Can you get unemployment if you quit your job - NYS Department of Labor eligibility question

Generally speaking, if you quit voluntarily you won't be eligible for unemployment benefits UNLESS you can prove you had 'good cause' for quitting. NYS Department of Labor considers things like unsafe working conditions, harassment, significant changes to your job duties, or not being paid as potential good cause. The key is documenting everything - keep emails, write down incidents with dates and witnesses. You'll need to prove your case during the adjudication process.

i quit my last job and got denied for benefits immediately. they said voluntary resignation = no unemployment. had to appeal and it took forever to prove my case

You need to be very careful here. If you're dealing with workplace harassment or hostile work environment, document EVERYTHING first. Take screenshots of emails, write down incidents with exact dates and any witnesses present. File complaints with HR if you have an HR department. The NYS Department of Labor will look at whether a 'reasonable person' would have quit under similar circumstances. If you can't prove good cause, you'll be disqualified and might have to wait weeks before you can even reapply.

Had a friend who quit because her boss was making sexual comments and she got approved for benefits, but it took like 6 weeks of back and forth with NYS Department of Labor and she had to provide witness statements and everything. If you're gonna quit make sure you have your documentation ready before you file your claim.

The system is rigged against working people! They make it so hard to get benefits even when you have legitimate reasons for leaving. I've seen people get denied for the most ridiculous reasons. But definitely try if you have good cause - just be prepared for a fight.

If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask about your specific situation, there's actually a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps people reach unemployment agents by phone. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. I used it when I was stuck in adjudication and couldn't get anyone on the phone for weeks. Really helped me get answers about my claim status.