Can new moms claim ny unemployment after giving birth? Can't reach anyone!

I went through this last year. From what I understand, you generally don't qualify for unemployment if you voluntarily leave your job (even for something as important as childcare). Unemployment is meant for people who lost their job through no fault of their own. If your employer is expecting you back and you choose not to return, that's considered voluntary resignation in most cases.

After my second baby I was in the same boat and couldn't get anyone on the phone for weeks. I finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual human at unemployment. Talking to an agent got my situation sorted in one call - apparently there are specific circumstances where new parents can qualify, but the online system isn't clear about it. The money I spent on the service was totally worth it to finally get clear answers about my benefits. Here's a video that explains how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

You probably don't qualify for unemployment, but have you looked into temporary disability? NY has the Paid Family Leave program that might cover you longer. Also check if your employer offers any additional unpaid leave under FMLA - that's 12 weeks that they legally have to hold your job for you (if your company has over 50 employees).

The whole system is stacked against new parents. I tried something similar in 2022 and got denied because I "wasn't available for work" since I had a newborn with no childcare. It's a catch-22...they expect you to be immediately available for work but don't consider that you might not have anyone to watch your baby. The system is completely broken. 🤬

Here's what you need to know about NY unemployment after having a baby (I went through this whole process last year and spent hours researching): The key issue is WHY you're not returning to work. If your employer fired you or eliminated your position while you were on leave, you likely qualify for unemployment. If you're choosing not to return because of childcare issues or your baby's health, it's more complicated. For your situation, here are your options: 1. If your baby has documented health issues requiring your care, you may qualify under special circumstances. Get documentation from your pediatrician. 2. Check if you qualify for NY Paid Family Leave first - this is separate from unemployment and specifically for caregiving. 3. If your employer is violating any workplace laws (like not providing pumping accommodations as required by law), document this thoroughly. This could strengthen your case. 4. File an application anyway - sometimes the online system automatically rejects claims that a human agent would approve with your specific circumstances. Most importantly, you NEED to speak with an actual agent. The website info is too general. After trying for weeks to get through, I used claimyr.com which connected me to an agent. Getting personalized advice made all the difference in my case. Good luck and congrats on your baby!

check if ur company offers short term disability. mine did and it covered like 60% of my salary for 8 weeks after birth.

not to be that person but this is why america is so far behind other countries. in canada you get 12-18 MONTHS of paid leave. here we get basically nothing and then wonder why people aren't having kids. 🙄

Have u tried calling right when they open? I got through faster by calling at exactly 8:00 am.

i worked at nysdol before. heres the deal - technically you dont qualify if you "voluntarily" leave your job. BUT theres exemptions for caregiving responsibilities if you can prove you have no reasonable alternative. document EVERYTHING. show you've looked for childcare and cant afford it/find it. get doctors notes about any special needs your baby has. call and speak to a human (use claimyr.com if you're desperate - worked for me after 3 weeks of trying).

i dont think babys count as a reason. my friend tried last yr and got denied. system is trash

My wife just went through this same thing with our twins in February! What worked for us: She filed online first (got denied). Then we called over 100 times, finally got through, explained our specific situation (including childcare costs being more than her salary would be), and got approved on appeal. The key was speaking to an actual human who could understand our specific case. Document everything - costs of childcare in your area, your baby's medical needs, etc. Good luck mama! ❤️

check out www.yourtotalrewards.com/ny they have specific info about benefits for new parents including unemployment options.

The real answer is it depends on your specific situation, which is why you need to actually talk to someone. I gave up trying to call and used one of those call services (claimyr?) that waits on hold for you. Worth every penny because I finally got my questions answered instead of guessing.

Congrats on ur baby! But ya its really hard to get benefits for this reason. The system thinks ur supposed to have childcare magically lined up even tho it costs more than most people make 🤡 our country is so backwards when it comes to supporting new parents