what disqualifies you from receiving unemployment benefits in NY?
I'm thinking about filing for unemployment but want to make sure I won't get disqualified. I left my last job because my supervisor was creating a hostile work environment and making unreasonable demands. I didn't get fired but I couldn't take it anymore. Will NYS Department of Labor consider this quitting and disqualify me? What other things can disqualify you from getting UI benefits? I've heard conflicting information and want to know before I waste time filing.
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Amina Diallo
There are several ways to get disqualified from unemployment in NY. The main ones are: 1) Quitting without good cause 2) Getting fired for misconduct 3) Refusing suitable work 4) Not meeting work search requirements 5) Not being able and available for work. Your situation might qualify as 'good cause' if you can document the hostile work environment. You'll need evidence like emails, witness statements, or complaints you filed with HR.
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Connor O'Brien
•I do have some emails saved where my supervisor was being completely unreasonable. Should I include those when I file my claim?
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GamerGirl99
ugh the work search thing is such a pain!! I got disqualified for 2 weeks because I didn't log enough job contacts one week when I was sick
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Hiroshi Nakamura
•Wait, you can get disqualified for not doing enough job searches? How many do you need to do each week? I thought it was just 3?
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Isabella Costa
I've been dealing with NYS Department of Labor for months and the system is so confusing. They can disqualify you for tons of stuff they don't clearly explain upfront. Like if you turn down a job offer even if the pay is way lower than what you made before, or if you're not available certain days of the week. The whole thing is designed to trip people up and deny benefits.
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Malik Jenkins
•That's so frustrating! I had trouble getting through to anyone at NYS Department of Labor to ask questions about my specific situation. I ended up using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get connected to an actual agent who could explain the disqualification rules. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Way easier than sitting on hold for hours.
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Freya Andersen
From what I understand, quitting for hostile work environment can qualify as 'good cause' but you need really solid documentation. NYS Department of Labor will investigate and contact your employer to get their side. If you can't prove the hostile environment, they'll consider it voluntary quit and disqualify you. Also make sure you applied for other jobs first or tried to resolve the situation through proper channels before quitting.
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Connor O'Brien
•I didn't apply for other jobs first, I just couldn't stand it anymore and quit. Does that automatically disqualify me?
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Amina Diallo
•Not automatically, but it makes your case weaker. Focus on documenting why the work environment was truly hostile and why a reasonable person would have quit in that situation.
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Eduardo Silva
yeah they'll disqualify you for basically anything these days, the whole system sucks
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Toot-n-Mighty
Another thing to be aware of is that NYS Department of Labor also disqualifies people for: 1) Not reporting income from part-time work while collecting benefits 2) Being unavailable due to vacation or personal reasons without notifying them 3) Collecting benefits while actually working (even if it's just a few hours) 4) Not responding to their requests for information within the deadline. I'd recommend keeping detailed records of everything - your job search activities, any income you earn, and all communications with DOL. The documentation requirements can be pretty strict so it's better to over-document than under-document.
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Zara Shah
•This is really helpful info! I had no idea about some of these rules. Quick question - if I do some freelance work while collecting unemployment, do I need to report that income even if it's just like $50 here and there? I don't want to accidentally violate any rules and get disqualified.
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