What makes you not qualify for unemployment benefits in New York - found out the hard way

There are several common disqualification reasons for NYS unemployment benefits. The main ones are: 1) Insufficient wage credits (you need to have earned enough in your base period), 2) Voluntary quit without good cause, 3) Fired for misconduct, 4) Not able and available to work, 5) Refusing suitable work, 6) Not actively seeking work. The 'voluntary quit from previous employer' suggests they found you quit a job before the one you were fired from. Even if your most recent separation was involuntary, a voluntary quit from an earlier job in your base period can still disqualify you.

yeah they got me on the wage credits thing too. apparently you need to earn at least $2,600 in your base period AND have wages in at least 2 quarters. i thought working 8 months would be enough but turns out the base period is weird - it's not the most recent quarters, it's like a year ago or something

This is so frustrating! I've been trying to get through to someone at NYS Department of Labor for weeks to understand my denial but their phone lines are always busy. I keep getting hung up on after waiting for hours. There has to be a better way to reach them when you need to appeal or get clarification on disqualification reasons.

Don't forget about the able and available requirement too! A lot of people get denied because they can't prove they're actively looking for work or they have restrictions that limit their availability. You need to be ready to accept suitable work immediately and prove you're conducting a genuine job search.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST WORKERS!!! They'll find ANY excuse to deny your claim. I've seen people get disqualified for the stupidest reasons - one person got denied because they attended their kid's school play during 'work hours' even though they were unemployed. NYS Department of Labor acts like they're doing you a favor when it's YOUR money from taxes you already paid!

One thing that helped me understand my disqualification was requesting my complete claim file from NYS Department of Labor. You can see exactly what information they used to make their decision and it might reveal errors or misunderstandings that you can address in your appeal.

I went through something similar and the appeal process is definitely worth pursuing if you believe there's an error. The key is to gather all your documentation - pay stubs, termination letters, anything that proves your work history and the circumstances of your job separations. I was initially denied for "voluntary quit" but it turned out my former employer had reported incorrect information. After appealing with proper documentation, I was approved and received all my back benefits. The appeal hearing lets you present your side of the story directly to a judge, and you can have witnesses testify on your behalf. Don't give up without trying - the worst that can happen is they uphold the original decision, but you might discover there was a mistake in your case.