Main reasons why unemployment is denied by NYS Department of Labor - need to understand my options
My claim was just denied and I'm trying to figure out what went wrong. The denial notice from NYS Department of Labor wasn't very clear about the specific reason. I worked at a retail store for 8 months before getting let go last month. Can someone explain the most common reasons why unemployment gets denied? I want to understand if I should appeal or if there's something I missed in my application. This is my first time dealing with unemployment benefits and I'm really confused about the whole process.
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Sean O'Brien
The most common reasons for denial include: 1) Insufficient work history or earnings during your base period, 2) Being fired for misconduct, 3) Quitting without good cause, 4) Not being able and available to work, 5) Refusing suitable work offers. Since you were let go, it's likely either insufficient earnings or they determined it was misconduct. Check your determination letter for the specific reason code.
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Anastasia Smirnova
•The letter mentions something about 'failure to meet monetary requirements' - does that mean I didn't earn enough during the base period?
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Zara Shah
If you only worked 8 months, that might be your issue. NYS Department of Labor looks at your earnings in the first 4 quarters of the last 5 quarters before you filed. You need to have earned at least $2,600 in your highest quarter and total wages of at least 1.5 times your high quarter amount. Also need wages in at least 2 quarters.
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Luca Bianchi
•this happened to me too! worked part time for most of my base period and didnt qualify even though i was laid off
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Anastasia Smirnova
•That makes sense now. I was only working part-time for the first few months before going full-time. Should I still appeal or wait until I have more work history?
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GalacticGuardian
I had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to understand my denial too. Spent weeks calling and either getting busy signals or being hung up on after waiting forever. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. The agent was able to explain exactly why my claim was denied and what my appeal options were.
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Nia Harris
•Never heard of that service before but might be worth trying. The NYS Department of Labor phone system is absolutely terrible and I can never get through either.
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Mateo Gonzalez
Other common denial reasons include not registering for work search within the required timeframe, failing to complete your weekly certifications properly, or having a disqualifying separation from your last job. Sometimes employers contest claims saying you were fired for cause even when you thought you were laid off.
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Anastasia Smirnova
•My employer said it was a layoff due to slow business, but maybe they reported it differently to NYS Department of Labor? How would I find out what they actually told them?
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Aisha Ali
ugh the whole system is so confusing!! i got denied twice before finally getting approved and still dont really understand why. they make it so hard for people who actually need help
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Sean O'Brien
You can request a copy of your employer's response to the NYS Department of Labor through the appeals process. If there's a discrepancy between what they told you versus what they reported, that's definitely grounds for an appeal. You have 30 days from the determination date to file an appeal hearing request.
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