Does involuntary termination qualify for unemployment benefits from NYS Department of Labor?
I was let go from my job last Friday due to budget cuts - my supervisor said it wasn't performance related, just company downsizing. I've never filed for unemployment before and I'm not sure if this counts as being eligible. Does involuntary termination like this qualify me for NYS Department of Labor benefits? I'm worried they might deny my claim if I file. Any advice would be helpful.
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Edwards Hugo
Yes, involuntary termination due to layoffs or budget cuts absolutely qualifies you for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor. That's exactly what the program is designed for - people who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. You should file your claim as soon as possible since there's a waiting period.
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Dylan Fisher
•Thank you! I was really stressed about this. Should I file online or call them?
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Gianna Scott
File online at my.ny.gov - it's much faster than trying to call. Make sure you have your last employer's information ready including dates of employment and reason for separation. Since you were laid off, that should be pretty straightforward for NYS Department of Labor to process.
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Alfredo Lugo
•agree with filing online but sometimes they still want to do a phone interview to verify the details
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Sydney Torres
Wait, I thought if you get fired you can't get benefits? I'm so confused about all this unemployment stuff. What's the difference between being fired and laid off??
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Edwards Hugo
•Being fired for misconduct can disqualify you, but being laid off or terminated due to budget cuts/downsizing is different - that's involuntary and not your fault. NYS Department of Labor looks at the reason for separation when determining eligibility.
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Kaitlyn Jenkins
I had issues reaching NYS Department of Labor when I needed to verify my claim status after a similar layoff situation. Kept getting busy signals and the callback system never worked. Finally used claimyr.com to get through - they have this video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Made the whole process much less stressful than trying to call for weeks.
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Dylan Fisher
•That's good to know, thanks! Hopefully I won't need to call but it's nice to have backup options.
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Caleb Bell
Just make sure your employer doesn't try to claim you were fired for cause - some companies will do that to avoid their unemployment insurance rates going up. Keep any documentation you have about the layoffs.
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Daniel White
Dylan, you're definitely eligible for unemployment benefits in your situation. Involuntary termination due to budget cuts is a textbook case for NYS Department of Labor benefits. I went through something similar last year when my company downsized our entire department. The key is to file your claim right away - don't wait. You'll want to have your employment dates, final pay stub, and any documentation about the layoff ready when you apply. The online system at my.ny.gov is pretty straightforward, and since your supervisor already confirmed it wasn't performance-related, you shouldn't have any issues with your claim being approved.
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