NYS Department of Labor denied my unemployment claim - what should I do next?
Got a letter yesterday saying my unemployment claim was denied. I was let go from my retail job in December after working there for almost 2 years. The denial letter mentions something about 'voluntary separation' but I definitely didn't quit - my manager told me they were cutting hours and had to let people go. I'm really confused about what this means and what I should do next. Has anyone dealt with getting their NYS Department of Labor claim denied before? I really need these benefits to pay rent.
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Jamal Anderson
You absolutely should appeal this decision! You have 30 days from the date on your denial letter to file an appeal with NYS Department of Labor. If you were laid off and didn't quit voluntarily, this sounds like an error in their determination. You'll need to gather any documentation you have - termination letter, final paystub, anything that shows you were laid off rather than quitting.
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Zoe Alexopoulos
•Thank you! I don't have a termination letter but I do have my final paystub. Should I also try to get something in writing from my old manager about the layoffs?
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Mei Wong
same thing happened to my brother last year, he got denied at first but won his appeal. the hearing was done over the phone and he just had to explain what really happened
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QuantumQuasar
Don't wait on the appeal! Log into your my.ny.gov account and look for the appeal option under your claim status. You can file it online which is faster than mailing it. Also keep filing your weekly claims even while the appeal is pending - if you win the appeal you'll get back pay for those weeks. The appeal process usually takes 4-6 weeks but could be longer depending on their caseload.
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Zoe Alexopoulos
•I didn't know I should keep filing weekly claims during the appeal! That's really helpful, thank you.
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Liam McGuire
•Wait, are you sure about continuing to file? I thought you couldn't file if your claim was denied?
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Amara Eze
If you're having trouble reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor to discuss your denial, I had luck using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. I was stuck trying to call for weeks about my adjudication issue and this actually got me connected within a few hours.
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Giovanni Greco
•Never heard of that before, is it legit? Seems weird to pay someone to make a phone call for you.
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Amara Eze
•Yeah it's real, they basically handle the waiting on hold part and connect you when an agent picks up. Was worth it for me since I couldn't get through any other way.
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Fatima Al-Farsi
The whole system is rigged against workers!!! They deny people left and right hoping you'll just give up and not appeal. I've seen so many people get wrongfully denied and then have to fight for months to get what they deserved in the first place. Document EVERYTHING and don't let them intimidate you!
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Mei Wong
definitely appeal it. worst case scenario you're in the same situation you're in now, best case you get approved and get your benefits
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