NYS Department of Labor unemployment after business sold - can I collect benefits?

Yes, you can absolutely file for unemployment! When a business is sold and the new owners don't retain employees, that's considered an involuntary job loss. NYS Department of Labor recognizes this as a qualifying reason for UI benefits. Make sure to document everything - the sale notice, any communication about not being retained, and your last day of work. File your claim as soon as possible after your last day.

I went through this exact thing last year when my company got bought out. Filed my claim right after my last day and had no issues. NYS Department of Labor approved it without any problems. The key is making sure you have documentation that shows you were let go due to the business sale, not that you chose to leave. Keep any emails or notices they gave you about the sale and staff changes.

If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask questions about your specific situation, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me reach an actual agent. They have this video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really helped when I needed to clarify some details about my claim status and couldn't get through the regular phone lines.

Wait, so if they're closing your location completely that should be pretty clear cut right?? I thought business sales were tricky for unemployment but if they're shutting down the whole place that seems obvious. Good luck with your claim!

Make sure you understand the difference between a business closure and a sale. In your case it sounds like both - they sold AND are closing your location. That definitely qualifies you for benefits. The only time it gets complicated is if the new owners offer you a job and you refuse it, but that's not happening here. File as soon as your employment ends and you should be fine.

I had a similar situation about 3 years ago when my company was acquired and they eliminated my entire department. One thing I wish I had known - make sure to get a separation letter or some kind of written notice about the business sale and your job ending. NYS DOL might ask for it during the claims process. Also, don't stress too much about the timing of when to file - you generally want to file the week you become unemployed, not before. The system is pretty good at recognizing legitimate layoffs due to business changes. You've got 6 years of work history which definitely helps your case too.

I work as an HR representative and deal with these situations regularly. Your case is actually pretty straightforward for NYS Department of Labor - when a business is sold and the new owners eliminate positions/close locations, it's considered a "lack of work" separation, which automatically qualifies you for unemployment benefits. The fact that you've been there 6 years as a supervisor also works in your favor since you'll have a solid wage history. One tip: when you file your claim online, make sure to select "lack of work" or "business closure" as your reason for separation, NOT "quit" or "fired." Keep any written communication about the sale and your last day - even an email will help if there are any questions later. You should be able to start collecting benefits without any issues!

Just went through this exact scenario in Buffalo last month! My manufacturing company was sold and the new owners shut down our facility entirely. I was nervous about filing too, but NYS DOL made it really easy. The key things that helped me: 1) I saved the email announcement about the sale and closure, 2) Got a layoff letter from HR stating "position eliminated due to facility closure following business sale," and 3) Filed my claim the Monday after my last day of work. The whole process took about 10 days and I started receiving benefits without any complications. Your 6 years of employment history will definitely work in your favor - shows you're an established worker, not someone trying to game the system. Don't overthink it, you're clearly eligible!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now - my company was just acquired and they're eliminating my department next month. Reading through everyone's experiences here is really helpful! One thing I wanted to add is that if you're worried about the employer potentially contesting your claim, NYS DOL has a really clear policy about business sales and closures. According to their guidelines, when new ownership eliminates positions or closes facilities, it's automatically considered involuntary separation. The burden would be on the employer to prove otherwise, which would be pretty difficult given they're closing your entire location. Also, make sure to document not just the sale announcement but any communication showing the new owners have no positions available - that eliminates any question about whether you "refused suitable work." You're definitely in good shape for approval!

One additional thing to keep in mind - when you file your claim, NYS DOL will ask for your employer's information including their FEIN (Federal Employer ID Number). Since the business was sold, you'll want to use the information for your current employer (the company that's laying you off), not the new owners. Sometimes people get confused about which company info to provide in these sale situations. Also, if you have direct deposit set up anywhere, get that ready for when you file - it'll speed up getting your benefits once approved. Your situation sounds very clear-cut for approval, especially with 6 years of solid work history. Best of luck with your claim!