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Evelyn Rivera

Can you get unemployment if a job offer is rescinded - NYS Department of Labor eligibility?

So I'm in a really weird situation and not sure if I can file for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor. I was unemployed for about 6 weeks and finally got a job offer last month. I actually turned down unemployment initially because I thought I had this job lined up. The company made me a written offer, I accepted, gave my start date, and even did all the paperwork and background check stuff. Then literally 3 days before my start date they called and said they were rescinding the offer due to 'budget cuts' or something. Now I'm back to square one with no job and no income. Can I still file for UI benefits even though I technically had a job offer that got pulled? I'm worried NYS Department of Labor will say I should have kept filing weekly claims or something. Has anyone dealt with this before?

Julia Hall

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Yes, you can absolutely file for unemployment benefits in this situation! A rescinded job offer doesn't disqualify you from UI. Since you were unemployed through no fault of your own when the offer was withdrawn, you meet the basic eligibility requirements. The key thing is that you didn't voluntarily quit a job - the employer pulled the offer. When you file your initial claim with NYS Department of Labor, make sure to explain the situation clearly including the timeline of when you received and when they rescinded the offer.

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Evelyn Rivera

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That's such a relief to hear! Should I mention the rescinded offer when I file or just focus on my previous employment? I don't want to complicate things.

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Arjun Patel

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Definitely mention the rescinded offer! NYS Department of Labor needs the complete picture of your employment situation. Bring any documentation you have - the original offer letter, acceptance email, and the communication about them pulling the offer. This actually strengthens your case because it shows you were actively seeking work and had legitimate employment lined up. The fact that they rescinded it due to budget issues is totally beyond your control.

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Evelyn Rivera

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Good point about the documentation. I have everything in writing thankfully. Do you know if there's a time limit on when I need to file after something like this happens?

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Julia Hall

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You should file as soon as possible. There's no specific penalty for this situation but unemployment benefits can't be backdated indefinitely. Since you're already dealing with a gap, getting the claim started now is your best bet.

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Jade Lopez

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ugh this happened to my sister last year!! she was so stressed about it but NYS Department of Labor approved her claim no problem. the only thing that was annoying was she had to wait for adjudication because they wanted to verify the details about the rescinded offer but once they did that everything went smoothly

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Evelyn Rivera

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How long did her adjudication take? I'm already stressed about money and can't afford a long delay.

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Jade Lopez

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i think it was like 2-3 weeks? not too bad considering. she said the worst part was just not being able to get through to anyone on the phone to check status

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Tony Brooks

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If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor by phone to check on your claim status or get questions answered, you might want to try Claimyr. I found out about it when I was dealing with my own unemployment issues and couldn't get through their phone system. It's at claimyr.com and they have a video demo that shows how it works (https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI). Basically they help you get connected to an actual agent without sitting on hold forever. Was super helpful when I needed to clarify some details about my job search requirements.

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Evelyn Rivera

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Thanks I'll check that out! Getting through to NYS Department of Labor on the phone seems impossible these days.

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Just want to say this is exactly why the unemployment system exists - for situations where people lose employment through no fault of their own. A rescinded job offer definitely falls into that category. Don't feel bad about filing, you paid into this system and deserve the benefits when you need them.

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Justin Chang

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This exact thing happened to me about 8 months ago and I was so worried about filing, but it turned out to be much smoother than I expected. The key is being upfront about everything when you file your initial claim. NYS Department of Labor actually has a section in their application where you can explain unusual circumstances like this. I included all the dates - when I got the offer, when I accepted, when they rescinded it, and attached screenshots of all the emails. My claim was approved without any issues and I didn't even need to go through adjudication. The whole "through no fault of your own" thing definitely applies here since the employer made the decision to pull the offer due to their budget problems, not anything you did wrong.

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This is really reassuring to hear from someone who went through the exact same situation! I was so worried that having a rescinded offer would somehow complicate my claim or make me ineligible. It's good to know that NYS Department of Labor has a specific section for unusual circumstances - I'll make sure to use that and include all my documentation like you did. The fact that you didn't even need adjudication gives me hope that this might go more smoothly than I feared. Thanks for sharing your experience!

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Aisha Hussain

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I went through something similar about a year ago and want to echo what others have said - you absolutely can and should file for unemployment benefits. The rescinded offer actually works in your favor because it clearly shows you were seeking employment and had legitimate job prospects that fell through due to circumstances completely beyond your control. When I filed my claim, I made sure to include a brief timeline in the "additional information" section explaining when I received the offer, accepted it, and when it was rescinded. NYS Department of Labor processed my claim without any delays or complications. Don't hesitate to file - this is exactly the kind of situation unemployment insurance is designed to help with. The sooner you get your claim started, the sooner you can start receiving benefits while you continue your job search.

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Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It's incredibly helpful to hear from people who have actually been through this exact situation. I was really worried that the rescinded offer would somehow make my case more complicated, but hearing that it actually worked in your favor gives me a lot of confidence. I'll definitely make sure to include that timeline in the additional information section when I file. It's such a relief to know that NYS Department of Labor has experience with these situations and that it doesn't automatically mean delays or complications. I'm going to get my claim started tomorrow - you're absolutely right that the sooner I file, the sooner I can get some financial relief while I'm back to job searching.

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Noah Ali

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I'm so sorry this happened to you - what a frustrating situation to be in! I actually work in HR and see rescinded offers more often than you'd think, especially when companies face sudden budget constraints. The good news is that NYS Department of Labor definitely recognizes this as a valid reason for unemployment benefits. When you file, I'd recommend being very specific about the timeline and circumstances. Include details like when you received the offer, when you accepted, any onboarding activities you completed, and exactly when they rescinded it. The fact that you have written documentation of the entire process will really help your case. Also, don't worry about not filing initially - many people make that same decision when they think they have employment lined up. The important thing is filing now that your circumstances have changed through no fault of your own.

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Mei Wong

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Thank you so much for the HR perspective - that's really valuable insight! It's oddly comforting to know that rescinded offers happen more frequently than I thought, even though it's still incredibly frustrating to deal with. I really appreciate the specific advice about including all those timeline details and onboarding activities. I did complete background checks and even filled out tax forms, so I'll make sure to mention all of that when I file. It's reassuring to hear from someone who sees this from the employer side that NYS Department of Labor recognizes these situations. I was beating myself up about not filing initially, but you're right - it seemed logical to wait when I thought I had a sure thing. Thanks for taking the time to share your professional experience!

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Sean Murphy

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I just wanted to add my support and say don't let this situation discourage you from filing! I had a somewhat different but related experience where I accepted a job offer, gave notice at my current position, and then the new company had a hiring freeze before my start date. I was panicked about whether I'd qualify for unemployment since I had voluntarily left my previous job. But NYS Department of Labor was actually very understanding about the whole situation. They classified it as an involuntary separation since the job I left for was no longer available through no fault of my own. The key is being completely honest and thorough in your application. Your situation with the rescinded offer is even more straightforward since you were already unemployed when they pulled the offer. You're absolutely entitled to those benefits - that's exactly what the system is there for!

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