Can I get unemployment if I quit due to child care issues - NYS Department of Labor eligibility?
I had to quit my job last month because my daycare suddenly closed and I couldn't find another one that I could afford. I'm a single mom and have been looking for childcare but everything is either too expensive or has long waiting lists. I heard that you might be able to get unemployment if you quit for certain reasons but I'm not sure if childcare counts as good cause in New York. Has anyone been through this with NYS Department of Labor? I'm really stressed about money and need to know if I should even bother applying or if they'll just deny me automatically for quitting.
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Lilly Curtis
Yes, you can potentially qualify for unemployment benefits if you quit due to lack of childcare, but it has to meet specific criteria under NYS Department of Labor rules. It's considered 'good cause' if you can prove you made reasonable efforts to find suitable childcare and couldn't secure it. You'll need to document your search efforts - keep records of daycare contacts, waiting lists, cost comparisons, etc. The key is showing you had no other reasonable option but to quit.
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Ryder Everingham
•Thank you! I do have some emails from daycares about waiting lists and costs. Should I gather all of those before I file my claim?
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Leo Simmons
I went thru this exact thing 2 years ago when my babysitter moved away suddenly. NYS Department of Labor approved my claim but it took FOREVER - like 6 weeks of adjudication. They wanted proof that I tried to find other childcare and that quitting was my last resort. Make sure you have documentation of everything you tried.
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Ryder Everingham
•6 weeks?? That's so long when you need money for bills. Did they backdate it to when you first applied?
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Leo Simmons
•Yeah they backdated it once approved but those 6 weeks were really tough financially
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Lindsey Fry
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to check on your claim status during adjudication, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me reach an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Really helped when I was stuck in adjudication hell for weeks and couldn't get anyone on the phone.
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Saleem Vaziri
•Is that legit? I've been trying to call for days and just get hung up on or the line is busy.
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Lindsey Fry
•Yeah it's legit, they basically handle the calling for you so you don't have to sit on hold. Worth checking out the demo video to see if it's right for your situation.
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Kayla Morgan
The whole system is ridiculous!! Why should you have to PROVE you need childcare to work?? Of course you need childcare! But NYS Department of Labor makes it so complicated and then takes months to decide. Meanwhile bills don't stop coming. I hope things work out for you but prepare for a fight.
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James Maki
•I feel the same way - the system seems designed to discourage people from applying. But if you qualify, you qualify, so definitely worth trying.
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Jasmine Hancock
Make sure when you file that you select the right reason for leaving your job. There should be an option for 'lack of childcare' or something similar. Also be prepared to provide names and contact info for the daycares you contacted during the application process. NYS Department of Labor will likely verify your story during adjudication.
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Ryder Everingham
•Good point about selecting the right reason. I was worried about how to explain it but if there's actually an option for childcare that makes it easier.
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Andre Laurent
I went through something similar last year when my mom (who watched my kids) had to go into the hospital unexpectedly. NYS Department of Labor did approve my claim but you really need to document EVERYTHING. Keep a spreadsheet of every daycare you called - name, phone number, date you contacted them, what they told you about availability/cost/waiting lists. Also save any emails or texts about childcare arrangements that fell through. They're going to want to see that you exhausted all reasonable options before quitting. It's frustrating but the documentation is what saved me during the adjudication process. Don't give up - if you truly had no other choice, you have a good case.
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