Who qualifies for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor?
I'm trying to figure out if I even qualify for unemployment benefits in New York. I've been working part-time for about 8 months at a retail job but they just cut my hours down to almost nothing. My friend said I might be eligible but I'm not sure what the requirements are. Do you have to be completely unemployed or can you get benefits if your hours got reduced? Also heard something about needing to have worked a certain amount of time before you can apply. Can anyone explain the basic qualifications for NYS Department of Labor unemployment?
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Fatima Al-Rashid
You can definitely qualify for partial unemployment benefits if your hours were reduced! NYS Department of Labor has specific eligibility requirements: you need to have worked and earned wages in at least two quarters during your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters). You also need to have earned at least $2,600 in your highest earning quarter and total wages of at least 1.5 times your highest quarter earnings. Since you worked 8 months, you should meet the work history requirement.
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Jamal Brown
•That's helpful! What exactly counts as the base period? I started working in March last year so I'm trying to figure out if I have enough quarters.
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Giovanni Rossi
wait so you can get unemployment even if you still have a job?? i thought you had to be completely unemployed
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Aaliyah Jackson
•Yes, partial unemployment is a thing in New York! If your hours or pay got reduced through no fault of your own, you can apply. You just have to report any wages you earn each week when you do your weekly certification. NYS Department of Labor will calculate a partial benefit amount based on what you're still earning versus your full benefit rate.
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KylieRose
The other big requirement is that you have to be able and available for work, and actively looking for full-time work even if you're getting partial benefits. You'll need to keep a job search log and be ready to accept suitable work if offered. Also can't quit voluntarily or get fired for misconduct - has to be through no fault of your own like layoffs or hour reductions.
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Jamal Brown
•Good to know about the job search requirement. How many jobs do you have to apply for each week?
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KylieRose
•You need to make at least 3 work search contacts per week, but they should be for jobs you're actually qualified for and that pay at least 80% of what you were making before.
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Miguel Hernández
I was in a similar situation last year when my restaurant cut everyone's hours. Took me forever to get through to someone at NYS Department of Labor to ask questions about my claim. The phone lines are always busy and the website isn't always clear about partial benefits. I ended up using 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 that shows how it works. Made the whole process so much easier than trying to call myself.
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Sasha Ivanov
•Never heard of that service but honestly anything beats sitting on hold for hours just to get disconnected
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Liam Murphy
Don't forget you also need to be a U.S. citizen or have work authorization, and be physically able to work. If you meet all the requirements, definitely apply - the worst they can say is no, and if you qualify the benefits can really help when your income gets cut.
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