How long do I need to work for unemployment benefits in NYS?
I'm thinking about leaving my current job because the working conditions are terrible, but I want to make sure I qualify for unemployment if I do. How long do you need to work before you can file for unemployment benefits in New York? I've been at my current job for about 8 months but I had another job before this one. Does it all count together or does it have to be continuous? Really confused about the work requirements.
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Steven Adams
You need to have worked and earned wages in at least two quarters during your base period to qualify for unemployment benefits in NY. The base period is typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. So if you file in January 2025, your base period would be January 2024 through December 2024. The work doesn't have to be continuous - wages from different employers during the base period all count toward your eligibility.
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Grace Durand
AuthorThanks! So my old job from last year would count too? That's a relief. Do you know how much I need to have earned total?
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Alice Fleming
Just a heads up - if you quit your job voluntarily, you might not qualify for unemployment benefits unless you can prove you had 'good cause' for leaving. The NYS Department of Labor is pretty strict about this. You'd need to show things like unsafe working conditions, harassment, or significant changes to your job duties. Might want to document everything before you leave.
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Grace Durand
AuthorOh no, I didn't know that! What counts as good cause? The working conditions are pretty bad but I'm not sure if it's enough.
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Steven Adams
Good cause includes things like workplace safety violations, discrimination, harassment, or if your employer significantly changed your job duties or pay. You'll need documentation though - emails, photos, witness statements, etc.
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Hassan Khoury
i quit my job last year and got unemployment no problem. just said working conditions were unsafe and they approved me after like 2 weeks
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Alice Fleming
You probably had to go through adjudication for that. Not everyone gets approved that easily, especially if the employer contests the claim.
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Victoria Stark
I've been dealing with NYS Department of Labor for months trying to get through to someone about my claim status. If you end up needing to call them, good luck getting through. I tried calling hundreds of times before I found claimyr.com - they actually got me connected to an agent in like 10 minutes. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration.
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Grace Durand
AuthorReally? How does that work? I might need to call them if I end up filing a claim.
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Victoria Stark
They basically handle the calling for you and get you connected to an actual person at NYS Department of Labor. Way better than sitting on hold for hours or getting disconnected.
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Benjamin Kim
Make sure you understand the monetary requirements too. In NY you need to have earned at least $2,400 in one quarter of your base period AND your total base period wages need to be at least 1.5 times your highest quarter earnings. So if your highest quarter was $3,000, you'd need at least $4,500 total in base period wages.
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Samantha Howard
Wait I'm so confused about all this base period stuff. What if I just started working this year? Do I not qualify then?? This is so stressful
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Steven Adams
If you don't have enough wages in the standard base period, they can use an alternate base period which looks at more recent quarters. Don't panic - there are options even for newer workers.
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Emily Thompson
@Grace Durand - Before you make any decisions about quitting, I'd strongly recommend documenting everything about these terrible working conditions you mentioned. Take photos, save emails, keep records of incidents with dates and times. If you do decide to leave, having solid documentation will be crucial if the Department of Labor needs to determine whether you had "good cause." Also, have you considered talking to HR or filing complaints with OSHA if it's truly unsafe? Sometimes addressing the issues first can strengthen your case if you do end up needing to quit and file for unemployment.
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