Been unemployed for a year - can I still get NYS Department of Labor unemployment benefits?
I lost my job in January 2024 and haven't been able to find work since then. I didn't apply for unemployment right away because I thought I'd find something quickly, but it's been over a year now. Can I still file for NYS Department of Labor unemployment benefits even though it's been this long? I'm getting desperate and need to know if I missed my chance completely.
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GalaxyGazer
You typically have to file within one year of becoming unemployed, but there might be exceptions depending on your situation. The NYS Department of Labor requires you to file your initial claim within 52 weeks of your last day of work. Since you mentioned January 2024, you might be cutting it close or may have already passed the deadline. You should call them immediately to see if you qualify for any extensions or special circumstances.
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Nia Harris
•Oh no, does that mean I'm completely out of luck? I had no idea there was a time limit.
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Mateo Sanchez
same thing happened to my brother last year, he waited too long and couldn't get anything
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Aisha Mahmood
The one-year rule is strict, but you need to check your exact last day of employment. If you worked even part-time after January 2024, that could reset your timeline. Also, some people qualify for extended benefits during high unemployment periods. Don't give up without trying - file online at labor.ny.gov and see what happens. The worst they can say is no, but you might be surprised.
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Nia Harris
•I did work a few days here and there doing gig work, would that count as resetting the timeline?
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Aisha Mahmood
•Gig work can be tricky - it depends if you were classified as an employee or independent contractor. If you were paid as a W-2 employee, even for just a few days, that could potentially reset your base period.
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Ethan Moore
This is so confusing! Why don't they make these rules clearer? I'm in a similar situation and keep getting different answers from everyone. The NYS Department of Labor website is impossible to navigate and when I try to call, I can never get through to an actual person.
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Yuki Kobayashi
•I had the same problem trying to reach someone at NYS Department of Labor. Ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me through to an agent. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Saved me hours of being on hold and getting disconnected.
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Carmen Vega
The whole unemployment system is a joke anyway. They make it as hard as possible to get benefits even when you've paid into it for years. But definitely try filing - I've heard of people getting approved in weird situations
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QuantumQuester
thanks for asking this, I was wondering the same thing
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Ava Harris
I work as a benefits counselor and want to clarify a few things here. While the one-year rule is generally true, New York has some specific provisions you should know about. First, if you can show "good cause" for the delay in filing (like serious illness, family emergency, etc.), they may waive the time limit. Second, any W-2 employment - even just a day or two - can potentially establish a new base period and reset your eligibility window. The gig work you mentioned could count if you received W-2s rather than 1099s. I'd strongly recommend going to your local Department of Labor office in person rather than just calling - they're often more helpful face-to-face. Bring any documentation of work you did after January 2024, even if it was minimal. Don't let anyone discourage you from trying - I've seen people get approved in situations that seemed hopeless.
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Sunny Wang
•Thank you so much for this detailed explanation! This gives me hope. I do have some W-2s from a few temp jobs I did in the spring and summer of 2024. Should I gather all of those before going to the local office? Also, do you know if having a gap in employment affects the "good cause" determination, or is it more about why you didn't file initially?
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