Can you collect unemployment from a part-time job if you have a full time job - NYS Department of Labor question
I'm confused about something and hoping someone can clarify. I've been working full-time at my main job for 2 years, but I also had a part-time weekend job at a retail store that I just lost due to budget cuts. The part-time job was only 15-20 hours a week but I worked there for over a year and they took out unemployment taxes from my paychecks. Can I file for partial unemployment benefits with NYS Department of Labor for losing just the part-time job while keeping my full-time position? I'm not sure if having the full-time job disqualifies me completely or if there's some way to get partial benefits for the lost income from the part-time work.
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Sean Matthews
Yes, you may be eligible for partial unemployment benefits in NY! The key is that your total weekly earnings from your remaining full-time job must be less than your weekly benefit rate plus $50. NYS Department of Labor will calculate a weekly benefit amount based on your highest quarter of earnings from both jobs combined. If your full-time salary leaves you earning less than that calculated amount plus the $50 buffer, you can receive partial UI benefits. You'll need to report your full-time wages when you file your weekly claims.
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Mikayla Brown
•That makes sense! So they look at my total earnings from both jobs to determine the benefit rate, but then I can get partial payments as long as my current full-time income is below that threshold? Do I need to provide documentation from both employers when I file?
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Ali Anderson
this happened to my sister last year and she got benefits! you have to file like normal but then report your weekly earnings from the full time job. they'll reduce your benefits but you still get something. took a few weeks to get approved though because they had to verify everything with both employers
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Zadie Patel
•The verification process can definitely take longer with partial claims. NYS Department of Labor needs to confirm your work history and wages from both employers. Make sure you have your pay stubs and employment verification ready when you file to speed things up.
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A Man D Mortal
I tried calling NYS Department of Labor about this exact situation last month and couldn't get through to anyone! The phone lines are always busy and when I do get connected, I get transferred around and then disconnected. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there about partial benefits?
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Declan Ramirez
•I had the same problem with reaching NYS Department of Labor until I found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through. You go to claimyr.com and they basically handle the calling for you and connect you directly to an agent. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. I was able to get my partial benefits question answered in like 20 minutes instead of spending days trying to call myself.
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Emma Morales
Just be aware that you'll need to keep doing job searches even for partial benefits! A lot of people don't realize this but NYS Department of Labor still requires you to look for work and log your job contacts even if you're working full-time. It's annoying but that's the rule.
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Mikayla Brown
•Wait really? I have to job search while working full-time? That seems weird since I already have a full-time job. What kind of jobs am I supposed to be looking for?
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Sean Matthews
•You need to search for work that would replace the income you lost from your part-time job. So if you lost a retail position, you'd look for similar part-time or full-time retail work. The job search requirement applies to all UI claimants regardless of their current employment status.
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