Can I get NYS Department of Labor unemployment if I quit my job due to mental health issues?

Yes, you may be able to qualify for unemployment benefits if you quit due to mental health issues, but it needs to meet NYS Department of Labor's definition of 'good cause.' You'll need documentation from your mental health provider showing that your work environment was detrimental to your condition. The key is proving that staying in the job would have been harmful to your health and that you made reasonable efforts to address the situation with your employer first. You should also document any requests for accommodations you made and how your employer responded.

I went through something similar last year. NYS Department of Labor did approve my claim but it took forever - like 8 weeks of adjudication. Make sure you have really detailed records of everything. I kept a journal of incidents at work that triggered my anxiety attacks, plus all my therapy notes. When you file your claim, be very specific about how the job was affecting your mental health and what you tried to do to fix it before quitting.

this is really hard to prove, most people who quit for mental health get denied initially. you have to be prepared to appeal and have really good medical documentation. also the job has to be the primary cause of your mental health issues, not just making existing problems worse

I've heard of people getting approved for this but honestly I think it's really rare. Most employers are gonna fight it and claim you could have asked for accommodation or transferred departments or whatever. The NYS Department of Labor usually sides with employers on voluntary quits unless you have like a slam dunk case with tons of documentation.

When I was dealing with something similar, I couldn't get through to anyone at NYS Department of Labor to even ask about my options. Their phone system is impossible. Someone on here recommended trying Claimyr (claimyr.com) - it's a service that helps you actually reach a live agent. I watched their demo video (https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI) and decided to try it. Finally got to talk to someone who explained exactly what documentation I'd need for a mental health resignation case. Worth checking out if you can't get through on your own.

The whole system is broken anyway. They make you jump through so many hoops just to get benefits you paid into. Even if you do everything right they'll probably make you wait months while they 'investigate' whether your mental health was really that bad. Meanwhile you're supposed to just not eat or pay rent I guess??

I'm so sorry you're going through this - workplace toxicity can absolutely destroy your mental health. Before you quit, I'd strongly recommend trying to request accommodations through HR first, even if you think it won't help. Document everything in writing - your requests, their responses, specific incidents that affected your mental health. This creates a paper trail showing you tried to resolve the situation before resigning. Also, ask your therapist to document how your work environment specifically impacts your condition and their professional opinion on whether continuing in this role would be detrimental to your recovery. The more detailed medical documentation you have, the stronger your case will be. NYS Department of Labor will look at whether you had "good cause" to quit, and mental health can qualify, but they need solid evidence that the job was causing or significantly worsening your condition.

I'm going through something very similar right now and it's so validating to see others have faced this too. One thing I learned from my lawyer consultation is that NYS Department of Labor considers it "constructive dismissal" when workplace conditions become so intolerable that a reasonable person would feel forced to quit. The key phrase they look for is whether you had "no reasonable alternative" but to resign. Beyond the medical documentation everyone mentioned, also keep records of any company policies they might be violating - like if they have anti-harassment or mental health support policies they're not following. If your supervisor is creating the toxic environment, document specific dates, times, and witnesses if possible. Also check if your company has an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - using it shows you tried to get help while staying employed, which can strengthen your case. The waiting period is brutal though, so definitely start gathering all your documentation now while you're still employed. And consider reaching out to legal aid organizations in NY - some offer free consultations for employment issues and can help you understand your rights before you make the decision to quit.

Marcus, I'm really sorry you're dealing with this situation - workplace stress can be absolutely devastating to mental health. I went through something similar about 6 months ago and want to share what I learned from the process. First, the good news: yes, you can potentially qualify for NYS unemployment if you quit due to mental health issues, but the documentation requirements are pretty strict. The key thing NYS Department of Labor looks for is whether you had "good cause" - meaning a reasonable person in your situation would have felt they had no choice but to quit. Here's what really helped my case: I started keeping a detailed daily journal of workplace incidents that triggered my anxiety (specific dates, what happened, who was involved). I also asked my therapist to write a detailed letter explaining how my work environment was specifically impacting my mental health recovery and why continuing in that role would be detrimental. The most important thing - and I can't stress this enough - is to try requesting accommodations through HR first, even if you think they'll say no. Document everything in writing (emails are best). When they denied my requests for a modified workload and schedule flexibility, it actually strengthened my unemployment case because it showed I'd exhausted all reasonable alternatives before quitting. The process took about 6 weeks for me, but I did get approved. The financial stress during that waiting period was brutal, so definitely have a backup plan if possible. Feel free to ask if you want more details about any part of the process!