Is unemployment rising in NY - should I file now or wait?
I've been hearing on the news that unemployment is rising and I'm worried about my job security. I work in retail and hours have been getting cut. Should I file for unemployment benefits now while I'm still working part-time, or wait until I'm completely let go? I don't want to mess up my claim by filing too early but also don't want to miss out on benefits if things get worse. Has anyone dealt with partial unemployment through NYS Department of Labor?
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Sophia Nguyen
You can absolutely file for partial unemployment benefits in New York if your hours are reduced. NYS Department of Labor has a partial benefits program where you can collect some unemployment while still working reduced hours. You need to report your earnings on your weekly claim but you may still qualify for partial payments. Don't wait - file as soon as your hours are significantly reduced.
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Liam Mendez
•Thank you! Do I need to meet the same job search requirements if I'm still working part-time?
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Jacob Smithson
yeah the job market is definitely getting tighter, i filed last month when my restaurant cut everyone's shifts in half
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Isabella Brown
The key is documenting everything - keep records of your reduced hours and wages. When you file your weekly claim with NYS Department of Labor, you'll report your part-time earnings and they'll calculate if you're eligible for partial benefits. The formula is your weekly benefit rate minus 25% of your part-time wages. If there's anything left, you get that amount.
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Maya Patel
•Wait, I thought you couldn't work at all while on unemployment? This is confusing me...
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Isabella Brown
•No, that's a common misconception. NY allows partial unemployment benefits for reduced hours. You just have to report all earnings honestly on your weekly claims.
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Aiden Rodríguez
I've been trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor for weeks about my partial claim status and it's impossible. The phone lines are always busy and the online system doesn't give clear answers. Found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually gets you through to real agents - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Finally got my partial benefits sorted out after months of frustration.
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Liam Mendez
•How much does something like that cost? I'm already struggling financially.
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Aiden Rodríguez
•They don't require any personal info upfront and it's way cheaper than missing out on benefits you're entitled to. Totally worth it for the peace of mind.
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Emma Garcia
File now! I waited too long thinking things would get better and missed out on weeks of benefits. The retail sector is definitely struggling right now.
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Ava Kim
This whole system is a mess. They make it so confusing on purpose so people don't claim what they're owed. I've been dealing with NYS Department of Labor for months and still don't have clear answers about my eligibility.
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Jacob Smithson
•totally agree, the website is impossible to navigate and nobody answers the phones
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StarSurfer
I'm in a similar situation - working in hospitality and my hours got cut from full-time to about 15 hours a week. I was scared to file because I thought you had to be completely unemployed, but after reading these responses I'm definitely going to apply for partial benefits. @Liam Mendez - from what I've researched, you do still need to do job search activities even on partial unemployment, but the requirements might be reduced since you're still working. You should check the specific requirements when you file your claim. Don't wait like I did!
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