THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST US! They watch every move you make but when YOU need help getting your benefits they're nowhere to be found. I've been waiting 6 weeks for my adjudication to clear but they sure would find out fast if I worked somewhere without reporting it!!

From what I understand, they also have access to unemployment insurance wage records from other states if you've worked elsewhere recently. The databases are pretty interconnected now. I learned this when I had to report some part-time work I did in New Jersey while claiming benefits in NY - they caught the discrepancy during a routine audit even though I thought I was reporting correctly. The lesson is definitely to over-communicate rather than under-report anything, even if you're unsure about the requirements.

I completely understand your anxiety about this - it's natural to worry about burning bridges with a potential future employer. But here's the thing: unemployment benefits exist precisely for situations like yours. You were laid off through no fault of your own, and you have bills to pay while you look for work or wait for a potential callback. Any reasonable employer understands this reality. The fact that your manager mentioned a possible callback actually shows they value you as an employee, which means they're likely to be understanding about you needing to file for benefits in the meantime. Don't let fear of what someone might think prevent you from accessing the financial support you've earned and deserve. File that claim and take care of yourself first.

I totally get the anxiety about this! I was in a similar spot last year when my restaurant job had to let people go during the slow season. I kept putting off filing because I was worried about what my boss would think, especially since she said they'd probably bring me back when things picked up. But honestly, waiting cost me weeks of benefits I really needed. When I finally filed, nothing bad happened - my boss never even brought it up when they did call me back. The reality is that unemployment benefits are there for exactly this situation, and employers know that. Don't let worry about hypothetical future problems stop you from getting the help you need right now!

Ruby, so glad you finally got through! I'm in a similar situation - my restaurant cut my shifts from 5 days to 2 days per week back in February. I've been putting off filing for partial benefits because the whole process seemed so overwhelming, but your post is giving me hope that it's actually doable. Quick question - when you called at 8am, did you use the main NYSDOL number or is there a specific number for partial claims? And did you have to have all your employment documentation ready before calling, or did they walk you through what you'd need? I'm trying to get everything organized before I attempt to call so I don't waste the opportunity if I actually get through to someone!

Ruby, thank you so much for sharing your experience and giving the rest of us hope! I've been trying to get through for partial unemployment for almost two weeks now after my office reduced my hours from 32 to 18 per week. Every morning I tell myself "today's the day" but I keep getting that dreaded busy signal or sitting on hold for over an hour just to get disconnected. Reading that you got through in only 35 minutes by calling right at 8am is exactly the motivation I needed to keep trying! I'm definitely going to set my alarm earlier tomorrow and camp out by the phone at 7:55am. Did you have to go through the whole automated menu system each time you called, or is there a way to skip ahead? Also wondering if you noticed the wait times getting shorter or longer throughout the week - like would calling on a Tuesday be better than a Monday? Thanks again for the detailed breakdown of what to expect during the actual call!

just had a baby last year and yeah you cant get unemployment while on maternity leave but definitely look into the disability thing someone mentioned above

I went through something similar when I had my second child. The key thing to understand is that unemployment requires you to be actively seeking work and available to start immediately, which you obviously can't do while recovering from childbirth. However, you might want to look into New York State Disability Insurance (DBL) - this covers short-term disability for pregnancy-related conditions including recovery time after delivery (usually 6-8 weeks for vaginal delivery, longer for C-section). You should also check if your employer has been deducting for Paid Family Leave from your paychecks - even small companies participate in this program. If they have, you could potentially get partial wage replacement. I'd recommend calling the NY State Department of Labor's disability line directly rather than the unemployment line to get accurate information about your specific situation.

My situation was different but sorta related - I had TWO part-time jobs and lost one completely. Got partial unemployment for that. Had to report the income from the job I still had every week. One thing to remember is they ask about work days from Monday-Sunday, not your employer's workweek. Messed me up at first.

On the technical side, make sure you answer "YES" to the question "Did you work less than 4 days and earn less than $594?" during your weekly certification if that applies to you. Answer "YES" to "Have you returned to work?" since you're still employed. Then accurately report number of days worked and gross earnings before deductions. It's straightforward once you understand the system.