Been there! The difference is basically this: unemployed means you have no job at all, underemployed means you have a job but it's not enough hours or pay to meet your needs. NYS Department of Labor has specific rules for partial unemployment which sounds like what you qualify for. Just make sure you keep looking for full-time work and document your job search activities.

I'm in a similar boat - my retail job cut me from 40 hours to about 15 hours per week after the holidays. From what I've learned, you're dealing with "partial unemployment" which NYS recognizes. The good news is you can still collect benefits while working reduced hours. Just keep filing your weekly claims and reporting all your earnings honestly. They'll calculate your benefit based on the difference. I was worried about the same thing but my caseworker confirmed that as long as the hour reduction wasn't your choice, you qualify. The job search requirement still applies though, so keep looking for full-time work or additional part-time hours.

I went through this EXACT situation about 8 months ago and it was such a headache! Your payment is definitely stuck in limbo right now since the system tried to deposit to your closed account. Here's what you need to do: 1. Call Key Bank at 1-866-295-2955 first to confirm your account status and get a reference number - this usually takes 15-20 mins on hold which is way better than NYSDOL 2. Then you absolutely MUST speak to someone at NYSDOL to have them manually reissue the payment. There's no automatic process when accounts are closed due to overdrafts vs just expired cards 3. While you have them on the phone, ask to switch to direct deposit for future payments so you never have to deal with Key Bank again 4. Your money isn't lost - they hold it for about 30 days before potentially sending it back, so you have time but don't wait too long I know the phone situation is impossible, but if regular calling doesn't work, I honestly had success with that Claimyr service others mentioned. Cost me like $25 but saved my sanity and got me connected within an hour. Once I actually talked to someone at NYSDOL, they reprocessed my payment in 2 days since the original approval was already there. Hang in there - I know it's stressful when rent is due, but this IS fixable! Document everything and get those reference numbers. You got this! 💪

I just went through this exact same nightmare last month! Your payment is definitely stuck right now because the system tried to deposit to your closed Key Bank account. Here's what worked for me: First, call Key Bank at 1-866-295-2955 to get official confirmation your account is closed and ask for a reference number - this usually only takes 15-20 minutes on hold (way better than NYSDOL). Then you absolutely HAVE to speak with someone at unemployment to manually reissue the payment. Since your account was closed due to overdrafts (not just expired), there's no automatic card replacement. Your money isn't lost though - they hold it for about 30 days before potentially returning it to the state. For actually getting through to NYSDOL, I tried calling during the 8:05-8:30am window on weekdays but honestly had better luck with that Claimyr service people mentioned. Cost me $20 but got me connected in under an hour when I'd been trying manually for over a week. Once you get someone on the phone, ask them to switch you to direct deposit for future payments so you never have to deal with Key Bank again. When I did this, they were able to redirect my stuck payment straight to my bank account within 48 hours. I know it's super stressful when rent is due, but this IS fixable! Get that Key Bank reference number first, then tackle the NYSDOL call. You got this! 💪

Just make sure you file your weekly claims even while your initial claim is being processed! I made that mistake when I first filed and it delayed everything. Also start looking for work right away because you'll need to show job search activities on your weekly claims.

I went through this exact same situation last year when I got laid off from my warehouse job. Since you were terminated due to company restructuring (not for cause), you should definitely qualify for benefits. When you file online at my.ny.gov, you'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the last 18 months including employer names, addresses, and dates worked. The process is pretty straightforward - just be honest about why you left and let them know it was a layoff due to restructuring. Good luck!

I just wanted to add my experience since I went through this same confusion recently! That "net $384" on your monetary determination definitely means they're already taking out the 10% federal tax withholding you selected during your application process. What really helped me understand this was going into my NY.gov account and looking at the "View Payment History" section - it shows a detailed breakdown for each week with your gross benefit amount (which is probably around $427 in your case), the federal tax withheld (about $43), and your actual net payment of $384. You absolutely made the smart choice with the automatic withholding! I have a friend who didn't elect for taxes to be taken out and ended up with a massive $1,100 tax bill when she filed her return. Since unemployment benefits are considered fully taxable income at the federal level, it's so much better to handle it upfront rather than get hit with a surprise bill. Just a heads up for tax season: when you receive your 1099-G form next January, it will show the GROSS total of all benefits paid throughout the year (not the net amount you actually received). Make sure to keep detailed records of how much federal tax was withheld each week - you'll need those numbers to properly file your tax return and get credit for the taxes already paid. So yes, definitely budget for that $384 weekly - that's your actual take-home amount and exactly what you should expect to receive each week after you certify!

I had this exact same confusion when I got my determination letter a few months ago! Yes, that "net $384" means they're already withholding the 10% federal taxes you opted for during your application. Your gross weekly benefit is probably around $427 before the tax deduction. The best way to see the exact breakdown is by logging into your NY.gov unemployment account and going to "Payment Information" or "Payment History" - it'll show you gross amount, federal tax withheld, and net payment for each week. This really helped me understand where every dollar was going. You definitely made the smart choice with automatic withholding! My neighbor didn't elect for taxes to be taken out and ended up owing nearly $1,000 when he filed his taxes. Since unemployment benefits are fully taxable income, it's much better to have it handled upfront. One important note for next year: your 1099-G will show the GROSS amount of benefits (not net), so keep good records of how much tax was withheld throughout the year - you'll need those numbers when filing your return. So yes, budget for exactly $384 per week - that's your actual take-home amount!

Don't forget you can also check your payment history and benefit amount on your my.ny.gov account once your claim is processed. Sometimes it takes a week or two after filing to see your actual weekly benefit rate show up in the system.

Hey Mateo, I went through this same situation last year when I got laid off from my tech job. One thing to add to what others have said - make sure you apply as soon as possible because there's usually a one-week waiting period before benefits start. Also, if you have any severance pay, that might delay when your benefits kick in depending on how it's structured. The online application process is pretty straightforward but gather all your employment info first (dates, employer details, reason for separation). You should get a determination letter within a few weeks that will show your exact weekly benefit amount. Hang in there - the system does work once you get through the initial setup!