What reasons can you get denied unemployment benefits in New York?
I'm trying to understand all the ways you can get denied for unemployment in NY before I file my claim. I lost my job last week and want to make sure I don't mess anything up. I've heard there are specific reasons they'll automatically deny you but I can't find a clear list anywhere. Can someone break down what reasons can you get denied unemployment for? I worked for 8 months at my last job and was let go due to company downsizing.
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Malik Thomas
The main reasons NYS Department of Labor will deny your claim are: 1) Voluntary quit without good cause 2) Fired for misconduct 3) Not available for work 4) Not actively seeking work 5) Insufficient work history/wages 6) Refusing suitable work without good cause. Since you were laid off due to downsizing, you should be fine on those fronts. Just make sure you're genuinely available and actively job searching.
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Emma Wilson
•Thanks! What counts as 'misconduct' exactly? I was never written up or anything but want to be sure.
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NeonNebula
Also important - they'll deny you if you don't meet the monetary requirements. You need to have earned at least $2,600 in your base period and your total base period wages need to be at least 1.5 times your highest quarter earnings. With 8 months of work you should be okay but double check your wage history on my.ny.gov
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Isabella Costa
•yeah this got me when i first applied, had to wait until i had more quarters of work
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Ravi Malhotra
Don't forget about the weekly requirements too! Even if you get approved initially, they can cut you off if you're not doing your job search activities. You need to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep records. Also if you turn down a job offer without good reason that can disqualify you.
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Emma Wilson
•Good point about the weekly stuff. Do they actually check your job search log or is it just if someone reports you?
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Ravi Malhotra
•They can audit you at any time and ask for proof. Better to keep real records just in case.
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Freya Christensen
I got denied initially because my employer claimed I was fired for attendance issues even though I was never formally written up. Had to go through the whole appeal process. Sometimes employers lie to avoid paying into the system. If you get denied and you think it's wrong, definitely appeal within 30 days.
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Emma Wilson
•That's awful! Did you win your appeal? How long did it take?
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Freya Christensen
•Yeah I won but took like 3 months. Had to get a hearing and everything. Was a pain but worth it in the end.
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Omar Farouk
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to check on your claim status or get help with any issues, I used a service called Claimyr that helped me reach an actual agent. They have this system that calls for you and gets you connected - saved me hours of trying to get through myself. You can check out their demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI and their site is claimyr.com. Really helpful when you need to talk to someone about your claim.
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Chloe Davis
•never heard of that before, is it legit?
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Omar Farouk
•Yeah it's real, they just help you get through the phone system. Doesn't cost anything crazy and beats sitting on hold for hours.
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Isabella Costa
basically if you quit or got fired for being bad at your job youre probably screwed. layoffs and company closures are usually fine though
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Millie Long
Another thing to watch out for is if you're getting any severance pay or vacation payout - that can delay when your benefits start. NY has a waiting period if you receive certain types of separation pay. Also, if you do any freelance or part-time work while collecting, you have to report it or they can deny future claims for fraud. Since you mentioned downsizing, make sure you have documentation of that (layoff notice, WARN Act notice if applicable) in case they question the separation reason.
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