Can you get unemployment if you quit because of coronavirus issues with NYS Department of Labor?
I had to quit my retail job back in December because my elderly mother lives with me and I was terrified of bringing COVID home to her. My manager wasn't enforcing mask policies and customers were getting aggressive about safety protocols. I know normally you can't get unemployment if you quit, but does anyone know if NYS Department of Labor has exceptions for coronavirus-related reasons? I've been putting off filing because I assumed I wouldn't qualify, but my savings are running out and I really need help.
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Diego Mendoza
Yes, you might qualify under 'good cause' provisions! NYS Department of Labor recognizes certain COVID-related reasons for voluntary separation. You'll need to document your mother's high-risk status and show that your workplace wasn't following safety guidelines. When you file your initial claim, make sure to explain the specific health concerns and unsafe working conditions in detail. The adjudication process will review your case individually.
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Chloe Harris
•Thank you! Do I need medical documentation about my mother's condition, or is it enough to explain that she's elderly? Also, how long does the adjudication usually take?
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Anastasia Popova
I quit in 2023 for similar reasons and got approved after like 6 weeks of adjudication hell. You definitely need to document everything - emails to your boss about safety concerns, photos of the workplace if possible, anything showing you tried to resolve it first.
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Sean Flanagan
•Six weeks?? That's insane. I'm dealing with NYS Department of Labor adjudication right now for a different issue and it's been 3 weeks already with no update.
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Zara Shah
You should file ASAP even if you're not sure about eligibility. The longer you wait, the more you're potentially losing in benefits. NYS Department of Labor will make the determination during adjudication. For coronavirus-related quits, they look at whether you had 'compelling family reasons' or if continuing work posed an 'unreasonable risk.' Having a high-risk household member usually qualifies. If you can't get through on the phone to ask questions, there's a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps people reach NYS Department of Labor agents directly. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works.
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Chloe Harris
•I'll check out that service, thanks. I've tried calling the regular NYS Department of Labor number so many times and either get busy signals or get disconnected after waiting forever.
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NebulaNomad
•Wait, you have to pay for that service though right? Seems sketchy to pay someone just to make a phone call for you.
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Luca Ferrari
honestly the whole system is messed up... why should you have to prove you had good reason to protect your family during a pandemic?? NYS Department of Labor makes everything so complicated for no reason
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Nia Wilson
•I get the frustration but they have to verify claims to prevent fraud. The good cause standard has been around forever, it's not just about COVID.
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Sean Flanagan
My cousin quit her nursing home job because of COVID exposure and got denied initially, but won on appeal. Don't give up if they deny you the first time!
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