Can you file for unemployment if you have two jobs - NYS Department of Labor eligibility question
I'm really confused about this and need some help. I work part-time at a retail store (about 25 hours a week) and also do freelance graphic design work that brings in maybe $400-500 a month. The retail job just cut my hours down to like 8 hours a week because of slow business. Can I still file for unemployment benefits with NYS Department of Labor even though I technically still have both jobs? I'm worried they'll deny my claim because I'm not completely unemployed. Has anyone been in a similar situation?
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Lindsey Fry
Yes, you can absolutely file for partial unemployment benefits in New York! The NYS Department of Labor has provisions for people who are working reduced hours or have part-time employment. When you file your weekly claim, you'll need to report ALL earnings from both jobs - the retail work and your freelance income. They'll calculate your benefit amount based on your reduced hours. The key is being honest about all income sources when you file.
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Leo Simmons
•Thank you! Do I need to report the freelance income even if it's irregular? Like some weeks I might make $200 and other weeks nothing?
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Saleem Vaziri
been there! i filed when my restaurant cut my shifts from 40 hours to 15. you just have to report whatever you earn each week when you do your weekly claim certification. some weeks you might get more UI benefits, other weeks less depending on what you earned.
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Leo Simmons
•That's reassuring to hear from someone who's actually done it. Did NYS Department of Labor give you any trouble about having multiple income sources?
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Kayla Morgan
The NYS Department of Labor system is actually designed to handle partial unemployment situations like yours. When you file your initial claim, make sure to list both employers in your work history. For the freelance work, you'll need to be extra careful about reporting it correctly each week - even irregular amounts. The system will automatically calculate your partial benefit amount. Just don't try to hide any income because they do cross-reference with tax records.
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James Maki
ugh this whole system is so confusing!! why can't they just make it simple - if you need money because work cut your hours you should get help period. having to calculate and report every little thing is such a pain
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Kayla Morgan
•I understand the frustration, but the reporting requirements exist to prevent fraud and ensure benefits go to people who actually qualify. It's worth the paperwork if you need the financial help.
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Jasmine Hancock
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask questions about your specific situation, I had good luck using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me actually reach a live agent. They have this video demo that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. It was super helpful when I had questions about my partial unemployment claim that I couldn't figure out from the website.
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Leo Simmons
•Interesting, I've never heard of that. How much does something like that cost?
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Jasmine Hancock
•They focus more on the value than pricing details, but honestly it was worth it to actually talk to someone who could answer my specific questions about reporting multiple income sources.
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Cole Roush
same boat here with multiple jobs! definitely file - worst case they say no but you're probably eligible for something
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Amara Nnamani
Just wanted to add that you should definitely keep detailed records of all your income from both jobs when you file. I'd recommend creating a simple spreadsheet or using a notebook to track your retail hours and freelance payments week by week. This will make filling out your weekly certifications much easier and help you avoid any issues if NYS Department of Labor ever needs to verify your reported income. Also, don't let the complexity discourage you - if your hours got cut that significantly, you're likely eligible for at least partial benefits and every bit helps!
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