8.5% is definitely high! I remember during the recession it got up to like 12% in some areas and that's when all the extended programs kicked in. You should definitely be eligible for something extra.

I'm in a similar situation - been on UI for about 14 weeks and my county's unemployment rate is around 9.2%. From what I've researched, New York does have Extended Benefits but they're tied to both state and federal triggers. The state trigger is usually around 6.5% as others mentioned, but there's also a federal component that looks at how current rates compare to previous years. I'd recommend checking the NYS DOL website weekly since EB status can change month to month. Also, if you're getting close to exhausting your regular benefits, make sure you keep certifying even if the system seems to glitch - I heard some people had issues with automatic transitions to EB programs.

Good luck with your claim! I was in a similar situation with part-time work and it worked out fine. The key is just making sure you have all your employment information ready when you file.

Just wanted to add that you can also check your earnings history on the NYS Department of Labor website before applying. Log into your NY.gov account and look at your wage and tax statements - this will show you exactly what quarters and amounts they have on file for you. That way you can calculate beforehand whether you meet either the wage requirements or the 20-week/$260 average requirement. It's under "View Wage and Tax Information" in your online services account. This helped me figure out my eligibility before I even filed my claim.

You can absolutely still file! I was in almost the exact same situation - got laid off in June and didn't file until December because I kept thinking I'd land something soon. NYS DOL processed my claim without any issues. Just be prepared that they'll ask about the gap during your eligibility determination call, but having your layoff documentation showing budget cuts will help. The hardest part for me was accepting that I lost out on 6 months of benefits I could have been collecting while job searching. Don't make the same mistake I did - file today! The my.ny.gov portal is pretty straightforward to use.

I'm in a similar boat - got laid off in August and just now getting around to filing. Reading through everyone's responses here is really helpful! One thing I'm wondering about is whether I need to report any odd jobs or gig work I did during those months I wasn't filing? I did some freelance work here and there to make ends meet but nothing substantial. Should I mention that when I file or just focus on the main employment history from my regular job? Don't want to complicate things but also want to be honest about everything.

Just to add some actual numbers - in NY, employers pay UI tax on the first $12,000 of each employee's wages. The rates range from 0.6% to 7.2% depending on their experience rating (how many claims they've had). So yeah, they definitely have financial incentive to get you back on payroll even part time.

Thanks for all the detailed explanations everyone! This is super eye-opening. I had no idea there was this whole system behind unemployment where employers basically get "charged" for layoffs through higher tax rates. It definitely makes sense now why my old manager suddenly reached out about part-time work after months of nothing. I'm going to call unemployment tomorrow to ask about the partial benefits thing - sounds like I might be able to work some hours and still get reduced benefits which could actually work out better than just the $410/week. Really appreciate everyone breaking this down!

Just to add - make sure you understand the difference between state unemployment and federal unemployment taxes too. Even if you don't pay state unemployment on yourself, you still might have other tax obligations depending on your business structure and income level.

Great point about federal vs state taxes! As someone who just went through setting up my own LLC last year, I learned this the hard way. Even though I don't pay state unemployment on myself as a single-member LLC, I still had to deal with federal self-employment taxes and quarterly estimated payments. The IRS and NYS Department of Labor have completely different requirements, which adds another layer of confusion. Definitely recommend talking to a tax professional early on to avoid surprises at tax time.