What is a good reason to get unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor?
I'm honestly not sure if my situation qualifies for unemployment benefits and I don't want to waste time applying if I don't have a good reason. My company has been cutting hours drastically and I'm only getting maybe 15 hours a week now when I used to work full time. Is reduced hours a valid reason to file with NYS Department of Labor? What other situations actually qualify for UI benefits? I've never dealt with this before and the website is confusing.
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Steven Adams
Yes, reduced hours can absolutely qualify you for partial unemployment benefits! NYS Department of Labor has specific provisions for this. You can file if your hours/wages were reduced through no fault of your own. Other qualifying reasons include: being laid off, company closure, being fired for reasons other than misconduct, medical issues that prevent you from working, or unsafe working conditions. The key is that the job loss or reduction can't be your fault.
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Grace Durand
•That's really helpful! Do I need to prove that the hour reduction wasn't my fault? My manager just said business was slow but didn't give me anything in writing.
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Alice Fleming
been there with the reduced hours thing. you should definitely apply, worst case they say no but at least you tried. i got approved when my restaurant cut everyone's shifts in half last year
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Hassan Khoury
For partial unemployment due to reduced hours, you'll still need to meet the job search requirements and file weekly claims. Document everything about the hour reduction - emails, schedules, anything showing the change wasn't voluntary on your part. NYS Department of Labor will verify with your employer anyway. Also remember you have to report any wages you do earn when filing your weekly claim.
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Victoria Stark
•Wait, if I'm still working some hours I still have to do job searches? That seems weird...
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Hassan Khoury
•Yes, you still need to actively search for work even with partial benefits. The requirement is usually 3 job contacts per week in NY. You're looking to replace the lost income.
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Benjamin Kim
I had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I needed to verify my partial claim status. After weeks of busy signals and dropped calls, I ended up using Claimyr.com to get connected to an actual agent. They have this system that calls you back when an agent is available instead of waiting on hold forever. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Made the whole process so much easier.
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Samantha Howard
•Never heard of that service but honestly anything is better than trying to call NYS Department of Labor directly. I've spent hours on hold just to get disconnected.
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Megan D'Acosta
Just make sure you apply as soon as possible because there's usually a waiting week and you can't get benefits for weeks you don't file. Even if you're not sure you qualify, it's better to apply and let them decide rather than miss out on potential benefits.
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