IN RE: the Claim of Anne BRYDON (2002)

Appeal from a decision of the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board, filed December 19, 2001, which ruled that claimant was disqualified from receiving unemployment insurance benefits because she voluntarily left her employment without good cause.

Claimant was employed as a flight attendant for Trans World Airlines, Inc. from 1962 until her resignation, effective December 31, 2000.   The decision to leave her employment was motivated by claimant's concern that the employer might file for bankruptcy, thereby jeopardizing the solvency of her pension fund.   In addition, she had been notified that administration of her pension fund had been taken over by a federal agency that insures private pension plans and that, after the year 2000, the option of collecting pension benefits in a lump sum would no longer be available.   Claimant chose to resign from her job in order to exercise the lump-sum option, resulting in her receipt of over $200,000.   The Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board subsequently ruled that claimant was disqualified from receiving unemployment insurance benefits because she voluntarily left her employment without good cause.   As substantial evidence supports this decision, it will not be disturbed.

 This Court has held that a claimant who leaves employment while continuing work is available in order to obtain advantageous retirement benefits may be disqualified from receiving unemployment insurance payments on the ground that the resignation was for personal and noncompelling reasons (see Matter of Biedka [Hudacs], 196 A.D.2d 944, 602 N.Y.S.2d 240;  see also Matter of Pullano [Commissioner of Labor], 294 A.D.2d 747, 742 N.Y.S.2d 429;  Matter of Salerno [Commissioner of Labor], 279 A.D.2d 935, 719 N.Y.S.2d 621).   As it is uncontested that claimant resigned in order to collect her pension benefits in a lump sum at a time when continuing work was available, we conclude that substantial evidence supports the Board's finding that claimant left her employment under disqualifying circumstances.   The remaining contentions raised herein have been reviewed and found to be without merit.

ORDERED that the decision is affirmed, without costs.