CALL EVERY DAY!!! The phone system at ny unemployment is a joke but if you keep calling sometimes you get lucky and get through to someone who can actually help. I called 78 times in one day before I got through!

Hey Ravi, I feel your pain - went through the exact same thing last year when my hospitality job got eliminated. Unfortunately everyone here is right that there are no extensions available right now in NY. The 26 weeks is all you get unless Congress creates some new emergency program. Here's what actually helped me survive after my benefits ran out: - Applied for SNAP immediately (you can do it online and it processes pretty fast) - Called 211 for local assistance programs - they connected me with rent assistance and food pantries - Signed up for temp agencies in multiple industries, not just my field - Did odd jobs through TaskRabbit and Handy while job hunting The hardest part was accepting I had to take work outside my field temporarily, but it kept me afloat. Also look into your local workforce development office - they sometimes have emergency assistance funds or training programs that come with stipends. Don't give up on your field completely, but you need income NOW. You can always keep applying for better positions while working something else. Good luck man, this system really does suck but you'll get through it.

Just claim whatever you normally claim on your regular job taxes. The unemployment system in NY is confusing enough without overthinking the exemptions part.

Just to add to what everyone else has said - you're absolutely right to be careful about this! When I first filed, I was also worried about messing up my claim. The good news is that the exemptions section is really just about tax withholding, not your benefit calculation. Since you have two kids and are married, you could reasonably claim 2 or 3 exemptions (similar to what you'd claim on a W-4), but keep in mind that unemployment benefits are fully taxable income at both federal and state levels. Some people prefer to claim fewer exemptions or even zero to avoid owing money at tax time, since unemployment income can sometimes push you into a different tax bracket than you expect.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS BROKEN! I've been waiting 5 WEEKS for my benefits and they keep giving me the runaround. Every time I call they tell me something different about what documents they need. It's like they don't want to pay anyone.

Restaurant workers sometimes have delays because tips aren't always reported correctly by employers. NYS Department of Labor has to verify your actual wages which can take extra time if there are discrepancies in the wage records.

also make sure she was actually laid off and not terminated for performance or attendance. sometimes employers code things differently than what they tell you

One thing that often gets overlooked is the "able and available" requirement. Even if she was legitimately laid off, she needs to prove she's actively seeking work and available to accept employment. If there were any gaps in her job search activities or if she indicated she wasn't available for work during certain periods when filing her weekly certifications, that could trigger a denial. NYS Department of Labor is pretty strict about documenting your job search efforts - you typically need to show you're applying to jobs and keeping records of your applications.

Contract work is so unstable, this is exactly why I stick to W2 jobs. At least then you know you're covered for unemployment. Hope it works out for you!

I went through something similar as a contractor last year. The key thing is that since you were paying into UI through your LLC, you should be eligible - that's exactly what those payments are for. I'd recommend filing immediately because even if they do call you back with new work, you can always stop claiming benefits at that point. The NYS Department of Labor application process for contractors can take longer than regular employees since they have to verify your payment history, so don't wait. Also make sure you have documentation of your quarterly UI payments ready when you file - it'll speed up the process.