Why would I get denied unemployment benefits from NYS Department of Labor?
I'm really worried about my unemployment claim getting denied and I want to know what could cause this to happen. I was laid off from my restaurant job last month due to slow business and filed my claim right away. Everything seemed to go smoothly when I submitted it online through my.ny.gov but now I'm seeing all these stories about people getting denied and I'm starting to panic. What are the main reasons NYS Department of Labor denies unemployment claims? I reported everything honestly when I filed - my last day of work, my wages, why I was separated. But I keep reading about people getting surprise denials weeks later. Should I be preparing for something or doing anything differently with my weekly claims? I really need these benefits to survive until I find another job.
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Liam Duke
The most common reasons for denial are: 1) Quitting without good cause instead of being laid off 2) Being fired for misconduct 3) Not meeting the wage requirements (need sufficient wages in your base period) 4) Not being able and available for work 5) Refusing suitable work offers 6) Not actively searching for work. Since you were laid off due to business reasons, that shouldn't be an issue. Just make sure you're completing your weekly claims correctly and documenting your job search activities.
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Dana Doyle
•Thank you! That's really helpful. I was definitely laid off, not fired, so that should be okay. How many jobs do I need to apply to each week for the job search requirement?
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Manny Lark
i got denied last year because they said i didnt have enough wages in my base period even though i worked for like 8 months straight. turned out they were using the wrong quarters for my base period calculation. you can appeal if this happens but its a pain
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Rita Jacobs
•This happens more often than people realize. The base period is usually the first four of the last five completed quarters before you filed. If you started working recently or had gaps in employment, you might not have enough qualifying wages. You can request an alternate base period if the regular one doesn't work.
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Khalid Howes
I'm in the same boat - filed 2 weeks ago and constantly worried about getting denied! The waiting is the worst part. Did you get any confirmation that your claim was accepted or are you still waiting to hear back from NYS Department of Labor?
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Dana Doyle
•I got a notice that my claim was received but it just says 'pending' when I check online. No determination yet. The uncertainty is killing me!
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Ben Cooper
If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor to check on your claim status or get answers about potential issues, I had good luck using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get through to an actual agent instead of sitting on hold forever. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustration when I needed to clarify something about my eligibility.
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Naila Gordon
•Interesting, never heard of that service. Did they actually help you get answers or was it just another way to wait on hold?
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Ben Cooper
•No, they actually got me connected to a real person at NYS Department of Labor within like 30 minutes. Way better than the 3 hours I spent trying to call myself.
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Cynthia Love
THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED ANYWAY!! They deny people for the stupidest reasons just to save money. I know someone who got denied because they marked the wrong box on ONE weekly claim. ONE BOX! And then it took months to appeal and get it fixed. Meanwhile they're supposed to survive on what?? Nothing??
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Liam Duke
•While the system definitely has flaws, most denials do have legitimate reasons behind them. The key is understanding the requirements upfront and being very careful with your weekly certifications. Small mistakes can cause big problems unfortunately.
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Darren Brooks
same worry here, filed last week and checking my account obsessively lol. at least we're all in this together!
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