NYS Department of Labor eligibility - when can you get unemployment benefits in NY?
I'm trying to figure out when exactly you can qualify for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor. My hours got cut at my retail job and I'm not sure if I meet the requirements. Do you have to be completely unemployed or can you get benefits if you're still working reduced hours? Also wondering about the timeline - like how soon after losing a job can you file? I've never dealt with this before and the my.ny.gov website is confusing me. Any help would be appreciated!
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Anna Stewart
You can qualify for NYS Department of Labor unemployment benefits in several situations: 1) Total unemployment through no fault of your own (layoffs, company closure), 2) Partial unemployment if your hours are significantly reduced, 3) If you quit for good cause like unsafe working conditions or harassment. You need to have worked and earned wages in at least 2 quarters of your base period and meet minimum earnings requirements. You can file immediately after becoming unemployed or having hours reduced - don't wait.
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Kai Rivera
•Thank you! So reduced hours might qualify me? My manager cut me from 35 hours to 15 hours per week. Would that count as partial unemployment?
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Layla Sanders
yeah partial unemployment is definitely a thing in NY. I got it when my restaurant cut everyone's shifts during slow season. you just have to report your weekly earnings when you file your weekly claim and they'll calculate a partial benefit amount.
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Morgan Washington
•How much do they usually give you for partial? Is it worth the hassle of filing weekly claims?
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Kaylee Cook
The key timing thing people miss is you should file immediately - like the same week you lose your job or get your hours cut. NYS Department of Labor has a waiting week but you still need to file right away to establish your claim date. Also make sure you meet the work search requirements once you start collecting, even for partial unemployment.
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Kai Rivera
•Wait, there's a waiting week? So you don't get paid for the first week you file?
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Kaylee Cook
•Correct - the first week is unpaid but you still must file to start your claim. It's like a processing week.
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Oliver Alexander
I had such a nightmare trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor when I needed to ask about my eligibility. Spent hours on hold and kept getting disconnected. Finally found this service called Claimyr that helped me reach an actual agent at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration when I needed to verify my partial unemployment eligibility.
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Lara Woods
•Never heard of that before but honestly anything beats sitting on hold for 3+ hours just to get hung up on!
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Adrian Hughes
Just be ready for the job search requirements even with partial benefits. You still need to keep a log and apply to jobs weekly. It's annoying when you already have a job but that's the rule.
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