Can I claim unemployment benefit through NYS Department of Labor - need help understanding eligibility

Yes, you can absolutely file for partial unemployment benefits when your hours are reduced! Since you're working significantly fewer hours than normal, you should qualify for partial UI benefits through NYS Department of Labor. You'll need to file your initial claim online and then file weekly claims reporting your reduced earnings. The system will calculate how much benefit you're eligible for based on the difference between your reduced wages and your benefit amount.

i think you just need your social and recent pay stubs when you apply online. the nys department of labor website walks you through it step by step

When I had my hours cut last year, I was able to get partial benefits pretty easily. You'll file on the my.ny.gov website and they'll ask about your work history and current employment situation. Make sure you report your reduced hours accurately on your weekly claims - you still have to certify every week even with partial benefits. The job search requirement might be waived if your employer expects to bring you back to full hours soon.

I've been trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor for weeks about my claim status and it's impossible! The phone lines are always busy and when I do get through, I get disconnected. If you need to actually talk to someone at NYS Department of Labor about your claim, I recently found this service called Claimyr that helped me get connected. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting nowhere.

The whole unemployment system is a NIGHTMARE. They make it so complicated on purpose to discourage people from filing. But definitely file if you qualify - you've been paying into this system through your paychecks so you deserve the benefits when you need them!