Can you file unemployment if you had 2 jobs - lost one but still have the other?

Yes, you can absolutely file for partial unemployment benefits in New York! If you lost one job but still have reduced income from another, you may qualify for partial UI benefits. The key is that your total weekly earnings from the remaining job need to be less than your weekly benefit amount. NYS Department of Labor will calculate your benefits based on your total earnings from both jobs during your base period, then reduce your weekly benefit by a portion of what you're currently earning.

The calculation is a bit more complex than straight subtraction. NYS Department of Labor uses a formula where they subtract 25% of your weekly earnings from your full benefit amount. So if your weekly benefit rate is $300 and you earn $200 from catering, they'd subtract $50 (25% of $200) from your $300 benefit, giving you $250 per week. You also need to report your work hours and earnings on your weekly claim certification.

I was in almost the exact same situation last year! Had two part-time jobs, lost one, kept filing my weekly claims for the other. Just make sure you report ALL your hours and earnings accurately on your weekly certification. Even if you think it's too little to matter, report it. NYS Department of Labor will cross-check with employers and you don't want any overpayment issues later.

One thing that helped me when I couldn't get through to NYS Department of Labor on the phone was using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They helped me get connected to an actual agent who explained my partial unemployment situation clearly. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Way better than sitting on hold for hours or having the system hang up on you.

Just be prepared that your claim might go into adjudication since you're reporting ongoing work. Don't panic if it takes a few extra weeks to process - they need to verify your employment situation with both employers. Keep documenting everything and stay on top of your weekly claims even during adjudication.

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago! Lost my main job but kept my small weekend gig. The key thing is to file your initial claim right away - don't wait. When you file, you'll report the income from BOTH jobs during your base period (the 4 quarters they use to calculate your benefits). Then each week when you certify, you report whatever you earn from your remaining catering job. The 25% reduction formula mentioned above is correct - so if you earn $200 that week, they'll reduce your benefit by $50 (25% of $200). Just make sure you're available for full-time work and actively job searching, even though you have the part-time catering gig. The NYS Department of Labor website has a partial benefits calculator that can help you estimate what you might receive.

I'm in a similar boat right now - lost my main retail job but still working a few shifts at a restaurant. From what I've learned, you definitely qualify for partial unemployment benefits in NY. The most important thing is to file your claim as soon as possible after losing your retail job, even though you're still working the catering gig. When you file, they'll look at your earnings from BOTH jobs over the past year to determine your weekly benefit amount. Then each week when you certify, you'll report your catering hours and earnings, and they'll reduce your benefit by 25% of whatever you earned that week. So if you make $150 from catering one week, they'll subtract $37.50 from your full benefit amount. Just make sure you're actively looking for work to replace that lost retail income - they'll ask about your job search activities each week. Good luck!