I quit my job can I collect unemployment - NYS Department of Labor eligibility questions
So I finally had enough of my toxic manager and quit my retail job last Friday. Now I'm wondering if I can still file for unemployment benefits? I know people always say you can't get UI if you quit but I've heard there might be exceptions. Has anyone successfully gotten NYS Department of Labor benefits after quitting? What do I need to prove to qualify? I really need the income while I look for something new.
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Misterclamation Skyblue
Generally you can't collect unemployment if you quit voluntarily, but NYS Department of Labor does have exceptions for 'good cause' situations. Things like harassment, unsafe working conditions, significant changes to your job duties, or not getting paid can qualify. You'll need documentation though - emails, witness statements, anything that proves your reason for quitting was justified.
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Gabriel Ruiz
•What counts as documentation for a toxic manager? I don't have anything in writing but there were witnesses to how she treated people.
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Peyton Clarke
You should definitely apply anyway. The worst they can say is no, and you might be surprised. When you file your initial claim, there's a section where you explain why you left your job. Be detailed about the toxic environment and any specific incidents. NYS Department of Labor will investigate and make a determination based on your explanation and any evidence you provide.
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Vince Eh
•This is good advice. I quit my job due to schedule changes that made it impossible to work and I got approved after they reviewed my case.
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Sophia Gabriel
ugh the whole system is so frustrating when you're dealing with this stuff. I tried calling NYS Department of Labor to ask about quitting for good cause but could never get through to anyone. Spent hours on hold just to get hung up on. If you do apply and they need more info, good luck actually talking to a human being about your case.
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Tobias Lancaster
•I had the same problem trying to reach someone at NYS Department of Labor about my adjudication. Ended up using this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to an agent. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Might be worth it if you need to talk to someone about your good cause claim.
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Ezra Beard
yeah I quit too because of hostile work environment and got denied initially but won on appeal. The key is having witnesses who will back up your story. Get statements from coworkers if you can, even if they're just willing to confirm the manager's behavior. NYS Department of Labor takes workplace harassment seriously if you can prove it happened.
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Statiia Aarssizan
wait so you can get unemployment for quitting?? I thought that was impossible. my friend told me you have to get fired to qualify
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Emma Swift
•@Statiia Aarssizan No, that s'a common misconception! You can potentially get unemployment after quitting, but only if you can prove you had good "cause -" like harassment, unsafe conditions, or other serious workplace issues. It s'definitely harder to get approved than if you were laid off, but it s'not impossible. The NYS Department of Labor will review each case individually to see if your reason for quitting was justified.
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