Under what circumstances can you file for unemployment benefits in New York?

You can definitely file for partial unemployment if your hours were reduced through no fault of your own. NYS Department of Labor allows partial claims when you're working reduced hours but still actively seeking full-time work. For your specific situation with hours cut from 25 to 6, you'd likely qualify. You need to have worked long enough to establish a base period (usually 2 quarters of work in the last 18 months) and meet the minimum earnings requirement. If you quit one job for another and then lose that second job, your eligibility depends on why you lost the second job - if you were laid off from the second job, you can usually collect based on that employment.

YES file now!! I was in almost the exact same situation last year. My restaurant cut me from full time to like 8 hours a week and I waited too long to file thinking I didn't qualify. You can work part time and still collect partial benefits, just make sure you report all your hours and earnings on your weekly claim. The NYS Department of Labor has a formula where they reduce your benefit amount based on what you earn, but you'll still get something to help make up the difference.

The main circumstances where you can file for unemployment in NY are: 1) You lost your job through no fault of your own (layoff, company closure, position eliminated), 2) Your hours were significantly reduced, 3) You quit for good cause (unsafe working conditions, harassment, significant change in job duties), 4) You're temporarily unemployed but expect to return to work (standby status). You generally CANNOT collect if you quit without good cause or were fired for misconduct. The tricky part is proving 'good cause' if you quit - NYS Department of Labor is pretty strict about this.

I've been trying to reach someone at NYS Department of Labor for weeks about my specific situation and can never get through on the phone. The automated system just hangs up on me after an hour wait. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to a real person there? I need to ask about my eligibility before I file because I don't want to mess anything up.

just file already!! the worst they can do is say no and then you know for sure. i filed when i wasn't even sure if i qualified and it worked out fine. you have to be unemployed or underemployed and actively looking for work, that's basically it

I went through something similar when my manufacturing job cut my hours from 40 to 15 per week. The key thing is to file as soon as possible because there's a waiting period before benefits start. For partial unemployment in NY, you can earn up to a certain amount (I think it's around $504 per week) before it affects your benefits. You report your earnings each week when you certify, and they calculate your partial payment. The system is actually pretty straightforward once you get started - don't let the website intimidate you. Just make sure you have all your employer information ready and your Social Security card when you file. The sooner you start the process, the sooner you'll know exactly what you qualify for.