Can I work part time and still get NYS Department of Labor unemployment benefits?
My hours got cut at my retail job from full-time to just 2 days a week. I'm basically making like $180 a week now when I used to make around $450. Can I still file for unemployment with NYS Department of Labor while working these reduced hours? I heard something about partial benefits but I'm not sure how it works or if I'd even qualify. Really stressed about making rent next month.
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Amy Fleming
Yes, you can definitely get partial unemployment benefits in NY! Since your hours were reduced through no fault of your own, you should qualify. You'll need to report your weekly earnings when you file your weekly claim, and NYS Department of Labor will calculate your partial benefit amount. Generally, you can earn up to a certain amount before your benefits start getting reduced.
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Juan Moreno
•That's such a relief! Do you know roughly how much I can earn before they start reducing the benefits? I don't want to accidentally mess something up.
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Alice Pierce
The formula is a bit complicated but basically you can earn up to 25% of your weekly benefit rate without any reduction. After that, they reduce your benefits dollar for dollar for anything over that amount. So if your weekly benefit rate is $200, you could earn up to $50 without any reduction. Make sure you report ALL earnings accurately on your weekly certification.
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Juan Moreno
•Got it, so I need to be really careful about reporting everything. Thanks for breaking down the math!
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Esteban Tate
Just be prepared for the NYS Department of Labor phone lines to be absolutely crazy if you need to talk to someone. I've been trying to get through for weeks about a similar situation and keep getting disconnected. Someone mentioned using claimyr.com to actually get connected to an agent - apparently they have some system that gets you through the phone queue. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works.
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Ivanna St. Pierre
•Interesting, never heard of that service before. Might be worth checking out since calling normally is such a nightmare.
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Elin Robinson
yeah i did this when my restaurant cut everyone to like 15 hours a week during slow season. just make sure u file ur weekly claim every week even if u worked and report the exact amount u made. they'll figure out the rest
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Connor O'Neill
I was in a similar situation last year when my hours got slashed at a clothing store. The partial unemployment really helped bridge the gap! One thing I'd add is to apply as soon as possible since there's usually a waiting week before benefits start. Also, keep detailed records of your work schedule and pay stubs - NYS Department of Labor might ask for verification. The online filing system is pretty straightforward once you get through the initial application. Hang in there, it does get easier to manage once you get into the routine of filing weekly claims!
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Daniel White
•Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really helpful to know about the waiting week - I had no idea about that. I'll make sure to apply ASAP and start keeping better track of my pay stubs. It's reassuring to hear from someone who went through the same thing successfully.
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