NY unemployment benefits cut off after rejecting job offer in different field - psychology graduate

Thank you for this! I was panicking. Do you know how long appeals typically take to process? I can't afford to miss even one payment right now.

3 weeks without payment is really concerning. Did she do anything special to win her appeal? I'm worried about the bills piling up while I wait.

she just sent her diploma pics and old paystubs to prove what her normal salary was. good luck!! the system is rigged against educated ppl i swear

This is incredibly helpful information. I had no idea about the 13-week rule or the 80% threshold. I'm definitely within my first 13 weeks. I'll gather all this documentation right away. Thank you!

This is TERRIBLE advice. The whole point of unemployment insurance is to provide a safety net while you find suitable employment in your field. Taking a minimum wage retail job when you have a specialized graduate degree makes ZERO sense - it would barely cover bills AND take away all the time needed to interview and find an appropriate position. The system is DESIGNED to give professional workers time to find matching jobs!

I had the same problem reaching NYSDOL until I discovered Claimyr. It's a service that basically calls for you and gets you to the front of the queue. I was skeptical but it actually worked - I got through to an agent in about 20 minutes after trying for days on my own. You can see how it works at claimyr.com or check their video demo at https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE - it saved my sanity during my appeal process.

While I understand your frustration, the unemployment system does have legitimate criteria for what constitutes suitable work. The issue is more about understaffing and processing errors than a conspiracy. In the OP's case, there are clear guidelines that should protect their benefits during appeal if properly documented.

In most cases, your benefits will be suspended during the appeal process, but if you win the appeal, you'll receive all back payments. Continue certifying weekly even if you're not receiving payments - this is crucial. If you don't certify during the appeal, you won't receive those weeks even if you win. Also, keep detailed records of all your job search activities during this time. Apply for positions matching your qualifications and document everything. This strengthens your case by showing you're actively seeking suitable work in your field.

thats terrible!! did he ever get the money back??? i hate how they just cut people off without warning its so stressful

This is brilliant! I wouldn't have thought of that. I'm in District 14 so I'll reach out to their office tomorrow. Thank you!

Excellent news! This is exactly how the system is supposed to work. Unemployment insurance exists precisely to give skilled workers the time needed to find appropriate employment rather than forcing them to take any available job. Glad you got it resolved and best of luck with your job search in developmental psychology!

This is such a relief to read! I'm actually in a very similar situation right now - I have a Masters in Clinical Psychology and just got flagged for declining a data entry position that paid $14/hr when I was making $58K before. Your story gives me so much hope that I can win my appeal too. I'm definitely going to use all the documentation tips you and others shared here. It's so frustrating that the system puts us through this stress in the first place, but at least there are protections for people with specialized degrees. Thank you for taking the time to update us with the good news!

@Ava Williams You absolutely have a strong case! Data entry for $14/hr when you have a Masters in Clinical Psychology and were making $58K is even more clearly unsuitable work than my situation was. That s'less than 25% of your previous salary and completely unrelated to your field. Make sure to include your degree, previous job details, and emphasize that you re'actively seeking positions that utilize your clinical psychology training. The 80% rule should definitely protect you during your first 13 weeks. Don t'let them intimidate you - you have every right to find work that matches your education and experience!

@Ava Williams You absolutely have a strong case! The fact that you have a Clinical Psychology Masters and they wanted you to take a $14/hr data entry job is even more ridiculous than what I went through. That s'not even 25% of your previous salary! Make sure to emphasize in your appeal that data entry has literally nothing to do with your specialized clinical training. I d'also suggest mentioning that taking such a low-paying job would actually interfere with your ability to find appropriate work in your field since you d'have no time for interviews or continuing education. The career counselor @AaliyahAli who helped me earlier might have specific advice for clinical psychology appeals too. You ve'got this!

@Ava Williams You absolutely have a strong case! Data entry at $14/hr when you were making $58K with a Masters in Clinical Psychology is even more ridiculous than what I faced. That s'less than 25% of your previous salary - way below the 80% threshold during your first 13 weeks. Make sure to include your degree, previous job description, pay stubs, and details about why data entry doesn t'utilize your clinical training. The appeal process is stressful but stick with it - you ve'got this! And definitely try that Claimyr service if you need to speak with someone at NYSDOL, it really does work better than calling directly.

@Ava Williams You absolutely have a strong case! A Masters in Clinical Psychology and declining a $14/hr data entry job when you were making $58K is even more clear-cut than my situation was. That s'less than 25% of your previous salary and completely unrelated to your specialized training. Make sure to include your degree documentation, previous job description, and pay stubs like everyone suggested. Also definitely try reaching out to your state representative s'office - that really seemed to help speed things up. The whole process is nerve-wracking but you ve'got this! Keep us posted on how it goes.

@Ava Williams You absolutely have a strong case! A data entry job at $14/hr when you were making $58K with a Clinical Psychology Masters is even more ridiculous than what I went through. That s'less than 25% of your previous salary and completely unrelated to your field. Make sure to include your degree documentation, previous job description, and pay stubs just like I did. The 80% rule during the first 13 weeks should definitely protect you. Also consider reaching out to your state rep s'office if the appeal takes too long - that tip from @Carmella Fromis was gold. You ve got'this! The system is designed to protect people with specialized education, even if it doesn t always'feel that way.

@Ava Williams You absolutely have a strong case! A data entry job for $14/hr when you were making $58K with a Clinical Psychology Masters is even more ridiculous than what I faced. That s'less than 25% of your previous salary - way below the 80% threshold during your first 13 weeks. Make sure to include your degree documentation, previous job details, and emphasize how data entry doesn t'utilize any of your clinical training or skills. The appeal process is stressful but you ve'got this! Keep us posted on how it goes.

@Ava Williams You absolutely have a strong case! A data entry job at $14/hr when you were making $58K with a Clinical Psychology Masters is even more clearly unsuitable work than my situation was. That s'less than 25% of your previous salary, way below the 80% threshold. Make sure to include your degree documentation, previous job description, and pay stubs just like I did. The clinical psychology field is specialized enough that they really can t'justify forcing you into unrelated work. You ve'got this! Let us know how it goes.

@Ava Williams You absolutely have a strong case! Data entry at $14/hr when you were making $58K with a Clinical Psychology Masters is even more clearly unsuitable work than what I faced. Make sure to emphasize in your appeal that clinical psychology requires specialized training and licensure - data entry doesn t'utilize any of your professional skills or education. Document everything about that job offer and include your degree, previous job description, and pay stubs just like I did. The 80% rule alone should protect you since $14/hr is nowhere near 80% of your previous salary. Don t'let them intimidate you - you have every right to find work that matches your qualifications!

@Ava Williams You absolutely have a strong case! A data entry job at $14/hr when you were making $58K with a Clinical Psychology Masters is even more ridiculous than what I faced. That s'less than 25% of your previous salary, way below the 80% threshold during your first 13 weeks. Make sure to emphasize your specialized clinical training and how completely unrelated data entry is to your field. Document everything - your degree, previous job duties, the job offer details, and your ongoing search for clinical positions. The appeal process is stressful but you ve'got this! Keep us posted on how it goes.

@Ava Williams Your situation sounds almost identical to mine! With a Clinical Psychology Masters and that salary difference, you definitely have a strong case. Make sure to emphasize in your appeal that data entry doesn t'utilize any of your specialized training or clinical skills - that s'a key point. The wage comparison alone 14/hr (vs your previous 58K should) be enough, but highlighting the complete mismatch in required skills really strengthens the argument. Document everything about the job offer and your previous position. You ve'got this! The 16-day wait was nerve-wracking but so worth it when the backpay came through.