Can you get unemployment if you quit for medical reasons - NYS Department of Labor eligibility question?
I had to quit my job last month because of a chronic back condition that my doctor said would get worse if I kept doing heavy lifting at the warehouse. My supervisor wouldn't accommodate me with lighter duties even though I provided medical documentation. Now I'm wondering if I can get unemployment benefits since I technically quit instead of being laid off. Does NYS Department of Labor consider medical reasons as good cause for quitting? I'm really stressed about this because I need the income while I look for something I can physically handle.
10 comments


Amara Oluwaseyi
Yes, you can potentially qualify for unemployment if you quit for compelling health reasons! NYS Department of Labor recognizes 'good cause' for voluntary separations, including medical conditions that make continuing work impossible or dangerous. You'll need to provide medical documentation showing your condition prevented you from performing your job duties. The key is proving you tried to resolve the situation with your employer first (which you did by requesting accommodation). When you file your claim, be very detailed about the medical necessity and your employer's refusal to accommodate.
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Liam McConnell
•Thank you so much! I do have all the medical paperwork and emails showing I requested lighter duties. Should I mention the accommodation request in my application?
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CosmicCaptain
same thing happened to my brother in law, he quit because of his diabetes and couldnt work nights anymore, took like 2 months but he got approved
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Giovanni Rossi
The process isn't automatic though - your claim will likely go into adjudication while NYS Department of Labor reviews your medical documentation and contacts your former employer. Make sure you have: 1) Medical records clearly stating work restrictions, 2) Documentation of accommodation requests, 3) Employer's written or documented refusal to accommodate. File your weekly claims even during adjudication to avoid delays. If initially denied, you have appeal rights.
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Fatima Al-Maktoum
•How long does adjudication usually take for medical quit cases? I'm in a similar situation and getting really anxious about the timeline.
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Dylan Mitchell
Been through this nightmare with NYS Department of Labor - they make you jump through hoops even with legitimate medical reasons!! Had to provide THREE different doctor letters before they believed my carpal tunnel was real. The whole system assumes you're lying until proven otherwise.
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Sofia Gutierrez
If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor to check on your claim status during adjudication, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Really saved me from sitting on hold for hours when I needed to submit additional medical documentation for my own health-related quit.
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Liam McConnell
•Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely check that out if I can't get through the regular way.
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Paolo Bianchi
I went through almost the exact same situation with a shoulder injury from repetitive motions at my assembly line job. NYS Department of Labor did approve my claim, but here's what really helped: I made sure my doctor's letter specifically mentioned that continuing the work would "aggravate" or "worsen" my condition - those seem to be key phrases they look for. Also document EVERYTHING with your employer - save those emails about requesting accommodation! The process took about 6 weeks for me, but I got approved retroactively. Hang in there, you have a legitimate case with the medical documentation and accommodation refusal.
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Zadie Patel
•This is really helpful advice! I'm dealing with a similar back injury situation and was wondering - did you have to get a second medical opinion or was one doctor's letter enough? Also, when you say "aggravate" and "worsen" are key phrases, did your doctor use those exact words or similar medical terminology? I want to make sure I'm prepared when I talk to my doctor about updating my documentation.
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