Can per diem employees collect unemployment - NYS Department of Labor eligibility question

Yes, per diem workers can potentially qualify for unemployment benefits in New York. The key is whether you meet the earnings requirements and are available for work. Since you're getting zero hours, you might qualify for full benefits rather than partial. You'll need to report that you're still technically employed but not receiving work assignments when you file your weekly claims.

I was in a similar situation last year with per diem nursing work. NYS Department of Labor approved my claim even though I was still on the books. The important thing is documenting that you're available for full-time work and actively seeking employment. Keep records of when you contact them asking for shifts and when they don't have any available.

Be careful about how you answer the weekly certification questions. You need to report that you're still technically employed but getting zero hours. Also make sure you're actively looking for other work and can accept full-time employment if offered. The job search requirement still applies even if you're hoping your per diem place calls you back.

I had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I had questions about my per diem situation. If you need to speak with someone directly about your specific case, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Made it way easier than trying to call myself and getting hung up on.

Just make sure you have all your wage records ready when you apply. Per diem workers sometimes have irregular pay periods so NYS Department of Labor might need extra documentation to verify your earnings base period.

I'm actually going through this exact same situation right now with a per diem position at a hospital. Filed my claim about 2 weeks ago and it was approved. The key things that helped me were: 1) I documented every time I called asking for shifts and they said none were available, 2) I made sure to emphasize in my application that I was available for full-time work elsewhere, and 3) I was honest about still being on their roster but receiving zero hours. The process was pretty straightforward once I understood that per diem with no hours offered = unemployed through no fault of your own. Good luck with your claim!

I went through this exact situation with my per diem position at a nursing home last year. The NYS Department of Labor was actually pretty understanding about per diem workers who aren't getting called for shifts. When I filed, I made sure to explain that while I was technically still employed, I was receiving zero work assignments despite being available. They approved my claim within about a week. The main thing is being transparent about your situation and making sure you're actively job searching. Keep track of every time you contact your employer asking about available shifts - that documentation really helps if they have any questions about your claim later.

I'm dealing with something similar right now - been per diem at a clinic for 6 months and they haven't called me in almost a month. From what I've researched and heard from others here, it sounds like we can definitely file for unemployment even while still technically on the roster. The key seems to be that we're getting zero hours through no fault of our own, which makes us effectively unemployed. I'm planning to file this week and be completely honest about my situation - still employed on paper but receiving no work assignments despite being available. It's encouraging to see so many people have had success with similar claims!

I'm currently in a per diem position at a rehabilitation center and have been dealing with drastically reduced hours over the past month - maybe 4-5 hours total when I used to get 20-25 hours per week. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful! It sounds like the consensus is that per diem workers can definitely qualify for unemployment benefits when we're not getting called for shifts, even if we're still technically on the roster. I'm planning to file my claim this weekend and will make sure to document all my attempts to get more hours. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's really reassuring to know that NYS DOL understands the unique situation per diem workers face when work suddenly dries up!

As someone who's new to understanding unemployment benefits, this thread has been incredibly informative! I had no idea that per diem workers could qualify for unemployment when they're not getting called for shifts but are still technically employed. It makes total sense though - if you're available to work but not being offered any hours, you're essentially unemployed through no fault of your own. The advice about documenting every attempt to get shifts seems really smart, and I appreciate everyone sharing their real experiences with NYS Department of Labor approvals. It's reassuring to see that the system seems to understand the unique challenges per diem workers face. For anyone else reading this who might be in a similar situation, it sounds like being honest and transparent about your circumstances is the way to go!

I'm completely new to this whole unemployment benefits process, but this discussion has been so helpful! I had no idea that per diem workers could qualify for benefits while still technically employed. Reading everyone's experiences with NYS Department of Labor has really opened my eyes to how the system works. It's great to see that there are real solutions for people in these tricky employment situations where you're available to work but just not getting called for shifts. The advice about documenting everything and being transparent about your situation seems like the key takeaway. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - it's really encouraging to see such a supportive community helping each other navigate these challenges!

As someone completely new to the unemployment system, this entire discussion has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no clue that per diem workers could qualify for benefits while still technically employed - I always thought you had to be completely laid off or terminated. Reading through everyone's real experiences with NYS Department of Labor has taught me so much more than any official website could. The common themes I'm seeing are: be completely honest about your situation, document every attempt to get shifts, and emphasize that you're available for full-time work elsewhere. It's really encouraging to see how many people have successfully navigated this process and how supportive this community is. For anyone else who's new to this like me, it seems like the key is understanding that getting zero hours through no fault of your own essentially makes you unemployed, even if you're still on the roster. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed experiences - it's making what seemed like an impossible situation feel much more manageable!

This has been such a helpful thread to read through as someone who's never dealt with unemployment before! I'm actually in a somewhat similar situation - I've been doing per diem work at a local medical office for about 6 months, but my hours have dropped from around 15-20 per week down to maybe 2-3 hours in the past month. Reading everyone's experiences here has really clarified that per diem workers can qualify for benefits when work availability drops significantly, even while still technically employed. The consistent advice about documenting contact attempts with your employer and being transparent about your situation seems crucial. It's encouraging to see how understanding NYS Department of Labor has been with these cases. I think I'm going to start keeping better records of when I ask for shifts and what they tell me about availability. Thanks to everyone who shared their real-world experiences - it's made this whole process seem much less intimidating!