smh at everyone saying "just call them"... like have yall TRIED calling ny unemployment lately? You'll be on hold for 5+ hours only to get disconnected. The system is broken af.

I went through almost the exact same thing 2 years ago - quit after 15 years due to stress-related health issues. Here's what I learned: NY does allow unemployment for "good cause" resignations, but you need ROCK SOLID documentation. Get your doctor to write a letter stating that continuing employment would pose serious health risks and that resignation was medically necessary. Also document everything about your work conditions - emails about workload, any attempts to get help from management, evidence of the toxic environment. The online system will probably auto-deny you, so be prepared to appeal. I had to go through 3 months of back and forth, but eventually got approved with full backpay. The key is having all your documentation ready and being persistent. Don't let the initial denial discourage you - fight it!

The maximum weekly benefit rate in NY is $504 as of 2025 but most people don't qualify for the max unless they were making really good money. Your amount depends on your earnings history in the base period which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed.

same boat here, lost my restaurant job and trying to figure out if unemployment will even be worth it with all the hoops they make you jump through

Make sure you keep applying for jobs while your claim is processing too. Even if you end up getting approved, you'll need to show job search activity for your weekly claims. NYS Department of Labor requires work search contacts now.

I went through something very similar with a toxic manager situation. The key things that helped my case were: 1) Keep detailed records with dates/times of incidents, 2) Any written communications (emails, texts) showing the hostile behavior, 3) Witness statements from coworkers if possible. When you file, be very specific about how the work environment became intolerable - don't just say "hostile workplace" but explain the specific behaviors and how they affected your ability to work. Also document if you tried to resolve it through HR or management first. NYS DOL looks favorably on cases where you attempted to fix the situation before quitting. The emails and witness statements you mentioned should definitely help your case!

this whole system is so messed up... you can work somewhere for years and then they make your life hell but if you leave you might not get benefits. meanwhile people who barely worked get approved right away

I've been through something similar and the key thing I learned is that NYS Department of Labor really focuses on the employer's burden to prove misconduct. In my case, I was dealing with a supervisor who was creating impossible situations - giving contradictory instructions, setting unrealistic deadlines, then writing me up when I couldn't meet them. When I eventually got terminated for "performance issues," I was still approved for unemployment because the employer couldn't prove I was willfully violating policy or being insubordinate. The adjudicator told me that being bad at your job isn't misconduct if you're trying your best. Document everything though - dates, times, witnesses, emails. If your supervisor is creating a hostile environment, that paper trail will be crucial whether you end up getting fired or decide to quit for good cause.

One more thing to check - if you worked in multiple states in the past 18 months or had any 1099 income, that can sometimes cause verification delays. Also if your employer is disputing the claim for any reason, that would explain why it's taking so long. The adjudication process for disputed claims can take 6-8 weeks easily.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now - filed in mid-December and still stuck in "under review" status with no explanation. It's incredibly frustrating when you've done everything they asked and still get radio silence. I've been documenting everything (screenshots, call logs, submission confirmations) just in case I need to escalate this later. Has anyone had luck reaching out to their local state representative's office? I've heard they sometimes have direct contacts at the Department of Labor who can actually look into specific cases.