just went through this last month, got approved no problem. make sure you have your employer fill out the separation form correctly showing lack of work not misconduct or anything like that

I've been working seasonal construction for about 8 years now and can confirm that seasonal workers absolutely qualify for unemployment benefits in New York. The key thing is to make sure your employer properly documents the layoff as "lack of work" rather than any other reason. I usually file my claim the week I get laid off in December and have never had major issues getting approved. One tip - if you know approximately when you'll be called back to work, mention that in your claim but don't give a specific date unless your employer puts it in writing. The NYS DOL understands seasonal patterns in industries like construction, landscaping, and tourism. Just be honest about your situation and keep up with the weekly certifications!

I'm new to unemployment benefits too and this is really helpful info! I just submitted my first claim yesterday (Monday) so sounds like I should expect payment by Thursday or Friday at the latest. One thing I'm wondering about - do they send any kind of notification when the payment is processed or do you just have to keep checking your bank account? Also, is there a way to see payment history in the my.ny.gov portal?

I've been through this same situation! When I first started collecting unemployment in NY, I was so anxious about when the payments would actually show up. From my experience over the past 6 months, if you certify on Sunday, the money typically hits your account Tuesday or Wednesday. The key thing is to make sure you certify as early as possible - I always do mine Sunday evening right when it becomes available. Also, double-check that your direct deposit info is 100% correct in your my.ny.gov account because even a small typo can cause major delays. One time my payment was delayed by a week because I had an old routing number in there. Hope this helps ease your worry - the system does work once you get into the rhythm of it!

I'm dealing with this exact situation right now! I have a small rental property that generates about $1,500/month and just got laid off from my marketing position last week. Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly helpful - I was really stressed thinking the rental income would completely disqualify me from benefits. It's so reassuring to hear from multiple people who've successfully collected unemployment while having rental income. The distinction between passive income and earned income makes total sense when you think about it. I'm definitely going to file my claim this week and be completely upfront about the rental property from the start. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread has been a lifesaver for understanding how the NYS Department of Labor handles these situations!

I'm in a very similar situation and this discussion has been incredibly helpful! I was laid off from my job at a nonprofit two weeks ago and have been putting off filing for unemployment because I have a small rental unit that brings in $1,200/month. I was so worried they'd consider it "work" or that it would disqualify me completely. Reading everyone's experiences about rental income being treated as passive income has really eased my anxiety. It makes perfect sense that there's a distinction between earned income from employment and passive rental income. I'm planning to file my claim tomorrow and will definitely be upfront about the rental income from the start. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - it's so much more helpful than trying to decipher the confusing official language on the NYS Department of Labor website!

I had the exact same panic! Been on NY unemployment for about 7 months and you'd think I'd remember Presidents Day by now, but nope - saw that "next business day" message and immediately thought something went wrong with my claim. I even double-checked that I answered all the weekly certification questions correctly! It's honestly pretty impressive that the NYSDOL system automatically adjusts for federal holidays like this, but they really should add a little note explaining WHY it says "next business day" instead of the usual Monday. Would save so many of us from unnecessary weekend stress! Thanks to everyone for confirming this is totally normal - definitely bookmarking this thread for future holiday reference.

I'm so relieved I found this thread! I'm pretty new to unemployment (only been collecting for about 3 weeks) and when I certified early this morning and saw "processed next business day" instead of Monday, I completely freaked out. I thought maybe I had answered one of the weekly questions wrong or that there was some kind of issue with my claim. I even logged back in twice to make sure everything looked normal! It's such a relief to know this is just because of Presidents Day and that the system is actually working correctly. You all have saved me from a very stressful weekend of worrying about my payment. Definitely going to keep track of federal holidays going forward so this doesn't catch me off guard again!

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago when my hours got cut from 28 to 12 hours a week at a grocery store. You absolutely can collect unemployment benefits as a part-time worker in New York! The biggest thing that helped me was understanding that it's based on your total earnings during the base period, not whether you were full-time or part-time. I'd recommend filing your claim as soon as possible since there can be a waiting period. Also, keep detailed records of your reduced hours and any communication from your employer about the cut - NYS Department of Labor may ask for documentation. The weekly benefit amount will obviously be lower than what a full-time worker would get, but every bit helps when you're dealing with reduced income. Don't let anyone discourage you from applying just because you weren't working full-time!

I can definitely confirm what everyone else is saying - part-time workers absolutely can collect unemployment benefits in New York! I was in a very similar situation last fall when my retail job cut my hours from 22 to 8 hours per week. The whole full-time vs part-time thing is a common misconception - what actually matters is meeting the base period wage requirements. Since you've been working 25 hours a week for 8 months, you should definitely have enough wage history to qualify. The NYS Department of Labor will look at your total earnings over the base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters) to determine your eligibility and benefit amount. Make sure to apply online through my.ny.gov as soon as you can, and when you file your weekly claims, just report any part-time wages you earn honestly. The system is designed to help people in exactly your situation - reduced hours through no fault of your own. Don't let your manager's comment discourage you from applying!