Can I collect unemployment if my hours are reduced - NYS Department of Labor eligibility?

Yes, you can file for partial unemployment benefits in New York! When your hours are reduced through no fault of your own, you're eligible to collect the difference between your reduced earnings and your weekly benefit amount. You'll file a regular unemployment claim through my.ny.gov and report your reduced weekly earnings when you file your weekly claims. The NYS Department of Labor will calculate your partial benefit based on their formula.

same thing happened to me last year, i was getting like $150 a week in partial benefits when they cut me from full time to part time

Make sure you keep documenting your actual hours worked each week. When you file your weekly claims, you'll need to report your gross earnings for that week. The NYS Department of Labor uses a formula where they subtract a portion of your earnings from your weekly benefit amount. Also important - you still need to be available for full-time work and actively searching for jobs to maintain eligibility.

I had a nightmare trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor when I had questions about my partial claim. Spent hours on hold and kept getting disconnected. Finally found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual agent - check out claimyr.com. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Made the whole process so much easier when I needed to clarify my job search requirements.

Just want to add that if your employer tries to say the hour reduction was due to your performance or something like that, make sure you have documentation showing otherwise. The NYS Department of Labor will investigate if there's any question about the reason for the reduction. Business slowdown is definitely a valid reason for partial unemployment.

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago when my restaurant cut everyone's hours due to slower winter business. The partial unemployment really helped bridge the gap! One tip - when you file your weekly claims, make sure you're reporting your gross earnings (before taxes) for that week, not your take-home pay. I made that mistake initially and it messed up my benefit calculation. Also, keep all your pay stubs as documentation. The whole process was actually pretty straightforward once I got started on my.ny.gov. Good luck Mary!

I'm so glad you found this community to ask about this! I went through a similar situation when my hours got reduced at my manufacturing job. One important thing I learned - make sure you understand the "partial benefit rate" calculation. In NY, they use a formula where they subtract 25% of your weekly earnings from your full unemployment benefit amount. So if your weekly benefit would normally be $200 and you earn $100 in your reduced week, you'd get $200 - (0.25 × $100) = $175 in partial benefits. It's worth calculating this out so you know what to expect! Also, even though it feels overwhelming right now, try to file your claim as soon as possible. There's usually a one-week waiting period, so the sooner you start the process, the sooner you'll see some financial relief. The online system at my.ny.gov is actually pretty intuitive once you get started. You've got great advice from everyone here - you're going to get through this!

Mary, I went through this exact situation last year when my hours got cut at a clothing store! The good news is that NYS makes it pretty straightforward to file for partial unemployment benefits. A few quick tips from my experience: 1) File your claim online at my.ny.gov as soon as you know your hours are being reduced - don't wait for your first short paycheck. 2) When filling out the application, select "reduction of hours/days" as your reason rather than "layoff." 3) Keep detailed records of your actual hours worked each week since you'll report these on your weekly certifications. 4) Remember that business slowdown absolutely counts as a valid reason - you won't need to prove anything beyond what your manager already told you. The partial benefits really helped me bridge the gap until business picked back up. The process feels intimidating at first, but once you get your claim approved, the weekly filing becomes pretty routine. Hang in there - this is a temporary setback and the unemployment system is designed to help people in exactly your situation!

Hey Mary! I'm a case worker who helps people navigate unemployment claims, and I wanted to jump in with some official guidance. You're absolutely eligible for partial unemployment benefits in NY when your hours are reduced through no fault of your own. The process is straightforward: file your initial claim at my.ny.gov, select "reduction in hours" as your reason, and then file weekly certifications reporting your actual earnings. A few key points: 1) File immediately - don't wait for your first reduced paycheck, 2) You'll receive partial benefits calculated as your weekly benefit amount minus 25% of your weekly earnings, 3) Keep documenting your hours and wages each week, and 4) Yes, you still need to be available for full-time work and do job searches. The system is designed exactly for situations like yours, and with 8 months of work history you should have no issues qualifying. Business slowdown is a completely valid reason - no additional documentation needed beyond what your manager told you. You've got this!