Can you get unemployment if you no call no show from your job in NY?
I messed up pretty bad at my last job and basically just stopped showing up without calling in. It was a really toxic work environment and I was having panic attacks every morning, but I know that's not an excuse for just disappearing. My supervisor tried calling me a few times but I was too embarrassed to answer. Now I need to file for unemployment benefits but I'm worried they'll deny me because of how I left. Has anyone dealt with this situation before? Will NYS Department of Labor automatically disqualify me for job abandonment or do I have a chance if I explain what happened?
13 comments


Aria Khan
This is tricky because no call no show is typically considered voluntary quit rather than being fired, which makes it harder to qualify for UI benefits. However, you might have options if you can document that the work environment was creating health issues. NYS Department of Labor will look at whether you had 'good cause' for leaving. Mental health issues can sometimes qualify as good cause, but you'll need medical documentation.
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Reginald Blackwell
•I never went to a doctor about the panic attacks though. Would that hurt my case? I was just dealing with it on my own.
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Everett Tutum
honestly idk but i think if you just stopped showing up they probably marked you as fired for cause which might actually help you? worth a shot filing anyway
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Sunny Wang
You should definitely file your claim and explain the circumstances during the initial interview. When NYS Department of Labor processes your application, they'll contact your former employer to get their side of the story. If your employer reports it as job abandonment, you'll likely face an adjudication process where you can present evidence about the hostile work environment. Keep documentation of any texts, emails, or witnesses who can verify the working conditions. The worst case is they deny your claim initially, but you can always appeal that decision.
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Reginald Blackwell
•How long does adjudication usually take? I'm already behind on rent and really need these benefits to come through.
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Hugh Intensity
•I had to deal with getting through to NYS Department of Labor for my adjudication issue last month. Calling them directly is nearly impossible with how busy they are. I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to an agent within a few hours. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Made the whole process way less stressful than sitting on hold for hours.
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Effie Alexander
The unemployment system is SO broken. They'll deny you for breathing wrong but then take months to process appeals. I got denied initially for something similar and it took 8 weeks to get my hearing scheduled. Meanwhile bills don't stop coming. It's like they want people to suffer.
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Melissa Lin
•Same experience here, the whole system seems designed to discourage people from claiming benefits they're entitled to.
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Lydia Santiago
Wait so if someone just stops coming to work without notice, that's not automatically a disqualification? I always thought no call no show meant you couldn't get unemployment at all.
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Sunny Wang
•It depends on the specific circumstances and how the employer reports the separation. NYS Department of Labor has to determine if there was good cause for the actions, which is why they do investigations for these types of cases.
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Royal_GM_Mark
I went through something similar last year. The key thing is to be completely honest when you file your claim and during any interviews. Don't try to hide the no call no show - they'll find out anyway when they contact your employer. Focus on documenting the toxic work environment as much as possible. Even without medical records for the panic attacks, if you have any text messages, emails, or coworkers who witnessed the hostile conditions, gather all of that. I also recommend looking into whether your state has any mental health resources that might help you get documentation retroactively. The process isn't fun, but you might be surprised - sometimes employers don't fight unemployment claims as hard as you'd expect, especially if they know their workplace had issues.
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Fiona Sand
•This is really helpful advice, thank you. I do have some text messages from coworkers complaining about the same supervisor who was making my life hell, so maybe that could help my case. The part about employers not always fighting claims gives me some hope too. Did you end up getting approved eventually? And how long did the whole process take from filing to actually receiving benefits?
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Giovanni Ricci
I'm in a similar boat right now and just wanted to share what I've learned from talking to others who've been through this. The no call no show definitely complicates things, but it's not an automatic disqualification like some people think. When you file, they'll ask you to explain why you left your job - be honest about the panic attacks and toxic environment, but also acknowledge that you handled it poorly by not communicating. NYS DOL seems to care more about whether you had legitimate reasons for your actions rather than whether you followed proper procedures. I'd also suggest starting to document everything you can remember about the toxic workplace now while it's fresh - dates, specific incidents, any witnesses. Even if you don't have medical records for the panic attacks, a detailed timeline of what was happening at work that led to your mental health issues could help your case. The worst they can do is say no, and then you can appeal with more evidence.
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