Can a retired person collect unemployment benefits in New York?

Yes, your dad can absolutely file for unemployment! Being retired or collecting social security doesn't automatically disqualify someone from UI benefits in New York. The key requirement is that he must be able and available for work, which it sounds like he is since he was working part-time. When he files his weekly claims, he'll need to report his social security income, but that won't prevent him from getting unemployment benefits. The NYS Department of Labor will just reduce his weekly benefit amount by a portion of his social security payments.

My mom went through this exact same thing two years ago. She was 63, collecting early social security, and got laid off from her part-time job at a medical office. NYS Department of Labor approved her claim no problem. The only thing is they reduced her weekly unemployment by like 50% of her social security amount, but she still got something which helped a lot.

Just make sure he emphasizes that he's actively looking for work when he files. The biggest thing NYS Department of Labor cares about is whether someone is truly available for employment. Since he was working part-time recently, that shows he's able and willing to work. He should apply right away though - there's a waiting period and delays are common right now.

ugh the whole system is so confusing especially for older workers!!! My neighbor tried to get through to NYS Department of Labor for weeks about this exact question and kept getting hung up on. If your dad has trouble reaching someone to ask questions, there's this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Might be worth checking out if he gets stuck in phone hell like so many people do.

wait so collecting social security doesn't disqualify you? i thought if you were retired you couldn't get unemployment that doesn't make sense

This is actually a really common situation! Your dad should definitely apply for unemployment benefits. Age and social security don't disqualify him as long as he's able and available to work, which sounds like he is. I'd recommend he file his claim online at labor.ny.gov as soon as possible since there's usually a one-week waiting period before benefits start. When he does his weekly certifications, he'll need to report his social security income, but NYS DOL will calculate any reductions automatically. The main thing is being honest about his work search efforts and availability. Given that he was actively working part-time until recently, he should have no problem demonstrating he's ready and willing to work again.

I went through something similar with my uncle last year. He was 65, collecting social security, and got let go from his part-time job at a grocery store. NYS Department of Labor approved his claim without any issues. The key thing is that "retirement" doesn't mean you can't or don't want to work - it just means you're collecting social security benefits. As long as your dad can honestly say he's able, available, and actively seeking work (which it sounds like he can), he should qualify. The social security will reduce his weekly benefit amount but won't eliminate it entirely. He should definitely apply ASAP since benefits are calculated from when you file, not when you were laid off. Also, make sure he has all his employment records from the retail store ready - pay stubs, termination notice, etc. Good luck to your dad!