Can you apply for unemployment if you resign from your job in New York?

Generally speaking, if you voluntarily quit your job, you won't be eligible for unemployment benefits in New York. However, there are some exceptions under NYS Department of Labor rules. You can potentially qualify if you resigned for 'good cause' which includes things like unsafe working conditions, harassment, significant changes to your job duties or pay, or domestic violence situations. You'd need to document everything and be prepared to prove your case during the adjudication process.

I actually went through this exact situation last year. I resigned due to my boss creating an impossible work environment and was initially denied benefits. The key is filing your claim immediately after resigning and being very detailed about why you quit when you file. During my phone interview with NYS Department of Labor, I had to explain everything that happened and provide dates. It took about 6 weeks for adjudication but I eventually got approved. Keep copies of any emails, witness statements if possible, and document specific incidents with dates.

If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to check on your claim status or explain your resignation situation, I had good luck using a service called Claimyr. They help you get connected to actual agents instead of waiting on hold forever. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really helped me when I was stuck in adjudication limbo.

just quit my job last month and got denied immediately... didn't know about the good cause thing. can i appeal or am i screwed?

The whole system is so unfair. They make it nearly impossible to prove 'good cause' unless you have perfect documentation. Most people don't think to document harassment when it's happening because they're just trying to survive the situation.