What does partial credit mean for unemployment benefits in New York?
I just got off the phone with NYS Department of Labor and they mentioned something about 'partial credit' for my unemployment claim but I have no idea what that means. I've been working part-time while collecting benefits and reporting my earnings every week like I'm supposed to. The rep said something about partial credit affecting my benefit calculation but didn't really explain it clearly. Has anyone dealt with this before? I'm worried I'm going to owe money back or something.
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Mei Wong
Partial credit in unemployment refers to when you work part-time while collecting benefits. NYS Department of Labor calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your earnings that week. If you earn less than your weekly benefit rate, you can still receive partial unemployment benefits. The formula deducts a portion of your earnings from your full benefit amount. For example, if your weekly benefit rate is $400 and you earn $150 that week, you'd receive reduced benefits rather than the full $400.
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Jamal Anderson
•Ok that makes sense, so I'm not in trouble for working part-time? I was scared they were saying I did something wrong with my weekly claims.
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QuantumQuasar
Yeah partial credit is actually a good thing! It means you can work some hours and still get help from unemployment. The NYS Department of Labor wants people to work when they can. Just make sure you report ALL your earnings every week when you file your weekly claim or you could get in trouble for an overpayment later.
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Liam McGuire
•This is so confusing though. Last week I worked 2 days and earned $120 but my benefit amount was reduced by like $90. How do they calculate that exactly?
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Mei Wong
•The NYS Department of Labor uses a specific formula. They typically deduct 25% of your gross earnings from your weekly benefit rate, but there's also a minimum earning threshold before any deduction applies. If you earned $120, they'd calculate the reduction based on that amount minus any allowable deductions.
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Amara Eze
OMG I've been dealing with this for months and nobody at NYS Department of Labor could explain it properly! I kept getting different answers every time I called. It's so frustrating when you're just trying to follow the rules and work but still need help paying bills. At least now I know I'm not the only one confused by their terminology.
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Giovanni Greco
•If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor agents, I had success using Claimyr recently. It's a service that helps you actually reach a real person at claimyr.com. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Made it way easier to get my questions answered about partial benefits instead of sitting on hold for hours.
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Amara Eze
•Thanks for the tip! I'll check that out because calling the regular number is impossible.
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Fatima Al-Farsi
partial credit just means ur working some but not full time and they give u less money accordingly. its not rocket science lol
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Dylan Wright
I remember when I was on unemployment last year, I had the same question about partial credit. It took me weeks to figure out that it was actually helping me transition back to full-time work. The NYS Department of Labor system is designed to encourage people to take whatever work they can find while still providing support. Just keep reporting your earnings honestly and you'll be fine.
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Amara Nnamani
I went through the exact same confusion when I first started working part-time while on unemployment! The term "partial credit" is really misleading - it sounds like you're getting penalized, but it's actually the opposite. What they mean is that you're getting "partial" unemployment benefits because you're earning "partial" income from work. The NYS Department of Labor basically reduces your weekly benefit amount proportionally based on what you earned that week. So if you normally get $300/week in benefits but earned $100 working, they'll reduce your benefit payment but you'll still get something. It's their way of encouraging people to work whatever hours they can find while still providing support. Just keep reporting your earnings accurately each week and you'll be totally fine - you're doing everything right!
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Brianna Schmidt
•This is such a helpful explanation! I was also confused by the term "partial credit" when I first heard it - it really does sound like you're in trouble or something. Your breakdown makes it so much clearer that it's actually a benefit designed to help people transition back to work. I wish the NYS Department of Labor would use clearer language when explaining these things to claimants. Thanks for taking the time to explain it so thoroughly!
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