I went through something really similar about 6 months ago. My hours got cut from 35 to about 12 per week and I ended up quitting. I did get approved for unemployment but it wasn't easy - I had to provide my old schedules, pay stubs showing the income drop, and write a detailed statement explaining why the hour reduction made it impossible to continue working there. The whole process took about 5 weeks from filing to getting my first payment. One thing that helped was that I applied for other jobs before quitting to show I was trying to find alternative employment. The unemployment office seemed to like that I made an effort to stay employed. Also, definitely look into local food banks and emergency rent assistance programs while you're waiting - many places have programs specifically for people between jobs.

Just wanted to add that if you do decide to quit and file for unemployment, make sure you keep working until you actually submit your resignation. Don't just stop showing up - that could hurt your case. Also, when you file your claim, be very specific about the timeline of when your hours were reduced and how it affected your ability to pay basic living expenses. The Department of Labor wants to see that the hour reduction created a genuine hardship that made continuing employment unreasonable. Document your monthly expenses too if you can - rent, utilities, food costs - to show that 15 hours a week wasn't sufficient to meet your basic needs. And definitely start applying for other jobs now if you haven't already, because they'll ask about your job search efforts during the claim process.

Moving within state is fine but PLEASE update your address immediately. I forgot to update mine when I moved and it caused a delay in my benefits because they couldn't verify my identity during a routine check.

Just went through this exact situation! Moved from Manhattan to Albany in January while on unemployment. The process is super straightforward - just log into your NY.gov account and update your address in the "Personal Information" section. I also updated it during my weekly certification just to be safe. My benefits continued without any interruption. The only thing to keep in mind is that you still need to be actively searching for work and available to accept employment, so make sure you can realistically commute to job opportunities in your field. Since you mentioned you can commute back to NYC if needed, you should be totally fine. Good luck with the move!

Thanks everyone for the detailed info! As someone new to this whole unemployment system, this thread is incredibly helpful. @Dmitry Ivanov that breakdown is exactly what I needed - gonna screenshot that for reference. Quick follow up question: when you report part-time income, do you report gross or net earnings? And does freelance/contract work count the same as regular part-time employment? I do some web dev consulting on the side and want to make sure I'm reporting everything correctly.

@Andre Dupont since you mentioned you're in tech, just wanted to add that remote freelance work gets tricky with the reporting. I learned this the hard way - even if you invoice a client in January but don't get paid until February, you report the income for the week you actually receive payment, not when you did the work. Also, if you're doing any 1099 work, set aside money for taxes since they don't withhold anything. The state will still reduce your benefits based on gross income even though you'll owe taxes on it later. Keep every email, invoice, and payment record - unemployment audits for tech freelancers are becoming more common.

I went through something similar two years ago. The investigation process took about 6 weeks for me. Here's what I learned: 1) Respond to everything they send you promptly and completely, 2) Gather all records of the unreported work (pay stubs, bank deposits, etc.), 3) Write a clear explanation of why you didn't report it initially. In my case, I genuinely misunderstood the reporting requirements for odd jobs under $100. They still made me pay back $3,200 plus penalties, but no criminal charges. The worst part was the stress of waiting, but being proactive and honest helped. You might also want to consult with an employment attorney for a consultation - many offer free 30-minute consultations for cases like this.

I work for a legal aid organization and see these cases regularly. A few key points: 1) NYS Department of Labor distinguishes between "willful" fraud and "non-willful" overpayments - your explanation matters a lot here. 2) For amounts under $5,000, they rarely pursue criminal charges unless there's a clear pattern of deception. 3) You can request a payment plan if you can't afford the full amount at once. 4) The 15% penalty mentioned is accurate, but they sometimes waive it for first-time offenders who cooperate fully. 5) Most importantly - respond within the deadline they give you (usually 10 days) or they'll make a determination without your input. Document everything and consider it a learning experience rather than the end of the world.

Just went through this last month! The trick is to be super persistent with calling KeyBank at 1-866-295-2955 - I called literally 15 times over 3 days before getting through to someone who could actually help. When you do get through, ask them to check if your card was "returned to sender" - that's what happened to mine even though my address was correct. They can expedite a replacement for free if the original was returned. Also make sure to verify your full legal name EXACTLY as it appears on your unemployment application - even spacing matters! Got my replacement in 5 business days after that call. Don't let them tell you to "just wait" - be polite but firm that you need immediate help accessing your benefits! 🙏

Ugh I'm in the same boat! Filed in December and still waiting for my card. The most frustrating part is watching the money pile up online but not being able to buy groceries 😭 Has anyone tried going to one of those check cashing places to see if they can help? I'm getting desperate here and considering any options at this point. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - at least I know I'm not alone in this mess!