Can I get NYS Department of Labor unemployment if I quit to take care of my child?
I had to quit my job at a retail store last month because my daycare suddenly closed and I couldn't find alternative childcare for my 3-year-old. I've been looking for remote work but haven't found anything yet. Does anyone know if NYS Department of Labor considers quitting to care for your child as good cause for unemployment benefits? I'm really struggling financially and not sure what my options are.
12 comments
Join the conversation
Danielle Campbell
Unfortunately, quitting to care for a child generally doesn't qualify as good cause under NYS Department of Labor rules. Good cause typically means unsafe working conditions, harassment, or significant changes to your job terms. However, you should still apply because there might be specific circumstances that could make your case different. The worst they can say is no, and you might qualify for other assistance programs.
0 coins
Caleb Bell
•That's disappointing but I appreciate the honesty. Should I mention the daycare closure specifically when I file my claim?
0 coins
Rhett Bowman
wait i thought if you had to quit for family reasons that was covered?? my friend got benefits when she had to take care of her sick mom
0 coins
Danielle Campbell
•Caring for a seriously ill family member can sometimes qualify, but routine childcare usually doesn't meet the good cause standard. Each case is reviewed individually though.
0 coins
Abigail Patel
You should definitely apply anyway and explain your situation thoroughly. Include documentation about the daycare closure if you have it. NYS Department of Labor will review your case during adjudication. Also look into emergency childcare assistance programs - there might be help available while you job search. If they deny your claim, you can always appeal with additional documentation.
0 coins
Caleb Bell
•I do have the letter from the daycare about their closure. I'll make sure to include that when I apply. Thanks for the suggestion about emergency assistance too.
0 coins
Daniel White
I've been trying to reach NYS Department of Labor for weeks about my own claim issues and can never get through on the phone. If you need to talk to someone about your specific situation, I recently used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to an agent. They have this video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Might be worth checking out if you want to discuss your childcare situation directly with someone at NYS Department of Labor.
0 coins
Caleb Bell
•Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely look into that if I run into trouble getting through to them.
0 coins
Nolan Carter
The unemployment system is so frustrating - they make it nearly impossible to qualify for anything!! I swear they just want to deny everyone. But definitely try applying because you never know what they might approve.
0 coins
Natalia Stone
Good luck hun! Being a single mom is so hard, hope you find something soon 💕
0 coins
Amina Diallo
I'm so sorry you're going through this tough situation. While childcare issues typically don't qualify as "good cause" for unemployment in NY, I'd still encourage you to apply and be completely honest about your circumstances. Make sure to include that daycare closure letter and explain that you actively tried to find alternative childcare but couldn't. Sometimes adjudicators will consider unique situations. In the meantime, also check if you qualify for emergency assistance programs through your county's social services department - they sometimes have emergency childcare funding or other support for parents in crisis situations like yours.
0 coins
Danielle Mays
•This is really helpful advice, thank you! I didn't know about county social services having emergency childcare funding - I'll definitely look into that. It's good to know that even though the circumstances might not typically qualify, it's still worth being thorough with the application and documentation.
0 coins