NYS Department of Labor rejected my claim - which is not a category of unemployment they recognize?
I'm so confused right now. Filed for unemployment after getting laid off from my warehouse job in Buffalo last month and NYS Department of Labor just denied my claim saying my reason doesn't qualify as a recognized unemployment category. I was let go because the company said they were restructuring and my position was eliminated. I thought that would be covered under regular UI benefits but apparently not? The denial letter wasn't very clear about which categories ARE accepted. Can someone explain what unemployment categories NYS Department of Labor actually recognizes? I'm worried I misunderstood something when I filed my initial claim.
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ElectricDreamer
NYS Department of Labor recognizes several main categories: involuntary job loss (layoffs, business closure), reduction in hours for partial benefits, and temporary unemployment. Your layoff due to restructuring should definitely qualify under involuntary separation. There might be an issue with how you described the separation reason when filing. Did you select 'lack of work' or 'company restructuring' as your reason? Sometimes the wrong selection can trigger an automatic denial.
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Dmitry Smirnov
•I think I selected 'position eliminated' which seemed right to me. Should I have picked something else? The denial notice mentioned something about voluntary vs involuntary but I definitely didn't quit.
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Ava Johnson
This happened to my brother last year. NYS Department of Labor has specific language they're looking for when you file. Regular unemployment covers: laid off due to lack of work, company closure, job elimination, seasonal work ending, and being fired for non-misconduct reasons. What they DON'T cover includes: quitting without good cause, being fired for misconduct, refusing suitable work, or being unavailable for work. You can appeal this denial - you have 30 days from the date on the notice.
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Miguel Diaz
•Yeah the appeal process is definitely worth trying. I had to appeal when they initially denied me for 'voluntary separation' even though I was clearly laid off.
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Zainab Ahmed
ugh the nys department of labor system is so confusing with all these categories!! i got denied twice before figuring out the right way to explain my situation. definitely appeal this
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Dmitry Smirnov
•How long did your appeal take to get processed? I'm already behind on rent and can't afford to wait months for this to get sorted out.
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Connor Byrne
I was struggling with getting through to NYS Department of Labor to clarify my denial until someone recommended Claimyr (claimyr.com). They helped me get connected to an actual agent who could explain exactly why my claim was denied and what documentation I needed for my appeal. There's even a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me weeks of trying to get through on my own.
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Dmitry Smirnov
•That sounds really helpful. I've been calling for days and either get busy signals or get disconnected after waiting on hold.
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Yara Abboud
•Is this some kind of paid service? I'm already broke from being unemployed.
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PixelPioneer
Same thing happened to me with a restaurant closure. Turns out I had checked the wrong box during filing and it made it look like I quit instead of being laid off when the business shut down permanently. The appeal was straightforward once I provided the closure notice from my employer.
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Chloe Robinson
The key thing to remember is that NYS Department of Labor has very specific wording they look for when processing claims. "Position eliminated" should absolutely qualify as involuntary separation, but sometimes their automated system flags certain phrases incorrectly. I'd recommend gathering your layoff documentation (termination letter, final pay stub showing reason) and filing an appeal immediately. When you appeal, be very clear that you were "laid off due to lack of work/position elimination" rather than using terms like "restructuring" which can sometimes be misinterpreted. The appeal process usually takes 2-4 weeks, and you can request expedited processing if you're facing financial hardship. Don't let this denial discourage you - many people have to appeal their first decision.
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