NYS Department of Labor denied my unemployment claim - why was my unemployment denied?
Just got a determination letter saying my unemployment was denied and I'm completely confused. I worked at a restaurant for 8 months before getting laid off due to slow business. The letter mentions something about 'insufficient wages' but I don't understand what that means. I made around $18,000 during my base period. Has anyone else had their claim denied for this reason? I really need these benefits to pay rent while I look for another job.
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Jungleboo Soletrain
The 'insufficient wages' denial usually means you didn't earn enough during your base period to qualify for benefits. For 2025, you need at least $3,300 in total wages AND wages in at least two quarters of your base period. Your base period is typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed. Can you check your determination letter to see which quarters they used for your base period calculation?
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Anna Xian
•The letter shows my base period as January 2024 through December 2024. I only started working in May 2024 though, so most of those quarters show zero wages. Does that mean I'm out of luck?
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Rajan Walker
You might be able to use the alternate base period! If you don't qualify under the standard base period, NYS Department of Labor can look at the last four completed quarters instead. This could include more recent wages from your restaurant job. You should call them to request this - the number is on your determination letter.
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Anna Xian
•I've been trying to call for three days but keep getting disconnected after waiting on hold for hours. Is there another way to request the alternate base period?
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Nadia Zaldivar
•I had the same problem reaching NYS Department of Labor by phone last month. Someone on here recommended claimyr.com - it's a service that calls for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of trying to get through myself.
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Lukas Fitzgerald
Wait, if you worked 8 months and made $18k that should be enough wages unless there's something weird about how your employer reported them. Did you work consistent hours or was it sporadic? Sometimes if employers don't report wages correctly it can mess up your base period calculation.
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Anna Xian
•I worked pretty consistently, about 25-30 hours per week. Should I be worried that my employer didn't report my wages properly to NYS Department of Labor?
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Ev Luca
This whole system is so confusing! I got denied too but for 'voluntary quit' even though I was clearly laid off. The NYS Department of Labor seems to deny everyone first and make you fight for benefits. It's ridiculous that people who need help the most have to jump through all these hoops.
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Avery Davis
•same here, got denied initially but won my appeal
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Jungleboo Soletrain
Don't give up yet! You have the right to request a hearing if you disagree with the determination. The instructions should be in your denial letter. Make sure to file your request within 30 days of the determination date. At the hearing, you can present evidence about your work history and wages. Even if the alternate base period doesn't work out, sometimes there are other issues that can be resolved.
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