New York State to Update Unemployment Rules for Part-Time Workers

The New York State Department of Labor has announced that changes are coming to how Unemployment Insurance Benefits are calculated for workers who are able to take part-time work while receiving benefits.

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Back in January of 2021, the Labor Department implemented major rule changes across the entire Unemployment Insurance benefit system in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. Among the items that were changed was how UI benefits are calculated and paid.

Before, benefits were paid based upon how many days in a week a person would work, as opposed to how many hours were worked by that person. So, for example, whether you worked 1 hour in a single day or 10 hours in a day, both situations were treated the same and a benefit recipient would be penalized the same. Under the new system, benefits would be based on how many hours you work.

Starting on Sunday, August 22, 2021, recipients who work less than 10 hours in a benefit week would still be eligible to receive their full unemployment insurance benefit payment.

Under the new hours-based eligibility rules, payments and benefits will be paid using the following as a guide:

• 10 or fewer hours of work = 0 days worked: No reduction in weekly benefit rate
• 11 – 16 hours of work = 1 day worked: 75% of weekly benefit rate
• 17 – 21 hours of work = 2 days worked: 50% of weekly benefit rate
• 22 – 30 hours of work = 3 days worked: 25% of weekly benefit rate
• 31+ hours of work = 4 days worked: 0% of weekly benefit rate

The Department of Labor also created a benefits calculator that you can use to figure out what you'd qualify for, you can find that benefit calculator here. For more information, you can check the NYS Department of Labor Website here.

Video Courtesy of the New York State Department of Labor