What does disqualification mean for unemployment benefits - completely confused
I just got a letter from NYS Department of Labor saying my claim has been disqualified and I have no idea what this actually means. Does this mean I can never get unemployment again? Is this permanent? The letter mentions something about 'misconduct' but I was laid off from my restaurant job when they downsized. I've been filing my weekly claims like normal and now everything is just stopped. Can someone explain what disqualification actually means and if there's anything I can do about it?
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Nathan Kim
Disqualification means NYS Department of Labor has determined you don't meet the eligibility requirements for unemployment benefits, but it's not necessarily permanent. There are different types - some are temporary (like if you refuse suitable work) and others can be more serious (like misconduct). Since you mentioned misconduct but were laid off, there might be conflicting information in your file. You have the right to appeal this decision within 30 days of the notice date.
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Gavin King
•Thank you! How do I file an appeal? The letter wasn't very clear about the process.
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Eleanor Foster
same thing happened to me last year! i was so confused because i got laid off too but they said misconduct. turned out my former employer reported that i was fired instead of laid off. had to appeal and provide documentation that it was actually a layoff due to business reasons
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Gavin King
•Oh wow, that might be exactly what happened to me. How long did the appeal take?
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Eleanor Foster
•took about 6 weeks for the hearing and then another 2 weeks for the decision. but i won and got all my back pay
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Lucas Turner
You need to contact NYS Department of Labor immediately to get clarification on the specific reason for disqualification. If you can't get through on the phone (which is common), try using Claimyr at claimyr.com - they help people get connected to actual NYS Department of Labor agents. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Getting the exact reason is crucial for your appeal.
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Kai Rivera
•Never heard of that service but honestly anything is better than sitting on hold for hours just to get disconnected
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Anna Stewart
THE SYSTEM IS SO BROKEN!!! They disqualify people left and right and then make it impossible to reach anyone to fix it. I've been fighting a disqualification for months and still no resolution. They act like we're all trying to scam the system when most of us just need help after losing our jobs.
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Layla Sanders
•I feel you on this. The whole process is so stressful when you're already dealing with job loss.
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Morgan Washington
Quick question - are you still able to log into your my.ny.gov account and see your claim details? Sometimes the online portal will show more specific information about why you were disqualified than what's in the letter.
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