Can I get NY unemployment if I quit my job due to extreme stress and health issues?

You might actually qualify! NY unemployment does allow benefits if you quit with "good cause," and health reasons can count. You'll need documentation from your doctor showing that the job was causing medical issues. Make sure you have that migraine diagnosis and recommendation to leave the position documented officially. When you apply, be very clear that you resigned due to medical necessity, not just because you were unhappy. The key is proving you had no reasonable alternative except to quit.

I was in almost the exact same situation in early 2025 - quit after 10 years because of severe anxiety from an impossible workload. My claim was initially DENIED but I appealed and won. The key was having my therapist and doctor both write letters specifically stating that continuing at that job would cause serious harm to my health. I tried for weeks to reach someone at NYSDOL to discuss my appeal and couldn't get through. After wasting hours on hold, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an agent in under 20 minutes! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE The agent explained exactly what medical documentation I needed for my appeal. Having that conversation literally saved my claim.

quitting means no benefits periodt. thats how it works. they dont care about your reasons.

I've heard different things about this. My cousin quit because of anxiety and got approved but my neighbor quit because her boss was harassing her and got denied. Good luck figuring it out!

The specific provision you want to reference is in the NY Unemployment Insurance Law, which states that leaving employment due to a physician-documented medical condition that makes continued work detrimental to your health can constitute good cause for separation. Here's what you need to do: 1. Get a detailed letter from your doctor stating that your work conditions were causing your migraines and other health issues 2. Document the increased workload (if possible with emails, performance reviews, etc.) 3. When you file, select "quit with good cause" not just "quit" 4. In the explanation section, be specific about the health impact and medical advice 5. If denied initially (which happens often in these cases), immediately file an appeal The key legal standard is whether a "reasonable person" would have felt it necessary to leave the position for health preservation. Your 15-year tenure will actually help demonstrate you didn't leave impulsively.

I'm actually going through something similar right now! I had to leave my job in March because of panic attacks. My claim got denied at first and now I'm totally stressing about the appeal hearing next week. My doctor said she'd write a letter but hasn't sent it yet and now I'm freaking out that I won't have it in time. Did anyone here actually WIN their appeal based on health reasons????? This whole system is making my anxiety worse!!!!

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST WORKERS!!! They force us into impossible situations then deny benefits when we can't take it anymore. I quit my warehouse job after they doubled my quota and refused to fix the AC in summer. My first claim? DENIED. My appeal? DENIED. The hearing officer literally said "you should have found another job before quitting" - HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO JOB HUNT WHEN IM WORKING 60 HOURS A WEEK AND ABOUT TO COLLAPSE??!!! Anyone saying you'll definitely get approved is LYING. They deny almost everyone who quits, even with documentation. System is BROKEN.

One thing no one's mentioned yet: in New York, if you're denied benefits, you still have the right to request a hearing within 30 days of the determination notice. At this hearing, you can present all your medical evidence and explain the situation to an administrative law judge. Many initial denials get overturned at this stage, especially with proper documentation. Also, while you're going through this process, keep detailed notes of all your job search activities. You'll need to demonstrate that you're looking for work that won't cause the same health issues.

my sister works at unemployment and says medical reasons for quitting are one of the few that actually get approved a lot. but you need PROOF not just saying your stressed.

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I've scheduled an appointment with my doctor tomorrow to get an official letter documenting how my work conditions affected my health. I'm going to apply for unemployment this week and make sure to select "quit with good cause" like several of you suggested. I'll update this thread once I hear anything about my claim. Fingers crossed!