Can PRN employees file for unemployment with NYS Department of Labor?
I've been working as a PRN (as needed) nurse at a local hospital for about 8 months. My hours have been really inconsistent - some weeks I get 30+ hours, other weeks maybe 10 or none at all. The hospital just told all PRN staff they're cutting way back on call-ins due to budget issues. Can I file for unemployment benefits with NYS Department of Labor even though I'm technically still employed as PRN? I'm worried because I don't have a set schedule and my income has dropped to almost nothing.
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Aisha Khan
Yes, you can potentially file for unemployment as a PRN employee! The key factor NYS Department of Labor looks at is whether your work hours have been significantly reduced. If you're working substantially fewer hours than normal, you may qualify for partial unemployment benefits. You'll need to document your usual work pattern and show the reduction in hours.
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Mateo Hernandez
•That's really helpful! Do I need to prove what my 'normal' hours were? Since PRN is supposed to be variable anyway, I'm not sure how to show the reduction.
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Ethan Taylor
I was in a similar situation as a PRN respiratory therapist. NYS Department of Labor approved my claim when I could show my average hours over the past 6 months and demonstrate the significant drop. Keep records of all your scheduled shifts and cancellations. The adjudication process took about 3 weeks for me.
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Yuki Ito
•Did you have to keep certifying that you're available for work even though you're still technically employed PRN?
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Ethan Taylor
•Yes, you still need to certify weekly and report any hours worked. The system calculates partial benefits based on what you earn versus your weekly benefit amount.
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Carmen Lopez
wait so if im prn but only getting like 5 hours a week now instead of 25 i can get unemployment?? this is news to me, thought you had to be completely laid off
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Aisha Khan
•Exactly! Partial unemployment is available when your hours are significantly reduced. You don't have to be completely unemployed to qualify for NYS Department of Labor benefits.
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AstroAdventurer
The NYS Department of Labor phone lines are impossible to get through to ask about this stuff. I've been trying for days to talk to someone about my PRN situation and just get busy signals or disconnected after waiting an hour. Has anyone found a way to actually reach them? I need to know if my reduced PRN hours qualify before I file and potentially mess something up.
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Ethan Taylor
•I had the same problem until someone told me about Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get through to actual NYS Department of Labor agents when you can't reach them yourself. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. I used it to clarify my PRN eligibility and it was so much easier than trying to call myself.
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Andre Dupont
•interesting, never heard of that service. might have to check it out because this whole system is frustrating
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Zoe Papanikolaou
Make sure you understand the job search requirements too. Even as a PRN employee receiving partial benefits, you'll need to complete job search activities unless you're on standby status. Document everything in case NYS Department of Labor requests verification during your claim.
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Isabella Santos
As someone who just went through this process, I can confirm that PRN employees can definitely file for unemployment in NY! The key is documenting your work history well. I kept a spreadsheet of all my shifts for 6 months before filing, which made it much easier to show the reduction in hours. One tip - when you file online, there's a section where you can explain your employment situation. Be clear that you're PRN and describe how your hours were reduced due to circumstances beyond your control. The system is designed to handle these situations, even though it's not always obvious how to navigate it.
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Anita George
•This is super helpful, thank you! I'm also a PRN worker dealing with reduced hours. Quick question - when you mentioned keeping a spreadsheet of shifts, did you include the shifts that got cancelled too? I've had so many last-minute cancellations lately and I'm wondering if those count as evidence of the hour reduction.
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