NY unemployment benefits cut off after rejecting job offer in different field - psychology graduate
I've been on NY unemployment for about 2 months after being laid off from my psychology research position. Yesterday, I got a notification that my benefits are being reviewed because I declined a job offer. The thing is, the job was for a retail position paying $16/hr - I have a Masters in Developmental Psychology and was making $65K before layoff. I'm actively applying for positions in psychology where I can work with children (my specialization) in Manhattan or Bronx. Can NYSDOL really cut my benefits for turning down a job completely outside my field that pays less than half my previous salary? The system says I need to take 'suitable employment' but this seems ridiculous. Has anyone successfully appealed something like this?
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Carmella Fromis
Yes, they can absolutely cut your benefits for this, but you have grounds for appeal. 'Suitable employment' has specific criteria including wage comparison to previous employment and relevance to your training. Since you have specialized education and the offered job was both outside your field AND significantly lower pay, you have a strong case. Make sure you document everything about the job offer including pay rate, job duties, etc. Upload all this with your appeal explaining why this wasn't suitable given your specialized education and experience.
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Ryder Greene
•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.
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Theodore Nelson
the same exact thing happened to my cousin last month!!! she has accounting degree and they wanted her to take some warehouse job for way less $$$. she appealed and won but it took like 3 weeks and they didnt backpay her for 2 weeks. the system is so messed up its like they try to force you to take ANY job
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Ryder Greene
•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.
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Theodore Nelson
•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
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AaliyahAli
I'm a career counselor who's helped several clients through this exact situation. Here's what you need to know about NY unemployment's suitable work guidelines: 1. During your first 13 weeks of benefits, you're only required to accept work that utilizes your highest skills AND pays at least 80% of your previous wage. 2. After 13 weeks, the criteria changes and you may need to accept work that pays less, but they still consider your education and training. File your appeal immediately with documentation of: - Your degree/credentials - Previous job description and pay stubs - The offered position's details (duties, pay, location) - Explanation of why the position doesn't match your skills You have a very strong case based on the wage difference alone. The job offer was less than 25% of your previous salary, well below the 80% threshold.
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Ryder Greene
•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!
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Ellie Simpson
i dont mean to be rude but are you sure you should be turning down ANY job in this economy? i know plenty of people with masters degrees working retail just to pay bills. unemployment wont last forever and psychology jobs are super competitive right now.
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Arjun Kurti
•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!
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Raúl Mora
I went through EXACTLY this in January 2025. I have a nursing degree but they tried to make me take a cashier job. I appealed and it was a NIGHTMARE trying to reach someone at NYSDOL. I spent hours every day calling and could never get through.
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Margot Quinn
•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.
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Arjun Kurti
The unemployment system is BROKEN BY DESIGN! They WANT us to take garbage jobs that don't match our skills because it keeps wages low for corporations. I have a law degree and they tried to force me to take a $18/hr paralegal job when I was making $120K before. It's all about forcing educated workers to accept less and less. FIGHT IT!!!
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Carmella Fromis
•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.
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Ryder Greene
Update: I submitted my appeal yesterday with all the documentation everyone suggested. Included my degree, previous job description, pay stubs, and details about the retail job offer. Still nervous about how long this might take though. Has anyone had their benefits continue during the appeal process or do they stop completely until a decision is made?
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AaliyahAli
•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.
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Evelyn Kim
my brother had his benefits cut last year for something similar and we couldnt pay our rent it was awful i hope u have savings or family that can help its such a broken system
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Theodore Nelson
•thats terrible!! did he ever get the money back??? i hate how they just cut people off without warning its so stressful
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Carmella Fromis
One more piece of advice - while you wait for the appeal, contact your local state representative's office. They often have staff dedicated to helping constituents with unemployment issues and can sometimes expedite reviews. I've seen cases where this cut weeks off the wait time. Just google your district's state assemblyperson or senator and look for a 'constituent services' contact.
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Ryder Greene
•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!
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Ryder Greene
Final update for anyone who might be in a similar situation: My appeal was approved! It took 16 days total. I got through to an agent using that Claimyr service someone recommended (which actually worked surprisingly well), and they explained that the retail job clearly didn't meet the suitable work criteria because it was less than 80% of my previous salary and didn't utilize my education/skills. All my missed payments were deposited today. Thanks everyone for your help - I'm still job hunting but at least I can pay rent while I search for something in my field.
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AaliyahAli
•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!
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