NYS Department of Labor unemployment - who applies for unemployment and what qualifies you?
I'm really confused about who can actually apply for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor. My cousin says anyone who gets fired can get it, but my coworker says you have to work a certain amount of time first. I lost my retail job last week after working there for 8 months and I'm not sure if I even qualify. Do you have to be laid off specifically or can people who get terminated for attendance issues still apply? Also wondering about part-time workers - my friend only worked 20 hours a week but still got unemployment somehow. Can someone explain the basic rules for who applies for unemployment in NY?
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AstroAdventurer
You can apply for unemployment benefits if you meet the basic eligibility requirements. First, you need sufficient work history - generally you must have worked and earned wages in at least two quarters during your base period (usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters). Second, you must be unemployed through no fault of your own - this includes layoffs, business closures, or being fired for reasons other than misconduct. Third, you must be able and available to work and actively seeking employment. Part-time workers can qualify if they meet the wage requirements, and the amount depends on your earnings history.
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Natasha Kuznetsova
•Thanks for explaining! So if I was fired for being late too many times, would that count as misconduct? I wasn't stealing or anything serious like that.
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Javier Mendoza
attendance issues can be tricky - depends on if your employer can prove it was willful misconduct vs just poor performance. i got fired for attendance and still got approved after they reviewed it
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Emma Wilson
•NYS Department of Labor looks at whether the attendance issues were within your control and if you received proper warnings. If you had valid reasons (like medical issues) or weren't given clear expectations, you might still qualify. The adjudication process will review all the details from both you and your employer.
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Malik Davis
I've been dealing with NYS Department of Labor for months and honestly their phone system is impossible. Spent hours trying to get through to ask about my eligibility and kept getting disconnected. Finally found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually gets you connected to a real person at NYS Department of Labor. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration when I needed to clarify my eligibility status.
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Isabella Santos
•That sounds too good to be true honestly. How much does something like that cost?
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Malik Davis
•It's definitely worth it compared to wasting entire days trying to call. The value is in actually getting through when you need answers about your claim status or eligibility questions.
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Ravi Gupta
basically anyone can APPLY but whether you get approved is different. I applied when I quit my job and obviously got denied but at least I tried lol. the system is set up to make you jump through hoops anyway
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AstroAdventurer
•That's an important distinction - you can file a claim but quitting without good cause typically disqualifies you. However, there are exceptions for quitting due to unsafe working conditions, harassment, or significant changes to your job terms.
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GalacticGuru
Same boat here! Lost my restaurant job and wasn't sure about applying either. Turns out even if you're not 100% sure you qualify, it's worth filing because the worst they can say is no.
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