When can you not collect unemployment - NYS Department of Labor disqualification reasons?

There are several main categories where NYS Department of Labor will disqualify you from unemployment benefits. First, voluntary separation without good cause (quitting without a valid reason). Second, misconduct discharge - this includes things like repeated tardiness, insubordination, or violating company policies. Third, refusing suitable work without good cause. Fourth, not meeting the work search requirements (you need to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep detailed records). Fifth, not being able and available for work. There are also monetary eligibility requirements - you need sufficient wages in your base period.

Also fraud will permanently disqualify you. If NYS Department of Labor finds out you lied about anything on your application or weekly claims, you'll have to pay back all benefits plus penalties and you won't be eligible for future claims. Don't mess around with that. And if you're receiving other benefits like workers comp, that can affect your UI eligibility too.

The work search thing is what got my cousin in trouble. She thought she just had to apply for jobs but didn't keep proper records. NYS Department of Labor requires you to document each contact - date, employer name, position, method of contact, result. If you can't prove your 3 weekly contacts during an audit, they'll disqualify you and demand repayment. It's not just about applying, it's about documenting everything correctly.

Don't forget about the able and available requirement. If you're going to school full-time, have transportation issues that prevent you from accepting work, or have other limitations, NYS Department of Labor might find you not available for work. Even being on vacation can disqualify you for those weeks if you don't report it properly on your weekly claim.

THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO DENY YOU! They'll find ANY excuse to cut off your benefits. I got disqualified because I supposedly 'refused suitable work' even though the job was 2 hours away and paid less than minimum wage. The appeals process is a joke too - takes months and they usually side with the employer anyway.

If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor to get clarification on any disqualification or to check your eligibility status, I had good luck using claimyr.com recently. They help you get through to an actual agent instead of dealing with the busy signals and automated system. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and redialing.

one more thing - if you worked in multiple states you might have issues with which state to file in. has to be the state where you worked most recently or earned the most wages. filing in the wrong state can mess everything up