I'm in a similar situation and found that the NY DOL website has a helpful earnings calculator tool that shows exactly how much your benefits will be reduced based on your part-time earnings. It's buried in their resources section but really useful for planning ahead. Also, make sure to report your gross earnings (before taxes) when filing your weekly claim, not your take-home pay - that's a common mistake that can cause issues later.

Just went through this exact scenario a few months ago! The math works out like PixelPioneer explained - at $250/week you'd keep about $384 in unemployment benefits plus your $250 earnings, so around $634 total. That's actually better than just collecting the full $420 unemployment alone. One thing to watch out for though is that you need to report your earnings for the week you actually performed the work, not when you get paid. So if you work Monday-Friday but get paid the following week, report it for the week you worked. Also keep all your pay stubs - NYS DOL sometimes does audits and you'll want documentation. The part-time work won't hurt your claim as long as you stay honest about reporting it!

I useto work for DOL (not in NY but similar system). The reason they have brackets instead of exact hours is to make it easier to match employer reporting with employee claims. Most employers report in whole hours only. The safest approach is ALWAYS round up. You might get a few dollars less that week but you won't trigger a fraud investigation.

Just went through this same situation last month! You definitely want to round UP to the 11-16 hours bracket. I made the mistake of rounding down initially and it caused a 4-week delay in my benefits while they "investigated" the discrepancy. The rep I finally spoke to explained that any time worked beyond the exact hour should be reported in the higher bracket. It's better to potentially get slightly reduced benefits for one week than deal with the headache of having your entire claim frozen. The NY system is designed to catch these small inconsistencies, so always err on the side of caution and round up!

Same boat here! I'm also trying to figure out how much I'd get if I lose my job. Did you end up using that calculator someone mentioned?

Just want to add that the $504 maximum weekly benefit amount mentioned earlier is correct for 2025, but keep in mind that's the gross amount before any taxes are taken out. You can choose to have federal taxes withheld (10%) and state taxes (2.5%) from your benefits, or you can receive the full amount and handle taxes when you file your return. Also, if you're making $850/week now, make sure you have enough work history - you need to have earned at least $2,600 in your base period to qualify for benefits at all.

Another thing to consider - if your hours get cut instead of being laid off completely, you might still qualify for partial unemployment benefits. The NYS Department of Labor allows you to work part-time and still collect some benefits as long as you earn less than your weekly benefit rate. So if you end up getting that estimated $250/week benefit, you could work and earn up to $249 and still get some unemployment money. Just make sure to report any earnings when you certify each week. This could be helpful if your retail job cuts your hours instead of letting you go entirely.

Just wanted to add that you should also be aware of the maximum duration for benefits in New York. You can collect unemployment for up to 26 weeks in a benefit year, but the exact number of weeks depends on how much you earned during your base period. Since you've only been working for 8 months, make sure you have enough earnings to qualify for the full 26 weeks if needed. The NYS Department of Labor will calculate this automatically when you file, but it's good to know upfront. Also, keep all your pay stubs and W-2s handy when you file - they may ask for wage verification, especially since you're a relatively new employee. Having that documentation ready can speed up the process.

I'm in a similar situation working at a resort in the Catskills. One thing I learned is that you can actually call the NYS Department of Labor's Seasonal Worker hotline (518-457-2827) - it's separate from the main UI line and has shorter wait times. They specifically handle questions about seasonal employment and reasonable assurance. Also, for the job search requirement, I've found that applying to year-round positions at ski resorts (like maintenance or administrative roles) counts toward your search activities and shows you're genuinely looking for work during the off-season.

As someone who's worked seasonal jobs for several years, I can share what I've learned about the NYS system. The written reasonable assurance is absolutely crucial - if your employer hasn't given you anything in writing about being rehired, you should be eligible for benefits. Regarding job searches, I know it feels pointless during summer for ski work, but I've found success applying to outdoor recreation companies, summer camps, and even retail positions that show I'm genuinely available for work. The key is documenting everything properly - keep screenshots of your applications and make notes about each job you apply for. Also, don't forget that you need to certify weekly that you're able and available to work, which means you can't just disappear for a month-long vacation. The system may seem frustrating, but it does work if you follow the rules correctly.