NYS Department of Labor unemployment benefits denied - trying to figure out why
I applied for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor about 2 weeks ago and just got a notice that my claim was denied. The letter doesn't really explain much beyond saying I don't meet eligibility requirements. I worked full time for 8 months at a retail job before getting laid off due to store restructuring. I'm confused about what could have gone wrong. Has anyone else dealt with this? What are the main reasons NYS Department of Labor denies claims? I really need these benefits to pay rent.
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LilMama23
There are several common reasons NYS Department of Labor denies unemployment claims. Most likely issues: 1) Insufficient work history or earnings in your base period, 2) How you left your job (voluntary quit vs layoff), 3) Not meeting the able and available requirements, or 4) Issues with your job search documentation. Did you receive a determination letter with a specific reason code?
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Aisha Patel
•The letter has some code numbers but they're not very clear. It mentions something about base period earnings. I thought 8 months of work would be enough?
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Dmitri Volkov
8 months might not be enough depending on when you worked and how much you earned. NYS Department of Labor looks at your base period which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you filed. If most of your work was recent, it might not count toward your base period earnings. You need to have earned at least $2,600 in your base period to qualify.
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Aisha Patel
•Oh no, I started working in April and filed in December. So most of my earnings would be in the current quarter not the base period?
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LilMama23
•Exactly! That's probably your issue. You can request an alternate base period that includes more recent quarters. File an appeal and ask for the alternate base period calculation.
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Gabrielle Dubois
ugh the base period thing is so confusing!! I got denied for the same reason last year. had to appeal and it took FOREVER to get resolved. NYS Department of Labor makes this way more complicated than it needs to be
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Tyrone Johnson
If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor to get clarification on your denial, I used 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. Really saved me time since the regular phone lines are always busy. Might be worth checking out to get answers about your specific situation.
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Aisha Patel
•Thanks! I'll look into that. I've been trying to call for days and either get disconnected or stuck on hold forever.
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Ingrid Larsson
Don't give up! I got denied initially too but my appeal was approved. Make sure you file the appeal within 30 days of your determination date. Include any pay stubs from your recent work to show your earnings. The alternate base period saved me.
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Carlos Mendoza
same thing happened to my neighbor. turned out she quit her previous job before the retail one and NYS Department of Labor counted that as voluntary separation. even though the retail job was a layoff, the earlier quit disqualified her. might want to check if you had any other jobs in your base period
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Aisha Patel
•I did have a part-time job before the retail one that I quit to take the full-time position. Could that be causing issues even though I was laid off from the most recent job?
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