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!

This is such a relief to see that you got it resolved! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - missed certifying two weeks ago because I was in the hospital and just realized my claim shows "break in claim" status. Your experience gives me hope that I can get this fixed quickly too. Did the agent ask for any specific documentation about your illness, or was mentioning the doctor's visit enough? I have my hospital discharge papers if that would help my case.

I'm dealing with a break in claim situation too and this whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I missed certifying two weeks ago because I was caring for my sick elderly mother and completely forgot. Reading about everyone's experiences gives me hope that I can get this resolved. Does anyone know if caring for a family member during a medical emergency would qualify for backdating, or is it mainly just for your own medical issues? I have some documentation from her doctor visits if that would help. Planning to try calling tomorrow but wanted to see if anyone has been in a similar caregiving situation.

As a 10-month special education aide, I want to add some important points based on my experience filing last summer. First, don't assume you're automatically disqualified just because you have a contract - the "reasonable assurance" standard is more nuanced than many people realize. I had a signed contract but still qualified because my district was facing potential layoffs due to declining enrollment. Second, timing matters a lot. File your claim the week after your last paycheck, not when your contract technically ends. Third, gather EVERYTHING - your contract, any emails about budget concerns, documentation of when your pay stops, and if possible, a statement from HR about any uncertainties affecting your position. The adjudication process can take weeks, so apply early in your break. Also, don't be discouraged if you get an initial denial - many school employees win on appeal when they provide additional documentation about employment uncertainties. The system isn't perfect, but it's worth fighting for benefits you've paid into, especially when there are legitimate questions about your job security for the following year.

I'm a 10-month instructional aide who just went through this process this past summer and wanted to share what I learned. The most important thing I discovered is that you absolutely should apply regardless of having a contract - let NYS DOL make the determination, don't disqualify yourself. When I filed, I made sure to mention every possible uncertainty: our district was discussing class size changes, there were rumors about aide position consolidations, and funding for some programs wasn't 100% confirmed. Even though I had a signed contract, these uncertainties were enough for me to qualify. My advice: document EVERYTHING (save emails about budget discussions, get statements from supervisors about potential changes), file immediately after your last paycheck (not when your contract ends), and be very detailed in your application about any factors that could affect your position. The process took about a month, but it was worth it. Don't let the "reasonable assurance" rule discourage you from applying - it's more flexible than people think when there are legitimate employment uncertainties, even with a contract in place.