Can u collect unemployment if u get fired from your job in NY?
So I got terminated yesterday from my warehouse job and honestly not sure what my options are. My supervisor said it was for attendance issues but I had some legitimate reasons for missing days (car trouble, sick kid). Do I even qualify for unemployment benefits if they fired me? I've been working there for almost 2 years and never had problems before this new manager started. Really need to know if it's worth applying or if I'm just wasting my time since they let me go.
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Noah Irving
You can absolutely file for unemployment even if you were fired! In NY, you're eligible unless you were terminated for misconduct. Attendance issues alone don't automatically disqualify you, especially if you had valid reasons. The NYS Department of Labor will investigate both sides of the story during adjudication. File your claim immediately - you have nothing to lose and the worst they can do is deny it.
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Katherine Ziminski
•Thanks! Should I mention the car trouble and sick kid stuff when I file? I'm worried they'll think I'm making excuses.
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Vanessa Chang
definitely file!! i got fired from my retail job last year for being late too much and still got approved. took like 3 weeks but they approved it
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Madison King
The key is whether your termination constitutes 'misconduct' under NY law. Simple attendance issues, especially with legitimate reasons, typically don't rise to that level. When you file your initial claim, be honest about the termination reason. Your employer will have a chance to contest it, but you can appeal if denied. Make sure to document any evidence of your legitimate absences (medical notes, repair receipts, etc.) in case you need them for an appeal hearing.
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Julian Paolo
•What counts as misconduct exactly? I'm in a similar situation and my boss said I was 'insubordinate' but I was just asking questions about unsafe working conditions.
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Ella Knight
I had such a hard time getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I needed to check on my claim status after being fired. Kept getting disconnected or stuck on hold forever. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to a real person at the unemployment office. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration trying to call myself.
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William Schwarz
•Never heard of that before. Did it actually work or is it just another scam?
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Ella Knight
•It's legit - they don't ask for any personal info, just help you get through the phone system to reach an actual NYS Department of Labor rep. Way better than spending hours on hold.
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Lauren Johnson
The unemployment system is SO messed up. They make it impossible to get answers and then act like they're doing you a favor when they finally approve your claim. I was fired for 'performance issues' which was basically my manager not liking me and I STILL had to fight for months to get my benefits.
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Noah Irving
Just to add - make sure you file your weekly claims even while your initial claim is under adjudication. You can't get retroactive payments for weeks you didn't certify, even if you're later approved. The process can take 4-6 weeks so don't wait.
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Katherine Ziminski
•Good to know! I was wondering about that timing. I'll file the initial claim today.
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