and your claim! After everything you've been through, you absolutely deserve this support.

I'm currently dealing with this same issue - been on unemployment for 3 months now and my lease is up soon. One thing that's helped me is reaching out to smaller property management companies rather than the big corporate ones. They seem more willing to look at your whole financial picture instead of just running you through automated screening software. I also found that being proactive about explaining my situation upfront (rather than trying to hide it) has gotten me further in the process. Some landlords actually appreciate the honesty and the fact that unemployment is documented government income rather than under-the-table work. Still searching but feeling more optimistic after reading everyone's experiences here!

I went through this same struggle a few months ago and want to share what worked for me. Beyond the standard documentation everyone mentioned, I also included a letter from my previous employer confirming my layoff was due to company downsizing (not performance issues) and my eligibility for rehire. This helped show landlords that my unemployment wasn't due to any fault of my own. I also created a simple one-page timeline showing my job search activities and any interviews lined up. The combination of this extra documentation plus offering 2-3 months rent upfront helped me secure a place even though my $380/week benefits were below the typical 3x rent requirement. It took about 20 applications over 6 weeks, but persistence paid off. Your $3,200 savings is actually really good - that's what convinced my landlord I was financially responsible despite being on benefits.