The NYS Department of Labor adjudication process is deliberately slow and frustrating. They hope you'll give up or find other work before they have to pay out. I waited 9 weeks for them to decide my former employer's bogus misconduct claim was invalid. Meanwhile bills pile up and you're left hanging.

I'm currently going through something similar - filed in mid-January and still in adjudication after 4 weeks. From what I've researched, NYS DOL is required to make determinations within a "reasonable time" but there's no specific legal deadline. The key thing is to keep filing your weekly certifications even during adjudication - if you're eventually approved, you'll get backpay for all eligible weeks. I've also heard that contacting your local state assembly member's office can sometimes help escalate cases that have been pending unusually long. They have constituent services that can make inquiries on your behalf to the Department of Labor.

One more thing - if you received unemployment in 2024, your 1099-G should also be viewable in your online tax preparation software (TurboTax, H&R Block, etc.) if you authorize them to directly import your tax documents. Worth checking if you're using one of those services!

So glad you found your 1099-G through TurboTax! 🎉 That's such a relief when you're stressed about tax deadlines. For anyone else reading this thread in the future - this is definitely worth trying first before going through all the PIN reset headaches. Most major tax software (TurboTax, H&R Block, FreeTaxUSA) can import government tax documents directly now, including unemployment 1099-Gs. It's become a real time-saver compared to the old days of manually tracking everything down!

Just make sure your employer doesn't try to claim you were fired for cause - some companies will do that to avoid their unemployment insurance rates going up. Keep any documentation you have about the layoffs.

Dylan, you're definitely eligible for unemployment benefits in your situation. Involuntary termination due to budget cuts is a textbook case for NYS Department of Labor benefits. I went through something similar last year when my company downsized our entire department. The key is to file your claim right away - don't wait. You'll want to have your employment dates, final pay stub, and any documentation about the layoff ready when you apply. The online system at my.ny.gov is pretty straightforward, and since your supervisor already confirmed it wasn't performance-related, you shouldn't have any issues with your claim being approved.

The restaurant industry is notorious for cutting hours instead of laying people off properly. At least with partial unemployment you can get some help while looking for something more stable. Good luck with your claim!

Just wanted to add that when you do file, make sure to keep detailed records of your reduced hours and any communication with your manager about the "temporary" nature of the cuts. NYS DOL will want to see documentation that the reduction wasn't your fault. Also, you can file online through the NY.gov website which is usually faster than trying to call. The system will walk you through questions to determine if you qualify for partial benefits based on your specific situation. Don't wait too long to file though - there's usually a waiting period before benefits start.

This whole system is so complicated! Why can't they just have clear definitions on their website instead of making us guess what qualifies as unemployment??

I just went through this exact same situation! When your hours get reduced like that, you're definitely eligible for partial unemployment benefits in NY. The key thing to understand is that NYS DOL considers you "partially unemployed" if you're working less than your normal full-time schedule and earning less than your weekly benefit amount would be. You'll need to file your initial claim online and then certify weekly, reporting your exact earnings from those 15 hours. Make sure you keep track of your work search activities too - even though you're still working part-time, you usually still need to show you're looking for additional work to get back to full-time employment. The whole process can be confusing at first but once you get into the routine of weekly certifications it becomes easier.