Can I get unemployment if I quit to go to school - NYS Department of Labor eligibility question
I'm thinking about quitting my retail job to go back to college full-time but I'm worried about money while I'm in school. Does anyone know if you can collect unemployment benefits in NY if you voluntarily quit to pursue education? I've been working at the same store for almost 2 years and really need to finish my degree but can't afford to have zero income. Has anyone been in this situation before?
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Evelyn Xu
Generally speaking, if you voluntarily quit your job without good cause, you won't be eligible for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor. The key issue is that you need to be available for work and actively seeking employment to qualify for UI benefits. Full-time school attendance typically conflicts with the work availability requirement.
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Sophia Russo
AuthorThat's what I was afraid of. Are there any exceptions or ways around this? Like if I only take evening classes or something?
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Dominic Green
I tried this exact thing 3 years ago and got denied. NYS Department of Labor said I wasn't available for full-time work because of my class schedule. Even though I said I could work around classes they still rejected my claim.
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Hannah Flores
Did you appeal the decision? Maybe if you had documentation showing you were looking for part-time work that fit your schedule?
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Dominic Green
I didn't appeal because my school advisor told me it was pretty hopeless. Maybe I should have tried though.
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Kayla Jacobson
There are some specific programs where you can receive unemployment while in training or education, but they're pretty limited. You'd need to look into approved training programs through NYS Department of Labor. Regular college enrollment on your own doesn't typically qualify. You might want to check if your degree program is on their approved list or if there are any vocational rehabilitation programs that could help.
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Sophia Russo
AuthorHow do I find out about these approved programs? Is there a list on their website or do I need to call?
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Kayla Jacobson
You can check the ny.gov website under workforce development programs, but honestly calling might be faster. Fair warning though - getting through to someone at NYS Department of Labor can take forever with their phone system.
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William Rivera
I had success using Claimyr when I needed to talk to someone at NYS Department of Labor about a complicated situation. They actually got me through to a real person who could explain my options. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.
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Grace Lee
Never heard of that before but sounds useful. The NYS Department of Labor phone system is absolutely terrible.
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Mia Roberts
honestly the whole system is set up to screw people over who are trying to better themselves through education. like why shouldn't you be able to get benefits if you're improving your job prospects?? makes no sense
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Grace Lee
I get the frustration but there has to be some logic to it - unemployment is supposed to be temporary support while you look for work, not funding for life choices.
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Hannah Flores
What about financial aid? Have you looked into grants and student loans? That might be a better path than trying to work around unemployment rules. Plus if you qualify for Pell grants you might not need as much other support.
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Sophia Russo
AuthorI've filled out FAFSA but won't know what I qualify for until I actually enroll. Was hoping unemployment could bridge the gap but sounds like that's not realistic.
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Samantha Howard
You might want to look into work-study programs or part-time enrollment options. Some people I know have had success keeping a part-time job while taking classes part-time - it takes longer to finish but you maintain some income and work history. Also, some employers offer tuition assistance programs, so you could potentially stay at your current job and see if they'd help with school costs. It's worth asking HR about educational benefits before you quit entirely.
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