Can you get unemployment if your fired from your job in NY?

You can definitely apply for unemployment even if you were fired! NYS Department of Labor doesn't automatically disqualify you just because you were terminated. What matters is WHY you were fired. If it was for misconduct (like stealing, fighting, or willful violations of company policy), then you'd be disqualified. But being late repeatedly might not rise to the level of misconduct depending on the circumstances. When you file your claim, be honest about what happened and let NYS Department of Labor make the determination during adjudication.

File your claim ASAP even if you're not sure you'll qualify. The worst they can do is deny it, but you might be surprised. I got fired for poor performance last year and still got approved for benefits. NYS Department of Labor looks at each case individually. Make sure you have documentation of your work history and be prepared to explain your side of the story if they ask.

The key thing is whether it was misconduct or not. Being late can be tricky - if you had warnings and kept doing it anyway, they might consider it willful misconduct. But if there were circumstances beyond your control or it wasn't that serious, you could still qualify. When I had issues reaching NYS Department of Labor agents to ask questions about my case, I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to an actual person. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Really helped me get answers quickly instead of waiting on hold forever.

File immediately! Every day you wait is money you're losing. Even if there's some question about eligibility, you want to get your claim date established. NYS Department of Labor will investigate and make a determination. If they deny you, you can always appeal the decision.