Can you get unemployment for anxiety - NYS Department of Labor mental health disqualification question
I've been struggling with severe anxiety at my retail job for the past 6 months and my doctor says I need to take time off work to focus on treatment. My manager has been really unsympathetic and the stress is making everything worse. If I have to quit because of my mental health condition, would I be able to collect unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor? I've heard conflicting things about whether anxiety counts as a valid reason to leave a job and still qualify for UI benefits. Has anyone dealt with this situation before?
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Zainab Yusuf
Mental health conditions can qualify you for unemployment benefits in New York, but it depends on how you handle the separation from your job. If you quit voluntarily due to anxiety, NYS Department of Labor will review whether you had 'good cause' to leave. You'll need medical documentation from your doctor stating that your condition made it impossible to continue working. The key is proving that your employer couldn't provide reasonable accommodations and that continuing work would have been detrimental to your health.
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Miguel Alvarez
•Thank you! My doctor has been documenting everything and said he'd write a letter explaining why I can't continue in that environment. Should I try talking to my employer about accommodations first before quitting?
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Connor O'Reilly
i quit my job last year because of panic attacks and it took forever to get approved. NYS Department of Labor put my claim in adjudication for like 2 months while they reviewed all my medical records. but i did eventually get benefits once they determined it was good cause
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Yara Khoury
•2 months?? That's terrifying. I can barely afford to be out of work for 2 weeks let alone 2 months waiting for a decision.
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Keisha Taylor
Before you quit, document everything! Keep records of any conversations with your supervisor about your condition, any requests for accommodations you made, and how they responded. NYS Department of Labor will want to see that you tried to work with your employer first. Also make sure you understand the difference between quitting for good cause versus being terminated - the requirements are different for each situation.
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Miguel Alvarez
•I haven't formally asked for accommodations yet but I did mention to my manager that I was having anxiety issues and needed some flexibility with my schedule. She basically brushed it off and said everyone gets stressed at work.
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StardustSeeker
I had such a hard time getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I was dealing with my mental health claim. Spent hours on hold every day trying to get someone to explain the adjudication process. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual NYS Department of Labor representative. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Made such a difference being able to actually speak to someone who could review my case.
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Paolo Marino
•How much did that cost though? I'm already stressed about money and can't afford to pay extra just to talk to someone at NYS Department of Labor.
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StardustSeeker
•They focus on getting you connected rather than the cost aspect. For me it was worth it because I was getting nowhere with the regular phone system and needed answers about my adjudication status.
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Amina Bah
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS BROKEN!! I've been fighting with NYS Department of Labor for months over my anxiety-related claim and they keep asking for more and more documentation. It's like they don't want to approve anyone for mental health reasons. My therapist says this kind of bureaucratic runaround actually makes anxiety worse but they don't care!!!
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Miguel Alvarez
•This is exactly what I'm worried about. The thought of having to fight the system while already dealing with anxiety issues seems overwhelming.
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Connor O'Reilly
just wanted to add that you should apply as soon as you're separated from work, even if you're not sure if you'll qualify. the worst they can say is no but at least you'll get in the system and start the process
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Amina Diop
I went through something similar with my anxiety and panic disorder. One thing that really helped my case was getting a detailed letter from my psychiatrist that specifically mentioned how my work environment was exacerbating my condition and that continuing to work there would be harmful to my recovery. NYS Department of Labor seems to take it more seriously when the medical professional explicitly connects your mental health condition to your inability to continue in that specific job. Also, if you do decide to quit, make sure you phrase it as "constructive dismissal" if your employer was unwilling to accommodate your disability - this can sometimes be treated more like a termination than a voluntary quit. The process is stressful but don't let that discourage you from applying if you truly need the support.
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Natasha Orlova
•This is really helpful advice! The "constructive dismissal" angle is something I hadn't considered. My employer basically said they couldn't make any accommodations and that I needed to "just deal with it" when I brought up my anxiety. That sounds like it could qualify as them being unwilling to accommodate my disability. Did you have to get a lawyer involved or were you able to navigate the constructive dismissal claim on your own through NYS Department of Labor?
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Keisha Johnson
•@ec8bf9e37cd4 That's exactly the kind of documentation that made the difference in my case too! I'd also suggest keeping a journal of specific incidents where your anxiety was triggered at work and how your employer responded (or failed to respond) to your requests for help. NYS Department of Labor reviewers seem to want concrete examples rather than general statements about workplace stress. The more detailed your timeline and the clearer the connection between your work environment and your mental health deterioration, the stronger your case will be. It's definitely worth the effort to document everything properly upfront rather than trying to reconstruct it later during the appeals process.
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