My sister did this when her hours got cut at the retail store. Just make sure you report EVERYTHING accurately - every dollar you earn, every hour you work. The NYS Department of Labor computer system will flag inconsistencies and that can trigger an investigation. Better to be overly detailed than miss something.

I was in almost the exact same situation last fall! My hours dropped from full-time to about 12-15 hours per week at my retail job. Filing for partial unemployment was honestly a lifesaver. The process is pretty straightforward - you apply just like you would for regular unemployment, but then each week when you certify, you report your actual earnings. The system automatically calculates how much benefit you get based on what you earned that week. One thing that surprised me was that I could still get some benefits even when I had a slightly better week with more hours. As long as your weekly earnings are below your maximum benefit amount, you'll get something. Just be patient with the initial application process - it took about 3 weeks for my first payment to come through, but once it was set up, the weekly claims were easy to do online.

I went through something similar when I was 17! You definitely can file for unemployment in NY as a minor - there's no minimum age requirement. The key things you need to check are: 1) You earned enough wages in your base period (sounds like you probably did with 8 months of work), 2) You're able and available for work, and 3) You were separated from your job through no fault of your own (layoff counts). Since you're doing online school, the availability requirement shouldn't be an issue. You might want to have a parent or guardian help you with the application process though, just to be safe. The online application is pretty straightforward - just have your Social Security number, employment history, and wage information ready.

Just wanted to add that you should also make sure you have your W-2 or 1099 forms ready when you file - they'll ask for your total wages earned during the base period. Since you worked retail for 8 months, you probably received a W-2 from your employer. Also, don't worry too much about the age thing - I know several people who filed for unemployment while still in high school and it wasn't an issue as long as they met the wage and work availability requirements. The online application will walk you through everything step by step. Good luck with your claim!

The whole NYS Department of Labor system is a MESS. They upgraded it last year and it's been nothing but problems since. Half the time the website doesn't work, the other half your claim gets stuck in adjudication for weeks. Good luck getting any real help from them.

I had similar issues when I filed a few months ago. One thing that helped me was making sure I had all my employment information ready beforehand - employer name exactly as it appears on your W2, dates of employment, and reason for separation. The system times out quickly if you're searching for info while filling it out. Also try filing during off-peak hours like early morning (6-8 AM) when fewer people are using the system. The SSN issue might be related to how your name is entered in their database vs your social security card - even spacing can matter.

Final update for anyone who might be in a similar situation: My appeal was approved! It took 16 days total. I got through to an agent using that Claimyr service someone recommended (which actually worked surprisingly well), and they explained that the retail job clearly didn't meet the suitable work criteria because it was less than 80% of my previous salary and didn't utilize my education/skills. All my missed payments were deposited today. Thanks everyone for your help - I'm still job hunting but at least I can pay rent while I search for something in my field.

Congratulations on winning your appeal! This is such great news and really helpful for others who might face similar situations. Your case is a perfect example of why it's so important to understand the "suitable work" criteria and not just panic when benefits get cut. The fact that you documented everything properly and got the right information from this community really made the difference. Your experience shows that while the system can be frustrating and scary, it does work when you know your rights and follow the proper procedures. Thanks for sharing the outcome - it gives hope to others going through this!

The NYS unemployment system is such a mess. They expect us to figure out all these technical issues while we're already stressed about money. Why can't they just automatically verify wages when we file instead of making us jump through hoops when their system doesn't work properly??

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my claim 3 weeks ago and still showing $0 weekly benefit amount even though I worked steadily for 18 months before getting laid off. I submitted the wage investigation request through my.ny.gov like others suggested but haven't heard anything back yet. The waiting is so stressful when you have bills to pay. Has anyone had success calling the wage investigation unit directly, or do you just have to wait for them to contact your employer?