Just want to add that if your base period doesn't qualify you, NYS Department of Labor will automatically check your alternate base period which uses the last four completed quarters instead. Sometimes that works better for people who had recent job changes.

This is really helpful information! I'm in a similar boat where I worked inconsistently throughout 2024. One thing I learned when I called NYS Department of Labor is that they also have a minimum weekly benefit amount requirement - you need to have earned at least 1.5 times your weekly benefit rate in your high quarter. So it's not just about hitting the $2,700 total, but also about having enough earnings concentrated in your best quarter. Might be worth calculating that out too before you file to see where you stand.

I agree that NYS should make this clearer! I think a lot of people miss out on benefits they're entitled to because the distinction between W2 contractors and 1099 contractors isn't well explained. For anyone reading this thread, the general rule is: if you got a W2 and had payroll taxes taken out, you were likely an employee for unemployment purposes regardless of whether it was called "contract work." The staffing agency was probably paying unemployment insurance on your behalf. Definitely worth filing a claim!

This is really helpful information! I'm currently a W2 contractor through a staffing agency and wasn't sure about my eligibility either. It's good to know that having taxes withheld and getting a W2 makes you eligible. I've been saving up just in case my contract ends, but it's reassuring to know unemployment benefits are an option. Thanks for asking this question - I'm sure lots of people are in similar situations and don't know their rights!

I went through a similar situation a few months ago - lost my job at a tech startup in Rochester making about $48k. The base period calculation that CaptainAwesome mentioned is spot on, but here's what really helped me: I gathered all my pay stubs from the relevant quarters before calling or using the online calculator. Having your exact quarterly earnings makes the whole process way clearer. Also, don't stress too much about the exact amount beforehand - once you file, they'll send you a monetary determination letter that breaks down exactly how they calculated your benefits. The important thing is to file as soon as possible since you can't get benefits for weeks before you apply. Good luck with the job search!

Hey Liam, I totally understand the stress you're going through - I was in a similar boat about a year ago when I got laid off from my job at a nonprofit in Syracuse. One thing that really helped me was calling the NYS Department of Labor's customer service line early in the morning (like right when they open at 8 AM) to avoid the worst of the hold times. The rep I spoke with was actually really patient and walked me through the whole calculation step by step. With your $52k salary, you're probably looking at somewhere in the $380-420 range per week, but definitely file your claim first and let them do the official calculation. The waiting is the worst part, but once you get that first payment it's such a relief. Also, start applying for jobs right away if you haven't already - NY requires you to be actively searching and it helps with the stress to feel like you're taking action. Hang in there!

I'm going through the exact same anxiety right now - my benefits run out in 8 days and I've been losing sleep over this! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so helpful though. I just logged into my NY.gov account after reading all these comments and found that Pre-Extension Checklist that @Danielle Campbell mentioned - it's exactly where she said it would be in a small notification box on the dashboard. Turns out I was missing one quarterly review from last year that I need to complete before I can apply for the extension. The checklist also confirmed that I need to have my job search documentation ready as a PDF. I've been tracking everything in a spreadsheet, so I'll convert that to PDF format using the table structure @Chloe Martin suggested. One question for anyone who's been through this recently - do they require specific types of job applications (like only online applications) or do networking contacts and informational interviews count toward the work search requirements for the extension? I've been doing a mix of everything but want to make sure I'm documenting the right activities. Thanks again to everyone for sharing their experiences. This community is a lifesaver when the official NYSDOL resources are so confusing!

This thread has been incredibly helpful - I'm actually in a very similar situation with my benefits ending soon and was completely panicking about the process until I found all this information here! I wanted to add something that might help others: when I called the NYSDOL office directly (after waiting on hold for 2+ hours), the agent mentioned that they're also now requiring proof of any job training or skills development activities you've completed during your benefit period for the extension application. This could include online courses, certifications, workshops, etc. If you've done any of these activities, make sure to gather certificates or completion records to include with your application. The agent said this isn't always clearly stated in the online requirements but it can strengthen your application, especially if your work search activities are on the lower end of what's required. Also, just a heads up - she warned me that they're experiencing much higher application volumes for extensions in 2025, so the processing time might be closer to 2 weeks rather than the 7-10 days mentioned in the official documentation. Definitely don't wait until the last minute to apply! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here. It's made such a difference in understanding this confusing process!

I'm dealing with this same issue right now - filed a new claim last week but have 2 unpaid weeks from my old claim that I'm worried about losing. Reading through everyone's advice here is really helpful! Quick question for those who successfully got their back pay - when you called and got the right person, did they need you to re-certify for those weeks over the phone, or did they just process the payments based on your previous certifications? I certified for those weeks when they were due originally but never got paid, so I'm wondering if I'll need to go through the whole certification process again or if they can just release the payments that were already approved but never sent out. Also planning to try that early morning Monday call strategy - seems like that's when you're most likely to get through to someone who actually knows what they're doing!

I went through this exact same thing about a year ago and it was so stressful! You definitely don't lose your back pay when you file a new claim - those are two separate things in their system. I had 6 weeks of unpaid benefits from my previous claim and was panicking when they told me to file new. What finally worked for me was calling the UI customer service line and specifically asking to be transferred to the "Payment Resolution Unit" - that's the department that handles retroactive payments and back pay issues. Regular customer service reps often can't access the tools needed to process payments from previous claim periods. When I got through to the right department, the specialist was able to pull up both my old and new claims simultaneously and process all my missing payments within about 15 minutes. She explained that they see this situation all the time and it's totally fixable - the key is just getting to someone with the right system access. One thing that helped speed up the process was having my old claim confirmation number ready, plus the exact dates of the weeks I was missing payments for. The payments showed up in my account within 5 business days after that call. Don't give up - that money is definitely still yours to claim!