NYS Department of Labor claim denied after factory closure - unemployment benefits question about economic shifts
My unemployment claim got denied and I'm trying to understand what happened. I worked at a manufacturing plant for 8 years before it shut down last month due to rising costs and supply chain issues. When I filed with NYS Department of Labor, they said my separation wasn't qualifying even though it was a mass layoff. The letter mentioned something about 'economic factors' but I don't get it. I thought plant closures automatically qualified you for unemployment benefits. Has anyone dealt with this kind of denial? The whole economic situation seems to be creating more unemployment but somehow that's working against my claim?
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Andre Moreau
Factory closures should definitely qualify for unemployment benefits. The 'economic factors' they mentioned might be related to how they're classifying the closure. You need to appeal this decision immediately - you have 30 days from the denial date. Request all documentation from your employer about the closure and gather any news articles or official notices about the plant shutdown.
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Carmen Reyes
•Thanks! I have the WARN notice they posted about the closure. Would that help with my appeal? And should I keep filing weekly claims while appealing?
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Zoe Christodoulou
something similar happened to my brother last year, the company claimed it was voluntary closure or something weird like that and it messed up his unemployment
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Jamal Thompson
I had major issues reaching NYS Department of Labor about my appeal until I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They actually get you through to a real agent instead of being on hold forever. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really helped me get my adjudication resolved when I couldn't get through on my own.
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Carmen Reyes
•How much does that cost? I'm already stressed about money with no income coming in.
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Jamal Thompson
•They focus on getting you connected rather than charging crazy fees. Worth checking out their site for the details, but honestly getting through to explain your situation is the main thing right now.
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Mei Chen
The whole unemployment system is BROKEN when legitimate layoffs get denied! I've seen so many people get screwed over by technicalities while the economy falls apart. These plant closures are happening everywhere but somehow the workers are the ones who suffer. File that appeal and fight them on every detail!
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CosmicCadet
Wait, are you sure you filled out the separation reason correctly? Sometimes if the employer reports it wrong or if there was any voluntary aspect to the closure process, it can affect your eligibility. Did you check what your employer reported as the reason for separation?
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Carmen Reyes
•How do I check what they reported? I just know we got the WARN notice 60 days before and then they shut down exactly when they said they would.
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Liam O'Connor
Been there! The key is the appeal hearing - that's where you can present all your evidence about the closure being involuntary. Bring the WARN notice, any company communications about the shutdown, and if possible, testimony from other laid-off workers. The initial denial might just be a processing error.
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