What would disqualify you from getting unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor?
I'm thinking about leaving my current job because the working conditions are terrible and my boss is making my life miserable. But I'm worried about whether I'd qualify for unemployment if I quit. What are the main things that would disqualify you from getting unemployment benefits in New York? I don't want to make a mistake and end up with no income while I look for something new.
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Isabella Santos
The main disqualifiers for NYS Department of Labor unemployment benefits are: quitting without good cause, being fired for misconduct, refusing suitable work offers, not meeting work search requirements, and not being able and available for work. If you quit voluntarily without documenting good cause (like unsafe working conditions or harassment), you'll likely be disqualified. You need to have documentation if you're claiming constructive dismissal.
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Malik Davis
•What counts as good cause though? My boss yells at everyone and creates a really toxic environment but I don't have it in writing or anything.
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StarStrider
Don't quit unless you absolutely have to! Even if you have good cause, proving it to NYS Department of Labor during adjudication can be really difficult. They're pretty strict about voluntary quits. If you can document harassment, unsafe conditions, or significant changes to your job duties/pay, you might have a case. But it's always better to try to get laid off or fired (without misconduct) if possible.
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Ravi Gupta
•This is so true. I quit my last job because of a hostile work environment and it took months to get my benefits approved. Had to provide emails, witness statements, everything.
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Freya Pedersen
omg yes be SO careful about quitting! i made that mistake last year and was denied immediately. took forever to appeal and even then i only got partial benefits. the adjudication process was a nightmare and calling NYS Department of Labor to explain my situation was impossible - could never get through to anyone who could actually help
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Omar Hassan
•I had the same problem with getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone. Someone on here mentioned using claimyr.com to actually reach an agent - they have some kind of system that gets you through the phone queues. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Might be worth checking out if you need to speak to someone about your specific situation.
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Chloe Anderson
Other things that can disqualify you: not registering for work search within the required timeframe, failing to complete your weekly job search activities, turning down job offers that NYS Department of Labor considers suitable, and not reporting income from part-time work. Also if you're not a US citizen or authorized to work, or if you're receiving certain other benefits. The system is designed to catch everything!
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Malik Davis
•Wait, what counts as suitable work? Can they make you take any job even if it pays way less than what you were making?
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Diego Vargas
Been through this whole mess twice now and honestly the unemployment system is rigged against workers. They'll find ANY excuse to deny your claim. Even if you have legitimate reasons for leaving they make you jump through hoops for months while you're struggling to pay bills. The adjudication process is deliberately slow and confusing.
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Isabella Santos
•I understand the frustration, but it's not completely hopeless. The key is documentation and knowing the rules. NYS Department of Labor has to follow specific criteria for good cause determinations. If you have proper documentation of workplace issues, your chances improve significantly.
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