How can you claim unemployment for reduced hours? Isn't it only meant for someone who is totally unemployed??
Definitely not in NJ
https://myunemployment.nj.gov/before/about/calculator/If your work hours were reduced, but not completely cut, you may still be able to collect Unemployment Insurance benefits.
NOTE: When claiming benefits, you must report your part-time wages when earned, even if you have not yet been paid.
How we calculate partial Unemployment Insurance benefits
When you claim your weekly benefit, you will let us know if you worked that week. We will ask how many hours you worked and how much you earned (gross) for that week.
To be eligible for partial benefits, you cannot work more than 80 percent of the hours normally worked in the job. For example, if you worked a 40-hour week, you won't be able to get benefits if you work more than 32 hours. If your employer offers additional hours that you choose not to accept, your benefits may be affected.
For any wages earned from any employer:
If you earn 20 percent or less of your weekly benefit rate from an employer, you can still receive your full benefit amount for that week. However, we will not pay you more than your weekly benefit rate.
Here's an example, using a weekly benefit rate (WBR) of $500. Let's say you worked a few days one week and earned $300. For $500, partial weekly benefit rate (PWBR) is $600. Partial weekly benefit rate PLUS 20 percent. You would receive $300 as your unemployment benefit for this week. Your PWBR minus your earnings of $300 equals $300.
Let's take a look at another example. Let's say that one week you worked a few hours and earned $50. For a $500 WBR, your partial benefit rate is $600. $600 minus $50 equals $550. However, since we will never pay more than your WBR, which is $500, your benefit for this week $500. We're not penalizing you (cutting your benefits) because you were able to squeak out some more hours while you were collecting unemployment. We want to get you in the door to work even a little bit, since that's a step toward full reemployment.
If you earn more than 20 percent of your weekly benefit rate from an employer in a given week, your partial weekly benefit payment will be reduced dollar-for-dollar for all gross wages earned that week.
For example, if your weekly benefit rate is $200, your partial weekly benefit rate is $240 (20 percent more than $200.) If you earn $50 (gross) during a week, you would receive $190 in unemployment insurance benefits ($240 – $50 = $190).
Report your gross earnings and all hours worked for the week in which they were earned, not when they are paid.
If you worked on Election Day for a county Board of Elections, you do not have to report these earnings. Money earned from Election Day work does not reduce your weekly Unemployment Insurance benefit.
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