How to file for partial unemployment through NYS Department of Labor - reduced hours situation
My restaurant cut my hours from 35 to 18 per week due to slow winter business. I'm still employed but making way less money. Can I file for partial unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor? I've never dealt with this before and don't know if working part-time disqualifies me from getting any help. The manager said hours might not pick back up until spring. How does this work exactly?
14 comments
Join the conversation
Anna Xian
Yes, you can definitely file for partial unemployment in NY! You're eligible as long as you're working less than 4 days per week OR earning less than your weekly benefit amount plus $50. Since you went from 35 to 18 hours, you should qualify. File your initial claim on the NYS Department of Labor website just like regular unemployment, then report your weekly earnings when you do your weekly claims.
0 coins
TillyCombatwarrior
•Thank you! Do I need to do anything special when filing the initial claim to indicate it's partial unemployment?
0 coins
Jungleboo Soletrain
same thing happened to me at my retail job last year!! the system is confusing but you just file normally and then report whatever you earn each week
0 coins
Rajan Walker
•Just make sure you report your exact gross earnings each week, not your net pay after taxes. NYS Department of Labor will calculate your partial benefit amount automatically based on what you earned versus your full weekly benefit rate.
0 coins
Nadia Zaldivar
The restaurant industry is brutal with this stuff. I've been dealing with seasonal hour cuts for three years now. You'll get something but don't expect much - they deduct most of what you earn from your benefits.
0 coins
TillyCombatwarrior
•How much do they typically deduct? Is it worth the hassle of filing weekly claims?
0 coins
Anna Xian
•They deduct 25% of your earnings from your weekly benefit amount, so you keep 75% of what you earn plus whatever partial benefit remains. It's usually worth it especially if your hours are really cut.
0 coins
Lukas Fitzgerald
I tried calling NYS Department of Labor about partial unemployment last month and could never get through! The phone system is impossible. I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting hung up on.
0 coins
Ev Luca
•Never heard of that before but honestly anything is better than sitting on hold for 3 hours just to get disconnected
0 coins
Avery Davis
One thing - you still have to meet the job search requirements even for partial unemployment. Keep track of your work search activities because they can ask for your log anytime during certification.
0 coins
NebulaNomad
•Wait, really? I thought if you're still working even part-time you don't have to do job searches since you already have a job. Are you sure about the work search requirement for partial claims?
0 coins
Yara Assad
•Actually, @NebulaNomad is right to question this. For partial unemployment in NY, you generally don't have to do work search activities if you're still employed by the same employer and expect to return to full hours. The work search requirement typically only applies if you're totally unemployed or if your partial work is expected to be permanent. @Avery Davis might be thinking of a different situation or state rules.
0 coins
Liam Sullivan
Just went through this exact same situation at my job! The key thing is to file online at labor.ny.gov and when you do your weekly certifications, always report your gross earnings (before taxes). The system will automatically calculate how much partial benefit you get. Also keep all your pay stubs - they sometimes ask for proof of your reduced earnings. The whole process was way easier than I expected once I actually started it. Good luck!
0 coins
Heather Tyson
•This is super helpful! I'm nervous about messing up the weekly certifications - do you remember if there were any tricky questions on there? Also, how long did it take for your first partial payment to come through after filing?
0 coins