Can I claim NY unemployment for week with reduced hours (only 2 days work)?
I normally work full-time but this week my employer only scheduled me for 2 days because they overscheduled other employees. Can I file for partial NY unemployment just for this specific week? I've received unemployment benefits before when I was totally unemployed, but I'm not sure how it works for just one week of reduced hours. Will I mess up my employer's account if I file for just this one-off situation? Anyone dealt with something similar?
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Kendrick Webb
Yes, you can file for partial unemployment in NY for weeks when your hours are reduced. The key is whether you'll work under 30 hours AND earn less than $621 in gross pay for the week (2025 threshold). When you certify, you'll need to report the exact days and hours you worked plus your gross earnings before deductions. The system will calculate if you qualify for a partial payment based on that info.
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Norman Fraser
•Thank you! That's really helpful. So I'll only be working 16 hours this week and making about $320 before taxes. Do I just certify like normal then? And will this cause any problems with my employer?
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Hattie Carson
i had the same thing last month, got cut to 3 days for 2 weeks. just certify and tell them which days u worked. they do the math for u
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Norman Fraser
•Did your employer say anything to you about it afterwards? I'm worried mine might get upset that I filed.
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Destiny Bryant
Make sure to report EXACTLY which days you worked when you certify. If you work Monday and Tuesday, mark those days. If you work any part of a day, even 1 hour, you must mark that you worked that day. NY's system calculates partial benefits based on days worked, not just hours or income.
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Dyllan Nantx
•Thats rite they count DAYS not hours which is so dumb imo. I worked 4 hours on 4 different days once (16hrs total) and got $0 but my friend worked 32 hours in 3 days and got partial benefits!! System makes no sense
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TillyCombatwarrior
BE CAREFUL! I did this and then my employer contested it saying they had hours available but I 'declined' them (totally untrue). Had to go through this whole appeal process that took FOREVER. Sometimes better to just eat the loss for a week than deal with all the bureaucracy drama.
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Norman Fraser
•Oh no, that sounds terrible! Did you eventually win your appeal? This is exactly what I'm worried about.
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TillyCombatwarrior
Yeah I won but it took ELEVEN WEEKS and I had to submit emails proving they never offered me additional hours. Total nightmare.
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Anna Xian
•I had the exact same issue! Was told I'd get partial unemployment for reduced hours, then ended up in a 3-month battle with DOL after my employer claimed hours were 'available.' When I tried calling the unemployment office to explain, I could never get through. Finally found Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me connected to an agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE - saved me from having to repay benefits I rightfully deserved.
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Jungleboo Soletrain
You are absolutely entitled to partial benefits when your hours are reduced through no fault of your own. Your employer pays unemployment insurance specifically for situations like this - it's not a reflection on them and won't raise their rates for a one-time claim. Just make sure you accurately report your work days and earnings each week.
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Norman Fraser
•That makes me feel better about filing. I definitely don't want to do anything wrong or cause problems with my job.
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Hattie Carson
wait do u still have to do the job search requirements even for partial? thats confusing when ur still employed
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Kendrick Webb
•Good question. For partial unemployment, you still technically need to meet the work search requirements (3 work search activities per week in 2025). However, if you have a definite return date to full-time work with your current employer within 4 weeks, you can be exempt from the search requirements. You should document this in your certification.
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Dyllan Nantx
the website is SO CONFUSING with partial unemployment!! i tried for like an hour last week and gave up lol
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Norman Fraser
•I know right? Their whole system seems designed to make things as complicated as possible!
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Kendrick Webb
One more important thing: if your hours increase again next week, you just stop certifying. There's no need to formally close your claim or notify them that you're back to full-time. The claim stays open for a year, so if your hours get reduced again, you can simply start certifying again during those weeks.
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Norman Fraser
•That's super helpful to know! Thank you for all the advice.
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Lourdes Fox
Just wanted to add - I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago when my restaurant cut my shifts due to slow season. Filed for partial unemployment for 3 weeks and it worked out fine. The key thing is being totally honest about your work schedule and earnings. Document everything - save your work schedule, pay stubs, any texts/emails about the hour reduction. That way if there are any questions later, you have proof that the reduction wasn't your choice. Also, don't stress too much about your employer - this is literally what unemployment insurance is for and one week won't impact their rates significantly.
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QuantumLeap
•Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really reassuring to hear from someone who actually went through the same thing. I'm definitely going to save all my documentation like you suggested. Did you have any issues with the certification process itself, or was it pretty straightforward once you had all your info ready?
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Amara Nnamani
I actually just went through this same situation last month! Got my hours cut from 40 to 18 for two weeks due to "scheduling conflicts" at my retail job. The certification process was actually pretty smooth - just make sure you report the EXACT days you worked (not just total hours) and your gross pay before any deductions. I qualified for about $180 in partial benefits each week. My employer never said anything about it, and my hours went back to normal after those two weeks. The hardest part was honestly just navigating their confusing website, but once you get through the first certification it gets easier. Don't overthink it - you're entitled to these benefits when your hours get cut through no fault of your own!
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Dmitry Petrov
•Thanks for the detailed breakdown! That's really helpful to know the certification went smoothly for you. I'm feeling much more confident about filing now after hearing from everyone who's actually been through this. The $180 partial benefit sounds about right for what I'd probably get too. I think I was just overthinking it because it's my first time dealing with partial unemployment. Glad to hear your hours went back to normal quickly!
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Ryder Greene
I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now - my employer cut me from 5 days to 2 days this week due to slow business. Reading through all these responses has been super helpful! I'm definitely going to file for partial benefits since I'll only be earning about $280 this week (way under that $621 threshold mentioned). The advice about documenting everything and being precise about which specific days you worked seems really important. It's reassuring to hear from so many people who've successfully navigated this process. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - makes me feel much less anxious about filing!
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Dylan Hughes
•You're definitely on the right track! At $280 for the week, you should qualify for a decent partial payment. One thing I'd add that helped me - when you're documenting everything, also take screenshots of your work schedule if your employer posts it online or through an app. I saved screenshots showing my reduced hours compared to previous weeks, which really helped prove the reduction wasn't voluntary. Also don't worry too much about the website being confusing - everyone struggles with it at first but you'll get through it. Good luck with your filing!
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Isabella Russo
Just want to echo what everyone else is saying - you're absolutely entitled to file for partial benefits when your hours get reduced like this. I went through something similar about a year ago when my hours got cut from 40 to 20 for a few weeks. The process was straightforward once I understood the key points: report the exact days worked (not just hours), be precise about your gross earnings, and keep documentation of everything. At 16 hours and $320 gross pay, you'll definitely qualify for partial benefits. Don't stress about your employer - this is exactly what unemployment insurance is designed for, and one week won't impact their account in any meaningful way. The NY system can be confusing at first, but just take your time with the certification and you'll be fine!
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Fiona Gallagher
•This is all such great advice! I really appreciate everyone taking the time to share their experiences. It's so helpful to hear from people who've actually been through this exact situation. I was definitely overthinking it and getting anxious about potentially causing problems with my employer, but hearing that it's a normal part of what unemployment insurance covers makes me feel much better. The tip about keeping documentation is something I'll definitely do - screenshots of my schedule and pay stubs should cover it. Thanks to everyone for making this feel way less scary than I thought it would be!
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Olivia Garcia
Just went through this exact scenario two months ago when my construction job went from 5 days to just Tuesday/Wednesday for three weeks due to weather delays. Filed for partial unemployment and it was totally worth it - got around $200/week in benefits which really helped cover my bills during that slow period. The certification process was pretty straightforward once I got the hang of it. Key things: report the exact days you worked (not total hours), enter your gross pay before taxes, and keep copies of everything. My foreman actually told me I should file since that's what the system is there for. Don't let anyone make you feel bad about claiming benefits you're entitled to - you pay into this system through your work, so use it when you need it!
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Freya Thomsen
•Thanks for sharing your construction experience! That's really reassuring to hear that even your foreman encouraged you to file - it really drives home that this is just part of how the system is supposed to work. The $200/week you got sounds about right for what I'd probably qualify for too. I love how you put it about paying into the system through our work - that's exactly right! We shouldn't feel guilty about using benefits we've literally been paying for. Your story gives me confidence that I'm making the right choice by filing for this one reduced week.
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Sofia Rodriguez
Had this exact situation happen to me last year when my retail job cut everyone's hours for inventory week. Only worked Monday and Tuesday (14 hours total) instead of my usual 35-hour week. Filed for partial unemployment and got approved for about $165 that week. The process was actually easier than I expected - just make sure when you certify that you mark exactly which days you worked and enter your gross earnings accurately. One tip that saved me time: have your pay stub or employer portal info ready when you certify so you can enter the exact dollar amount. Don't worry about your employer - they deal with this stuff all the time and it's built into their unemployment insurance costs. You're not doing anything wrong by claiming benefits you've earned!
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