Can a caregiver collect unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor?

Yes, you can absolutely file for partial unemployment benefits in New York if your hours were reduced! As long as you were employed by a legitimate agency that pays into the unemployment insurance system, your caregiving work counts just like any other job. You'll need to report your reduced earnings when you file your weekly claims, and NYS Department of Labor will calculate a partial benefit amount. The key is that you have to be available for and actively seeking additional work to make up the difference.

i had the same thing happen with my home health aide job last year, hours got cut from full time to part time and i was able to get partial unemployment. just make sure the agency has been taking taxes out of your check because some sketchy ones dont report properly to NYS Department of Labor

The job search requirement is important to understand. You need to be looking for work that would bring your total weekly earnings back up to what you were making before. For caregiving, this could mean applying with other home care agencies, looking into hospital aide positions, or even considering related fields like assisted living facilities. Keep a detailed job search log because NYS Department of Labor may ask for it during your weekly claims process.

Wait I'm confused about this whole partial unemployment thing. If you're still working some hours can you really get benefits? I thought unemployment was only for people who got completely laid off or fired. This is the first I'm hearing about getting paid by NYS Department of Labor while you're still employed somewhere.

Just wanted to mention that if you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to file your claim or ask questions about partial benefits, I recently used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me reach an actual agent. They have this video demo that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Saved me hours of trying to call and getting busy signals. Might be worth checking out if you run into phone issues during the filing process.

The whole caregiving industry is such a mess right now with funding cuts everywhere. I've seen so many good workers get their hours slashed or lose their jobs entirely. At least partial unemployment gives you something to bridge the gap while you're looking for more stable work. Make sure when you file that you explain the situation clearly - that your employer reduced your hours due to funding issues, not performance problems.

I'm dealing with something similar right now - my home care hours got reduced from 35 to 20 per week about a month ago. I filed for partial unemployment and it's been a lifesaver while I search for additional work. One thing I learned is that you need to file your claim as soon as possible after the hour reduction happens, because there's usually a waiting period before benefits kick in. Also, when you do your weekly certifications, be really accurate about reporting your earnings from the reduced hours - NYS Department of Labor will cross-check with your employer's records. The whole process was easier than I expected once I got through the initial application.

I work in the caregiving field too and went through something similar when my agency reduced hours due to budget cuts. One thing that really helped me was documenting everything - keep copies of your schedule changes, any written communication about the hour reduction, and your pay stubs showing the difference in earnings. NYS Department of Labor may ask for this documentation when you file your claim. Also, don't forget that you can look for work with multiple agencies at once - many caregivers work for 2-3 different agencies to piece together full-time hours. The partial unemployment can help bridge that gap while you're building up your client base with other agencies. Just make sure to report all your earnings accurately each week, even if it's from different sources.

I've been working in home care for about 3 years now and have dealt with hour reductions twice. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here is to check if your agency offers any supplemental work opportunities - sometimes they have temporary assignments or fill-in shifts that can help boost your hours while you're collecting partial unemployment. Also, when you're doing your job search for the weekly certifications, make sure to include online job boards like Indeed and Care.com, not just walking into agencies. NYS Department of Labor accepts online applications as part of your required job search activities. The key is keeping detailed records of every application you submit, including screenshots of the job postings and confirmation emails. It might seem tedious but it really helps if they ever audit your job search efforts.

As someone who's been through the NYS Department of Labor partial unemployment process, I wanted to add that you should also check if you qualify for any additional support programs while you're dealing with reduced hours. Sometimes local social services offices have emergency assistance programs for caregivers, and there might be workforce development programs specifically for healthcare workers that could help you get additional certifications or training while you're collecting partial benefits. Also, if you're caring for your own family member like your mother, make sure to clarify this relationship when you file - sometimes there are special considerations for family caregivers versus non-family clients that could affect your claim. The good news is that legitimate home care agencies almost always participate in the unemployment insurance program, so you should be covered as long as they've been properly withholding taxes from your paychecks.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience since I'm going through something very similar right now. I'm a home health aide and my hours were cut from 32 to 18 per week last month due to Medicaid funding changes. I filed for partial unemployment with NYS Department of Labor about 3 weeks ago and just received my first payment. The process was actually smoother than I expected - the hardest part was getting through on the phone initially, but once I got my claim started online it's been manageable. One tip I'd add is to make sure you understand how your partial benefit amount is calculated. They have a formula based on your previous earnings and current reduced income, so don't expect to get the full unemployment amount. Also, I've found that being consistent with your weekly job search activities is crucial - I set aside time every Sunday to apply for positions and update my job search log. It's definitely helping bridge the gap while I look for additional work opportunities. Hang in there - this funding crisis in home care is affecting so many of us, but the partial unemployment support does help!