Quit my job last month - can I still get NYS Department of Labor unemployment benefits?
So I made the decision to quit my retail job about 4 weeks ago because my manager was being completely unreasonable about my schedule and I couldn't take it anymore. Now I'm realizing I probably should have looked into this before I quit but can I still file for unemployment with NYS Department of Labor? I keep reading conflicting things online about quitting vs being fired. I had been there for almost 2 years and never had any disciplinary issues. Does anyone know if there's any way to get benefits if you quit for good cause or am I just out of luck?
8 comments


Oliver Schmidt
Generally speaking, if you quit your job voluntarily, you won't qualify for regular unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor. However, there are some exceptions for 'good cause' situations like unsafe working conditions, harassment, or significant changes to your job terms. You'd need to prove that quitting was your only reasonable option. The adjudication process will review your specific circumstances.
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Amina Diop
•What kind of documentation would I need to prove good cause? I don't have anything in writing about the schedule conflicts unfortunately.
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Natasha Volkov
i quit my job last year and didnt get anything so probably not but you should still try filing maybe your situation is different
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Javier Torres
You should definitely still file a claim with NYS Department of Labor. Even if you quit, they'll conduct an adjudication to determine if you had good cause. Schedule changes that make it impossible to work could potentially qualify. Make sure to document everything you can remember about the situation when you file. If you get denied initially, you can always appeal the decision.
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Emma Wilson
•This is good advice. I had a similar situation where I quit due to my hours being cut drastically and I eventually got approved after the appeal process. It took about 6 weeks total but was worth it.
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QuantumLeap
Ugh the NYS Department of Labor system is such a nightmare to deal with especially when you quit. They make you jump through so many hoops and the phone lines are always busy. I've been trying to get through to them for weeks about my own claim issues and can't reach anyone!
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Malik Johnson
•I was having the same problem getting through to NYS Department of Labor until someone told me about this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They basically call on your behalf and get you connected to an actual agent. I was skeptical at first but watched their demo video (https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI) and decided to try it. Got through to someone within a couple hours when I'd been trying for weeks on my own.
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Isabella Santos
just wanted to say i feel for you because retail managers can be the worst!! my friend quit her job at a clothing store because of scheduling issues too and she didnt get benefits but every situation is different i guess
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