NY unemployment for reduced hours at restaurant? Hours slashed but not fired

Yes! You can absolutely apply for partial unemployment. That's exactly what it's designed for - when your hours get slashed but you're not completely laid off. My brother is a bartender and went through the same thing last year. They reduced him to like 15 hours a week and he qualified.

After trying for weeks to reach someone at ny unemployment, I finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual human being. Literally had an agent on the phone within 45 mins after spending days trying on my own. Talking to a live person got my benefits started so fast. Check out this video too: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

When you apply, make sure you're honest about the hours/money you're still making. I'm in the same boat - cook at a restaurant that cut me to 2 shifts. You'll need to certify your earnings each week and if you fudge the numbers they can come after you later.

I get ur panic but you definetly qualify for partial benefits! The rule is if you work less than 4 days in a week AND earn less than $504, you can get partial unemployment. Just make sure when u certify each week you accurately report days worked and earnings. I've been on partial while working 2 days a week at my salon. The system is annoying but it works.

The ridiculous thing about NY's system is they count DAYS not HOURS. So if you work even 1 hour on a day, that counts as a full day. So try to consolidate your hours into fewer days if possible to maximize benefits. This system is so messed up for service industry workers 😤

Just be prepared for a NIGHTMARE trying to reach someone if you have questions or problems with your claim. I spent 3 weeks calling every day trying to fix my partial unemployment claim after the website glitched. The website is trash and the phone lines are always jammed.

Here's what you need to do for partial unemployment in NY - I've been dealing with this for months and finally figured it out: First, create an account on labor.ny.gov and file a new claim. You'll need to provide: - Your employment history for the past 18 months - Your restaurant's info including address and EIN (on your W2) - Your ID and social security number - Bank info for direct deposit When asked why you're applying, select "reduction in hours" NOT "still employed". Then explain your situation. After you're approved, you'll need to certify WEEKLY. This is crucial - you must log in each week and report exactly how many days you worked and how much you earned including tips. The key thing to understand is NY's weird day-based system: - 0 days worked = full benefit - 1 day worked = 75% of benefit - 2 days worked = 50% of benefit - 3 days worked = 25% of benefit - 4+ days worked = no benefit So if possible, try to consolidate your hours into fewer days. A 6-hour shift on one day is better than 3 hours on two separate days. If you run into problems (and you probably will), good luck getting through on the phone. I wasted weeks until I found claimyr.com which got me a callback from an actual agent. Don't give up! The system is designed to be frustrating but partial benefits can be a lifesaver while you look for more work.

Have you considered looking for another restaurant job? Lots of places by me in Brooklyn are hiring right now and some are actually busy. Might be better than dealing with unemployment

This exact thing happened to me last winter. Applied for partial unemployment and it literally saved me. But WARNING: the system is beyond frustrating. The website crashes constantly and good luck ever talking to a human on the phone.

sorry ur dealing with this... restaurant industry is brutal right now. inflation + cold weather + post-holiday broke customers = nobody eating out. definitely apply for partial unemployment, and start looking for side gigs too. lots of delivery apps hiring.

The way ny unemployment calculates partial benefits is so weird. They use DAYS not HOURS which makes no sense. And they don't explain this anywhere clearly.

It's wild how they expect us to survive when our hours get cut. I've been a server for 7 years and this is the worst I've seen it. Every restaurant in my area is dead. Good luck and def apply for partial unemployment asap

Be careful cuz if your restaurant is paying you under the table for some shifts or not reporting all your tips, unemployment might not calculate your benefit correctly. They base it on reported wages.

This might sound weird but check if your area has a restaurant worker relief fund. After Sandy, Covid, etc sometimes there are emergency funds that don't get fully used up. worth checking into.

THE WORST PART IS TRYING TO GET THEM ON THE PHONE OMFG. I spent THREE WEEKS trying to reach a human being at NY unemployment to fix an issue with my claim. The phone system is a joke - either busy signals or it hangs up on you after making you go through all the prompts!!!

Hey Hunter! I'm in a similar situation - bartender at a place in Manhattan that went from packed to ghost town practically overnight. I successfully got partial unemployment and it's been a lifesaver while I figure things out. The key things that helped me: 1) When you apply online, be super clear that your hours were cut due to "lack of work" not that you're "still employed" 2) Keep detailed records of your daily earnings and days worked - you'll need this for weekly certification 3) Try to consolidate your shifts into fewer days if possible because of NY's weird day-counting system. Also heads up - the website will probably crash on you multiple times during the application process. Don't give up! Save your progress frequently. The whole system is frustrating but the benefits really help bridge the gap. Good luck and hang in there - this rough patch won't last forever! 🙏