Does NYS Department of Labor have unemployment benefits for my situation?
I'm really confused about whether I qualify for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor. I was working part-time at a retail store for about 8 months before they cut my hours down to almost nothing due to slow business. I'm still technically employed but only getting maybe 6-8 hours per week now, which isn't enough to pay my bills. Does NYS Department of Labor have unemployment benefits for situations like this where you're still employed but barely getting any hours? I've never filed for unemployment before and don't know if partial unemployment is even a thing.
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Alana Willis
Yes, NYS Department of Labor does have partial unemployment benefits for exactly your situation! If your hours were reduced through no fault of your own, you can file a claim. You'll need to report your weekly earnings when you file your weekly claim, and NYS Department of Labor will calculate a partial benefit amount. The key is that your hour reduction has to be involuntary - which it sounds like it was since it was due to slow business.
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Justin Trejo
•Oh wow, I had no idea that was possible! Do I need to quit my job first or can I keep working the few hours they're giving me?
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Tyler Murphy
Keep your job! Don't quit or you'll lose eligibility. When you file your weekly claim with NYS Department of Labor, just report exactly how many hours you worked and how much you earned that week. They have a formula where if you earn less than your weekly benefit amount, you get partial unemployment to make up some of the difference. I did this when my restaurant cut everyone's hours during their slow season.
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Sara Unger
•This is so helpful! I didn't know you could get partial benefits either.
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Butch Sledgehammer
ugh the NYS Department of Labor system is so confusing though!! I tried to file for partial unemployment last year and it took WEEKS to get through to someone who could explain how it works. The website doesn't make it clear at all that you can file while still employed
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Freya Ross
•I had trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor too when I needed to ask about my partial claim status. I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call myself.
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Leslie Parker
Just wanted to add that you'll still need to do job search activities even for partial unemployment. NYS Department of Labor requires you to look for full-time work and keep a record of your job search efforts. Don't skip this part or they can deny your benefits!
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Justin Trejo
•Good to know! How many job contacts do I need to make each week?
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Alana Willis
•It's typically 3 job contacts per week, but check your specific requirements when you file. NYS Department of Labor will tell you exactly what you need to do for job search activities.
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