What would make me ineligible for unemployment benefits in New York?
I'm thinking about filing for unemployment but want to understand what could disqualify me first. I left my last job because my manager was creating a hostile work environment - would that count as quitting voluntarily? Also heard there are work requirements and income limits but can't find clear info on the NYS Department of Labor website. What are the main reasons people get denied or become ineligible for UI benefits?
11 comments
Join the conversation
Jamal Harris
There are several ways to become ineligible for unemployment in NY. Main reasons include: quitting without good cause, being fired for misconduct, not meeting work/wage requirements (you need sufficient work history and earnings), refusing suitable work offers, not actively searching for jobs, or not being able and available to work. Hostile work environment might qualify as 'good cause' but you'd need to document it thoroughly.
0 coins
Zoe Stavros
•Thanks! What counts as sufficient work history? I worked part-time for about 8 months at my last job.
0 coins
Mei Chen
dont quit unless you have documentation!! i quit because of harassment and got denied initially. had to appeal with emails and witness statements to prove good cause
0 coins
Liam Sullivan
For work requirements, you generally need to have worked in at least 2 quarters during your base period and earned enough wages. NYS Department of Labor calculates this based on your highest quarter earnings. Income limits apply to weekly earnings while collecting - you can work part-time but if you earn more than your weekly benefit rate minus $50, your benefits get reduced. Also need to register for work and do job searches.
0 coins
Amara Okafor
•The job search requirement is real - they can audit your log anytime. I had to submit mine during my claim and it was stressful making sure I had enough valid contacts logged.
0 coins
CosmicCommander
ugh the system is so confusing, i got denied first time for some random reason about not being available even though i was looking for work every day. had to call like 50 times to get through to someone at NYS Department of Labor to explain what happened
0 coins
Giovanni Colombo
•I had similar issues getting through to NYS Department of Labor phone lines. Actually found this service called Claimyr that helped me get connected faster - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI and their site is claimyr.com. Way less frustrating than calling the regular number over and over.
0 coins
Fatima Al-Qasimi
Other disqualifying factors include being self-employed as your primary work, being fired for theft or violence, not being a US citizen or authorized to work, or being in school full-time without meeting specific student eligibility criteria. Also if you're receiving certain other benefits like workers comp, that can affect eligibility.
0 coins
Mei Chen
wait what about if you get fired for being late too much? asking for a friend lol
0 coins
Jamal Harris
•Chronic tardiness could be considered misconduct depending on the circumstances. NYS Department of Labor looks at whether you had warnings, if there were valid reasons for lateness, and if you made efforts to improve. Each case gets reviewed individually.
0 coins
PixelWarrior
Just went through this process myself! For the hostile work environment situation, document everything you can - emails, texts, any HR complaints you filed, witness contacts, etc. NYS considers constructive dismissal (being forced to quit due to intolerable conditions) as potentially qualifying for benefits, but the burden of proof is on you. I'd recommend filing anyway and letting them make the determination rather than assuming you won't qualify. The worst they can do is deny it, and you can always appeal with more documentation. Also keep in mind that even if initially denied, many people win on appeal once they can present their case more thoroughly.
0 coins