Can you apply for unemployment if you quit your job in NY?
I'm thinking about quitting my job because my manager has been making my life hell for months. The workplace has become really toxic and I can't take it anymore. But I'm worried about money and need to know - can you apply for unemployment if you quit your job? I've heard mixed things about this and want to know what the actual rules are in New York before I make any decisions. Has anyone been through this situation?
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Nathan Kim
Generally speaking, if you voluntarily quit your job, you won't qualify for unemployment benefits in NY. The NYS Department of Labor requires you to be unemployed through no fault of your own. However, there are some exceptions called 'good cause' reasons where you might still qualify - things like unsafe working conditions, harassment, or significant changes to your job duties or pay. You'd need to document everything thoroughly and be prepared to prove your case during the adjudication process.
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Gavin King
•What kind of documentation would I need? I have some emails from HR about complaints I've made but not sure if that's enough.
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Eleanor Foster
i quit my last job and got denied for UI benefits. took forever too, like 6 weeks of adjudication before they finally said no. really wish i had tried to get fired instead lol
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Lucas Turner
•That's not good advice at all. Getting fired for misconduct will also disqualify you from benefits. If you're going to quit, you need legitimate good cause reasons and solid documentation to back it up.
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Kai Rivera
The bar for 'good cause' is pretty high with NYS Department of Labor. I tried to claim it when I quit due to a hostile work environment and they denied me. Said I didn't exhaust all internal remedies first. You basically have to prove you had no other choice but to quit. Document everything - save emails, write down incidents with dates and witnesses, file complaints with HR if possible. Even then it's an uphill battle.
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Gavin King
•That's really discouraging. How long did your adjudication take? I'm already struggling financially and can't afford to wait months for a decision.
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Kai Rivera
•Mine took about 5 weeks. And even after they denied me, I had to pay back the few weeks of benefits I received while it was pending. If you're going to do this, make sure you have savings to cover yourself.
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Anna Stewart
I was in a similar situation last year where I couldn't get through to anyone at NYS Department of Labor about my quit claim status. After weeks of trying their phone system, I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to a real person. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Was really helpful for getting clarity on my specific situation since the online portal doesn't give you much detail when you're in adjudication.
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Layla Sanders
•Never heard of that before. Did they charge you? Seems weird that you'd need a third party service to talk to the state.
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Anna Stewart
•Yeah there's a fee but honestly it was worth it to actually get answers instead of calling 100 times and getting hung up on. The NYS Department of Labor phone system is absolutely terrible.
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Morgan Washington
Ugh the whole system is so frustrating!!! I'm dealing with something similar and it's been WEEKS of waiting. Why does everything with unemployment have to be so complicated? Just want to know if I qualify or not!
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Taylor To
I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago. The key thing to understand is that "good cause" in NY is very specific - it's not just about a bad boss or toxic workplace, but about conditions that would force any reasonable person to quit. Things like documented harassment, unsafe working conditions, or significant changes to your job that weren't agreed to. I'd strongly recommend consulting with an employment attorney before you quit if possible. Many offer free consultations and can help you understand if your situation meets the legal standard for good cause. Also, consider filing complaints with HR, your state's labor board, or OSHA first if applicable - having a paper trail of trying to resolve issues internally really strengthens your case. The process is stressful and can take months, so make sure you have a financial backup plan regardless of what you decide.
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