NYS Department of Labor benefits during business slowdown - when can I file?
My company told us yesterday that we're entering a period when business activity slows and they're cutting everyone's hours by 60% starting next week. I've been full-time for 8 months but now I'll only get 2 days a week. Can I file for partial unemployment with NYS Department of Labor? I'm confused about whether this counts as being laid off or if I need to wait until they completely let me go. The HR person wasn't sure either and said to check with unemployment office but I can't get through on the phone.
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Amina Diop
Yes, you can file for partial unemployment benefits right away! NYS Department of Labor allows partial claims when your hours are reduced through no fault of your own. Since you're going from full-time to just 2 days, you'll likely qualify for partial UI benefits. File your claim online at my.ny.gov as soon as your hours are actually reduced. Don't wait for a complete layoff.
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Paolo Moretti
•Thank you! Do I need to report the 2 days I'm still working when I file my weekly claims?
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Oliver Weber
same thing happened at my job last winter, the seasonal slowdown hit hard and they cut everyone to part time
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Natasha Romanova
You'll need to report all wages earned during each week when you certify for benefits. NYS Department of Labor will calculate your partial benefit amount based on what you earn versus your full benefit rate. Make sure you keep track of your exact hours and gross pay for each day you work. The key is filing as soon as the reduction starts, not waiting.
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NebulaNinja
•This is exactly what I needed to know! I was worried I had to choose between the part-time work and filing for unemployment.
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Javier Gomez
I tried calling NYS Department of Labor for weeks about something similar and could never get through. If you need to actually talk to someone about your specific situation, I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Really saved me time instead of spending hours on hold.
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Paolo Moretti
•How much does that cost? I'm already stressed about money with the hour cuts.
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Javier Gomez
•It was worth it for me since I couldn't afford to keep missing work to sit on hold. But honestly for a straightforward partial claim like yours, the online filing should work fine.
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Emma Wilson
just so you know the NYS Department of Labor system is pretty backed up right now so expect delays in processing. took them 3 weeks to approve my partial claim last month even though everything was correct
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Malik Thomas
Make sure your employer doesn't try to claim this is seasonal work if it's not actually seasonal! Some companies try to avoid partial unemployment claims by misclassifying the work reduction. Document everything about what they told you regarding the business slowdown.
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Paolo Moretti
•Good point - they said it's due to losing a major client, not seasonal. Should I get that in writing somehow?
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