Contingent faculty who lost some or all their classes this semester may be eligible for unemployment insurance (UI) or partial unemployment insurance. Anyone who collects a benefit will also receive $300 of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance on top for weeks ending 1/3/2021 – 3/14/2021, so it is really worth applying. Also, according to new rules implemented January 18, 2021, people who qualify for UI benefits and teach only one 3-credit course may declare that they worked 0-4 hours that week and will receive their full benefit amount with no deductions! Under previous rules the DOL deducted 25% of your weekly benefit for each day during which you worked – no matter how many or how few hours. See this guidance from the NY Dept of Labor on the new rules: DOL guidance on unemployment and partial unemployment.
 
Here's what you need to know. (If you're already receiving benefits, skip to #2 below).
To be eligible, you must be earning under $504 per week and working less than 31 hours in a week. In general, you're unemployed or underemployed if you're making less than 90% compared to the fall semester. It will be easiest to qualify and to beat back any challenge if a) you didn't receive a reappointment letter or an assignment, or b) one or more of your classes was cancelled.
When certifying for weekly benefits, there is a new rule that will work in your favor. Instead of counting days, you count the hours that you worked during the weeks when you were partially employed. The DOL website makes it very clear and simple. For example, if you're teaching one 3-credit class, you can state that you worked 0-4 hours. This will result in no deduction from your benefit.
If you have another job that doesn't take your pay above $504 in any given week, count that in hours, too, rather than days. Just remember not to declare more than 10 hours if you did all the work in a single day.
If you ever have another short gig, such as a small consulting or editing job, you could skip certifying that week. Or you could go to the "certify for benefits" page and just check Yes on the question of whether you earned $504 or more. In either case, you won't receive a benefit check for that week.
On the question, "Have you returned to work?", it's best to answer "No" until you get a real job and don't need unemployment benefits anymore.
It is your right to apply for unemployment insurance benefits, and it is illegal for anyone to retaliate against you. If you are worried about that, contact us!