Just got denied for NY unemployment after 4 week wait - now facing family shelter with wife and child

I've been exactly where you are. When I got denied last year, I was ready to give up but decided to appeal. The key is calling DOL ASAP to understand the specific reason for denial - is it monetary, separation reason, availability issues? Once you know WHY you were denied, you can prepare a targeted appeal. I tried calling for 3 days straight and couldn't get through until I tried Claimyr.com - they got me connected to an agent within 20 minutes. Check out their demo at https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE. The agent explained I was denied because my employer claimed misconduct, but I was able to explain my side in the appeal and got approved. Don't give up until you know exactly why you were denied!

Deny letter sucks... got mine like 6 weeks ago BUT i got it overturned!!! The stupid system is broken. make sure u file appeal within 30 days or ur screwed

I'm really sorry to hear about your situation. The denial letter should have a specific reason code on it - it's usually in a box or section labeled something like "Determination Code" or "Ineligibility Reason." Can you find that on your letter? The code will tell us exactly what you're dealing with. Regarding your housing situation, while waiting for appeal, you should immediately contact: 1. NY Housing Connect (212-NEW-YORK) for emergency housing assistance 2. HRA Prevention Assistance and Temporary Housing (PATH) at 718-503-6400 3. The Homebase homelessness prevention program in your borough They have emergency funds specifically for families with children at risk of homelessness. Don't wait until you're actually homeless - the prevention services can often help faster.

the whole system is RIGGED!!! they ALWAYS deny first claim hoping you'll just give up and go away. i got denied TWICE before finally getting approved. don't let them win!!

Since your denial code is LQ-510 (insufficient work history), you need to gather very specific documentation for your appeal: 1. Pay stubs covering all quarters in your base period (roughly 18 months before filing) 2. W-2 forms from all employers during that period 3. Tax returns from the relevant years 4. Employment verification letters if possible You need to prove you worked enough quarters and earned enough wages to qualify. If you worked full-time for 18 months as you mentioned, you should qualify unless there were gaps or your wages were very low. Often, they miss some employment history if you had multiple employers or if one employer failed to report your wages properly. File the appeal online through your NY.gov account immediately, then upload all documentation. You can also fax it to the number on your determination letter. Appeals are taking about 3-4 weeks currently for initial review, with hearings scheduled 2-3 weeks after that if needed.

I know this sounds strange, but call your state representative's office! When I was wrongfully denied in 2025, I called my assembly member's office and explained my situation. Their staff has direct contacts at DOL who can look into issues faster than the regular channels. They helped me get my case reviewed in 10 days instead of waiting for the formal appeal process. Worth a try while you're also pursuing the official appeal.

whatever u do DONT pay those scammy "unemployment helpers" online!!!1 they took my $200 and did NOTHING i cudnt do myself!!!

Quick update on my situation - just wanted to share that after I got through to DOL using Claimyr, the agent saw that one of my employers hadn't reported my wages correctly. She was able to initiate an investigation that resolved my issue without a formal appeal hearing. Definitely try to get someone on the phone who can look at your specific file before going through the whole appeal process - might save you weeks of waiting.

It's actually pretty reasonable considering how much I was set to lose by waiting. I'd rather not get into specifics about cost, but it was worth it to get my claim fixed and start receiving benefits within days instead of waiting another month. The time I saved getting through to an agent helped me avoid missing a rent payment.

My brother just went through something similar. Don't lose hope man. The shelters aren't great but they're better than being on the street. My bro got his appeal approved after about 3 weeks and they paid him backpay for everything he missed. Hang in there.

One more important thing - while working on your unemployment appeal, immediately apply for emergency assistance benefits through HRA. You may qualify for emergency cash assistance, SNAP benefits (food stamps), and emergency rental assistance even while your unemployment is under appeal. Many people don't realize these programs exist separately from unemployment insurance. Visit ACCESS HRA online or go to your local HRA office in person - tell them you have a 4-year-old and are facing homelessness, and they should expedite your case. This can provide a financial bridge while your unemployment appeal is being processed.

That's great news about the emergency assistance! Regarding your unemployment appeal, make sure to specifically mention in your appeal that you had two employers and suspect one may not be showing in the system. Request a "wage investigation" as part of your appeal. This triggers a separate process where they contact the employer directly to verify your employment. Also, when providing documentation, include your first and last paystubs from BOTH employers, as this proves the duration of employment clearly. For the LQ-510 code specifically, they're looking at whether you earned at least $3,100 in your base period and worked in at least two calendar quarters. With 18 months of work history, you should easily meet this unless your wages were very low.