Just wanted to add my experience with the BRI Pre-date process since I went through it earlier this year. One thing that really helped me was having my severance paperwork ready when I called. They asked about when my employment officially ended vs when I stopped receiving pay, which can be different dates if you got severance or vacation payout. Also, if you're worried about remembering job search details for each week, don't stress too much. I was honest about the weeks where I didn't do much searching (like Thanksgiving week) and they were understanding. The key is showing you made a good faith effort overall. The whole backdating approval took about 2 weeks from my initial call to getting payments, so be patient with the process. Good luck with your January 3rd filing!

I'm in a similar situation - got laid off in November but haven't filed yet because my company kept saying they might bring people back after the new year. Reading through all these responses is super helpful! One question for those who've been through the backdate process: did anyone have issues if they took a short temp job during the waiting period? I did some freelance work for about 3 weeks in December and I'm worried that might complicate things when I try to backdate to November. Should I mention this upfront when I call the BRI Pre-date Department? Also @Sarah Ali - sounds like you've got good documentation and your assemblyman's office backing you up, which seems to make a big difference based on what others are saying here. Good luck with your Jan 3rd filing!

Just to add to what others said - at 27 weeks you might qualify for Extended Benefits if the unemployment rate is high enough in NY. But that's not guaranteed and depends on economic conditions. The 26 week regular UI is pretty standard though.

I'm in a similar situation - been on unemployment for about 20 weeks now and getting anxious about what comes next. From what I've researched, NYS Department of Labor does have some transition services that start around week 20-24 to help prepare people who might be approaching long-term status. They call it "reemployment services" and it includes things like resume workshops and job search assistance. You might want to check your NY.gov account to see if you've been selected for any of these programs - they're supposed to help improve your chances of finding work before you hit that 27-week mark.

Just confirming what others said - $504 is indeed the current maximum weekly benefit amount for regular unemployment insurance in New York. This amount gets reviewed annually. Your benefits will last up to 26 weeks as long as you continue to meet eligibility requirements. Make sure you understand the work search requirements because that's where a lot of people run into issues.

Welcome to the community! I see you're getting great advice here about your benefit amount. One thing I'd add is that you should also check if you qualify for SNAP benefits (food stamps) while you're on unemployment - the income limits are pretty generous and it can really help stretch your budget. Also, if you had any dependents, make sure NY DOL has that information because there might be additional dependency benefits available. The $504 weekly is just your base amount, but there could be small additions for qualifying dependents.

just apply asap dont overthink it the system walks you thru everything step by step

Sorry to hear about your restaurant closing down @Andre. One thing to add that others haven't mentioned - when you're filling out the application online, make sure you have your bank account info ready if you want direct deposit (routing and account numbers). It's much faster than waiting for a debit card to arrive in the mail. Also, the system will ask why you're unemployed - since your workplace closed, that should be straightforward, but if they ask for any documentation later, try to get something in writing from your former employer about the closure if possible. The online system usually processes applications pretty quickly once everything is submitted correctly.

Just remember the $504 is before taxes. They do withhold federal taxes if you elect to have them taken out, which I'd recommend unless you want a surprise at tax time. Also if you have any other income while collecting you need to report it on your weekly claims or you could end up with an overpayment situation.

Based on your $22/hour full-time wage, you should qualify for a decent benefit amount. At 40 hours a week, that's about $880 gross weekly, so you'd likely get somewhere in the $400-450 range per week depending on your exact earnings history. One thing to keep in mind - make sure you file as soon as possible since there's usually a one-week waiting period before benefits start, and you can't get benefits for weeks before you actually file your claim. The sooner you get the process started, the sooner you'll start receiving payments.