How long do you have to work at a company to get unemployment benefits in NY?
I just started a new job about 6 weeks ago and honestly it's not working out at all. My supervisor is constantly criticizing everything I do and the work environment is really toxic. I'm thinking about quitting but I'm worried about being able to get unemployment benefits if I do. Does anyone know how long you have to work somewhere before you can qualify for UI in New York? I worked at my previous job for 2 years before this one but there was a 3 month gap between jobs. Would that affect my eligibility with NYS Department of Labor?
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Jake Sinclair
The work requirement isn't about how long you worked at one specific company - it's about your total earnings over what's called the 'base period.' For NYS Department of Labor, you need to have earned wages in at least 2 quarters of your base period and have total earnings of at least $2,600. Your base period is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. So your previous 2-year job should definitely count toward your qualification even with the gap.
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Vera Visnjic
•That's really helpful, thank you! So even though I've only been at this current job for 6 weeks, my previous work history would still count? That makes me feel a lot better about my options.
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Brielle Johnson
wait but if you quit voluntarily you usually can't get unemployment right?? i thought you had to be laid off or fired without cause to qualify
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Honorah King
•You're partially right - quitting usually disqualifies you unless you have 'good cause.' Things like unsafe working conditions, harassment, or significant changes to your job duties can qualify as good cause. But proving it can be tricky and you'd need documentation. The NYS Department of Labor will investigate during the adjudication process.
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Vera Visnjic
•I've been trying to document everything my supervisor says but it's mostly verbal criticism. Would that be enough for good cause or should I try to stick it out until they fire me?
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Oliver Brown
I had a similar situation last year where I couldn't reach anyone at NYS Department of Labor to ask about my eligibility. The phone lines are always busy and the online chat never works. I ended up using 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. Might be worth checking out if you need to talk to someone about your specific situation before making any decisions.
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Mary Bates
•how much does something like that cost? seems like it should be free to talk to unemployment
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Oliver Brown
•The service itself has a cost but honestly it was worth it for me to get answers instead of spending weeks trying to get through on my own. The NYS Department of Labor system is just so overwhelmed.
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Clay blendedgen
Just want to add that even if you do qualify based on work history, quitting without documented good cause will definitely trigger an adjudication review. That process can take weeks or even months right now with NYS Department of Labor. Make sure you really understand the consequences before you make any moves!
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Vera Visnjic
•Yeah that's what I'm worried about. Maybe I should try to improve the situation at work first or at least build a stronger case if I do decide to leave.
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