Can I quit my job and still collect unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor?

Unfortunately, quitting your job typically disqualifies you from receiving unemployment benefits in New York. However, there are some exceptions called 'good cause' reasons that NYS Department of Labor recognizes. These include unsafe working conditions, significant changes to your job duties or pay, harassment, or if your hours were reduced so much that it's considered constructive dismissal. You'd need to document everything and be prepared to prove your case during the adjudication process.

I went through something similar last year. If your hours got cut by more than 20% from what you normally worked, that might qualify as constructive dismissal. Start keeping track of your schedule now - take photos of the posted schedule, save any texts about schedule changes, anything that shows the pattern of reduced hours. When you file with NYS Department of Labor, they'll investigate during adjudication and you'll need to prove the substantial change in your working conditions.

honestly the whole system is set up against workers. they make it so hard to prove good cause that most people just get denied anyway. i tried to quit for harassment and they still denied me initially until i appealed with like 50 pages of evidence

Before you quit, try getting your employer to lay you off instead. Sometimes if you explain that the reduced hours aren't working for you financially, they might be willing to let you go rather than have you quit. That way you'd definitely qualify for benefits.

If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor to ask about your specific situation, I had good luck using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual agent. They help you skip the phone queue and connect directly to someone who can explain the good cause requirements for your exact circumstances. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Sometimes it's worth talking to an agent before making any big decisions about quitting.

Just want to add that even if you think you have good cause, there's no guarantee NYS Department of Labor will see it the same way. The adjudication process can be really subjective and you might end up fighting it for months. Make sure you have a backup plan for income if your claim gets denied initially.

Another thing to consider is that even with good cause, you'll need to meet all the other eligibility requirements too. You'll still need to be actively searching for work, available for full-time employment, and meet the monetary requirements based on your earnings history. With your hours already cut to 15/week, make sure you've earned enough in your base period to qualify for benefits. You can check your wage history on the NYS Department of Labor website before making any decisions.