How to write a letter to appeal unemployment benefits decision from NYS Department of Labor
My unemployment claim got denied last week and I need to appeal this decision. The letter from NYS Department of Labor says I have 30 days but doesn't give much detail on what to include in my appeal letter. Has anyone here successfully written an appeal letter? What specific things should I mention to have the best chance of getting approved? I was terminated for what they called 'misconduct' but I don't think it was fair.
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Tobias Lancaster
Yes, I've helped people with these appeals before. Your letter needs to be very specific about WHY the NYS Department of Labor decision was wrong. Don't just say it was unfair - explain exactly what happened, provide dates, and if you have any documentation (emails, warnings, witness statements) mention those. Address each point in their denial letter directly. Keep it factual and professional, not emotional.
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Sophia Gabriel
•Thank you! Should I include copies of my employee handbook or just reference it in the letter?
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Ezra Beard
I went through this exact situation 6 months ago. Here's what worked for me: 1) Start with your name, SSN, and claim number at the top. 2) State clearly that you're appealing the denial dated [whatever date]. 3) Explain your side of the story with specific details. 4) End by requesting a hearing if they don't reverse the decision. Mail it certified mail to the address on your denial notice.
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Statiia Aarssizan
•Did you end up getting a hearing or did they reverse it based on your letter alone?
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Reginald Blackwell
omg the appeal process is SO confusing! I tried calling NYS Department of Labor like 50 times to ask about this and could never get through. It's ridiculous that they expect us to figure this out on our own when their phone system is completely useless.
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Aria Khan
•I had the same problem with their phones until someone told me about claimyr.com - it's a service that calls for you and gets you connected to an actual NYS Department of Labor agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustration trying to get through myself.
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Everett Tutum
Make sure you're really clear about the timeline of events. I appealed mine and won because I could prove the employer changed their story between what they told NYS Department of Labor initially vs what they said later. Document everything and be very detailed about what actually happened on the day you were terminated.
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Sophia Gabriel
•That's a great point - they definitely changed some details when HR talked to me vs what my supervisor said happened.
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Sunny Wang
just went thru this myself and won my appeal!! the key thing is dont let them intimidate you with legal language and stuff. stick to the facts of what really happened and explain why their decision was wrong. also get ready for a hearing because most appeals end up there anyway
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