Can you apply for unemployment if your hours are cut - NYS Department of Labor eligibility?
My restaurant job just cut my hours from 35 hours a week down to 12 hours because business is slow. I'm barely making enough to cover rent now. Can I apply for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor even though I'm still technically employed? I've never filed for UI before and don't know if reduced hours qualify. My manager said they might bring hours back up in a few months but I need help paying bills now.
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Saleem Vaziri
Yes, you can absolutely apply for partial unemployment benefits! NYS Department of Labor has provisions for people whose hours have been significantly reduced. You'll need to file a claim and report your reduced earnings each week when you do your weekly claim certification. The system will calculate if you're eligible for partial benefits based on your reduced income vs your previous earnings.
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Lindsey Fry
•Thank you! Do I need to do anything special when I apply or just file a regular claim?
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Kayla Morgan
I went through this exact situation last year when my retail hours got slashed. You file a regular unemployment claim through the my.ny.gov website, but when you do your weekly certifications you'll report whatever hours and wages you earned that week. NYS Department of Labor will reduce your benefits accordingly but you should still get something to help make up the difference. Just make sure you're honest about all your earnings.
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James Maki
•How long did it take for your claim to get approved? I'm thinking about applying too.
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Kayla Morgan
•Mine took about 2 weeks to process, no adjudication issues since I was upfront about still working reduced hours.
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Jasmine Hancock
MAKE SURE you report your work hours correctly on your weekly claims or you'll get hit with an overpayment later! I know someone who got confused about this and ended up owing NYS Department of Labor money because they didn't report their part-time earnings properly. The system is really strict about accuracy.
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Lindsey Fry
•Oh no, that sounds scary. Is there a guide somewhere on how to report partial work correctly?
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Cole Roush
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask questions about your partial claim, I had good luck using claimyr.com to actually reach a real person. They helped me get connected to an agent who explained exactly how partial benefits work. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Way better than sitting on hold for hours!
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Scarlett Forster
•How much does that service cost? I'm already strapped for cash.
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Cole Roush
•They focus on helping you connect rather than charging premium rates. Check out their site for current info.
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Arnav Bengali
ugh the restaurant industry is so unpredictable with hours... hope things pick up for you soon
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Axel Bourke
I'm in a similar situation with my hours being cut at my retail job. One thing I learned is that you should apply as soon as possible because there's usually a waiting week before benefits start. Also, keep detailed records of your work schedule and pay stubs - NYS Department of Labor may ask for documentation to verify your reduced hours. The partial unemployment really does help bridge the gap when you're dealing with unpredictable scheduling. Good luck with your application!
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