Can I extend ny unemployment after my 26 weeks run out?
So my regular unemployment benefits are about to expire in a couple weeks. I've been collecting since April after getting laid off from my construction job when the project funding got cut. I've been applying for jobs like crazy but the market in my field is dead right now - like 50+ applications and only 2 interviews that went nowhere. I heard there might be some kind of extension available for NY unemployment after the regular 26 weeks run out? I still have bills to pay and my savings are basically gone at this point. Has anyone successfully extended their benefits beyond the initial period? I'm getting desperate here as my last payment is scheduled for mid-October and I have no job prospects lined up. The job search requirements are getting exhausting when nobody's even calling back. Any advice on how to apply for an extension or what the process looks like would be super helpful.
44 comments


Freya Christensen
Unfortunately, there aren't any automatic extensions for unemployment anymore. Once your 26 weeks are up, thats it unless the government creates a new program. The pandemic extensions all ended awhile ago. Your only option is to keep looking for work - maybe expand your search to other fields or locations?
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Ravi Malhotra
•Damn that's not what I wanted to hear but thanks for being straight with me. Guess I'll have to start looking at jobs outside my field even though the pay will be way less.
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Omar Hassan
•yeah it really sucks. I was in your same position back in february. had to take a warehouse job making half what i was before just to keep the lights on
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Chloe Robinson
•This is why the system is so messed up. 26 weeks isn't enough time to find equivalent work in many industries, especially specialized ones. It's designed to force people into taking worse jobs.
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Diego Chavez
I was in the same boat a few months ago when I couldn't get through to ny unemployment about extending my benefits. After days of calling and getting nowhere, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual human at unemployment in less than an hour. Talking to the agent directly was the only way I finally got answers about my options. Best money I've ever spent to finally stop stressing about my benefits. They have a video explaining how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE
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NeonNebula
•Is this some kind of scam? Sounds too good to be true honestly...
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Diego Chavez
•Not a scam at all - just a tool that keeps dialing for you. I was skeptical too but when you've been trying to reach someone for weeks with no luck, you get desperate. They just connect you with an actual DOL rep.
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Anastasia Kozlov
•does this actually work? i've been trying to reach someone for 3 weeks straight 😩
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Diego Chavez
•Yeah it worked for me! Saved me days of being on hold. The agent I talked to explained all my options and fixed my issue in like 10 minutes.
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Sean Kelly
•wait how does this work? do they need your personal info or anything?
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Diego Chavez
•They just call and wait on hold for you, then when someone answers they connect the call to your phone. You just tell them what number to call. Check out claimyr.com and you'll see how it works.
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Zara Mirza
I got some bad news for ya buddy. The only extensions available were during covid and those are gone now. There's sometimes extended benefits during times of high unemployment but NY isn't qualifying for that right now. Once you hit 26 weeks, that's it. You're done. The system is broken AF 🤮
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Luca Russo
Have you checked if you're eligible for any other assistance programs? When my unemployment ran out I applied for SNAP benefits (food stamps) which helped a bit with groceries while I continued my job search. Also check with your utility companies - some have hardship programs that can reduce your bills temporarily.
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Ravi Malhotra
•Thats a good idea, I'll look into SNAP. Haven't thought about utility hardship programs either - definitely gonna check those out. Anything helps at this point.
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Nia Harris
The basic answer is NO you cannot currently extend NY unemployment beyond 26 weeks. Here's what you need to know: - The regular UI benefit in New York is fixed at 26 weeks maximum - The federal extension programs (PEUC, EB, PUC) that existed during COVID have all expired - There are currently NO active extension programs in New York state - The only way this would change is if unemployment rates rise dramatically and trigger Extended Benefits, or if Congress passes new legislation Your best options right now are: 1) Intensify your job search and consider jobs outside your field temporarily 2) Apply for other assistance programs like SNAP, HEAP for heating assistance, or rental assistance programs 3) If you have a legitimate issue with your claim that needs resolution, get through to an agent using claimyr.com (saved me hours of frustration) 4) Check if you qualify for any training programs through NY that might provide additional support I know it's tough - the system was never designed to support people long-term. Wishing you the best of luck!
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GalaxyGazer
•This is the most accurate answer here. NY unemployment is capped at 26 weeks unless there's some emergency legislation.
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Ravi Malhotra
•Thanks for the detailed response. Guess I need to widen my job search and look into other assistance programs ASAP.
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Mateo Sanchez
just went thru this. u need 2 make sure u file ur last claim on time even if its partial payment. then apply 4 snap benefits. also call 211 they can connect u with local help with rent/utilities. food pantries helped me a lot too.
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Aisha Mahmood
Have you tried gig work to fill the gap? I drove for Uber after my unemployment ran out. Wasn't great money but it kept me afloat until I found a new job in my field.
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Ravi Malhotra
•I don't have a car that qualifies for the rideshare apps unfortunately. Been looking at some of the delivery gigs though that might work with my older vehicle.
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Aisha Mahmood
•Doordash and instacart have way lower vehicle requirements. Worth checking out for sure. Also look into remote customer service jobs - tons of those these days and they often hire pretty quick.
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Ethan Moore
Let me tell you somthing about nysdol...THEY DONT CARE ABOUT US! I spent 4 months unemployed and the system is desined to make u give up. My advice? Call ur state rep's office!! I did this and they have ppl who can help push ur case thru the system. Worth a try at least.
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Yuki Kobayashi
•THIS 100%!!! My assemblyman's office got my issue fixed in a week after I spent 2 months getting nowhere with NYSDOL directly.
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Carmen Vega
•State reps can help with issues but they can't extend benefits beyond what's allowed by law. They're not magicians 🤷♂️
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QuantumQuester
The 26 week limit is hardcoded into NY law. No extensions exist right now, but keep an eye on the news. If unemployment gets bad enough statewide they sometimes activate extended benefits, but we're nowhere near those levels right now.
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Andre Moreau
my advice - lie on ur job applications. say u have experience u dont have. interviews r way easier to get if u beef up ur resume a bit. desperate times call for desperate mesures 🤷♀️
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Zoe Stavros
•This is terrible advice. Getting fired for lying on your resume is worse than being unemployed.
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Andre Moreau
•lol ok boomer. everyone does this now. u think ppl actually have all the skills they claim? 😂
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Jamal Harris
•There's a difference between slight exaggeration and outright lying. Be careful with this approach.
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Mei Chen
When I couldn't reach NY unemployment by phone (called literally 50+ times), I found this thing called Claimyr that actually worked for me. claimyr.com helped me get through and I finally got my issue resolved. Not sure if it'll help with extensions but at least you can talk to someone directly and find out your options.
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Ravi Malhotra
•Thanks for the tip. Might try this if I need to talk to someone directly. The regular phone line is impossible.
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Liam Sullivan
Dude you need to be applying for jobs OUTSIDE your field right now. Unemployment isn't meant to last forever. I was in IT and took a retail job when my benefits ran out. Yeah it sucked but bills don't pay themselves.
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Ravi Malhotra
•I know, I'm starting to look at other options now. Just hard to take a massive pay cut after working my way up for years.
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Amara Okafor
•Better a pay cut than no pay at all. You can always keep looking for something better while working the lower paying job.
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CosmicCommander
This might sound crazy but have you thought about relocating? I couldn't find work in NY so I moved to TX where construction is booming. No state income tax either. Sometimes you gotta go where the work is.
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Ravi Malhotra
•That's a last resort for me. Have family here I take care of so can't really leave NY right now.
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Giovanni Colombo
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!
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Fatima Al-Qasimi
•Or just use claimyr.com and save yourself the headache. Got me through on the first try after weeks of calling myself with no luck.
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Dylan Cooper
•i've literally never gotten through by calling the regular number. it's like they designed it to be impossible on purpose 😡
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Pedro Sawyer
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.
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Miguel Ramos
•Pedro, this is incredibly helpful - thank you for taking the time to write all this out. I really appreciate you sharing what actually worked for you. I'm going to start with the SNAP application and calling 211 today. The temp agency idea is smart too, I hadn't thought about signing up with multiple ones across different industries. It's tough swallowing my pride about taking work outside construction, but you're right that I need income now. Thanks for the encouragement, it helps knowing someone else made it through this mess.
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Brianna Schmidt
I'm really sorry to hear about your situation - the job market has been brutal lately. Unfortunately, like others have mentioned, NY doesn't have any extension programs running right now. The 26-week limit is pretty much set in stone unless there's some major economic crisis that triggers federal action. One thing that might help while you're transitioning is looking into your local One-Stop Career Centers (part of the American Job Centers network). They often have resources beyond just job listings - sometimes emergency assistance, skills training programs, or connections to employers who are actively hiring. The training programs especially might be worth checking out since some come with income support while you're learning new skills. Also, don't overlook union halls if you're in construction - even if work is slow in your specific trade, they might know about projects starting up or related work. Sometimes they hear about opportunities before they hit the regular job boards. Hang in there. This transition period is tough but temporary. Focus on getting some income flowing first, then you can be more strategic about finding your way back to better opportunities in your field.
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Alexander Zeus
•This is really solid advice, especially about the One-Stop Career Centers - I had no idea they offered emergency assistance too. I'm definitely going to look into those training programs you mentioned since having some income while learning new skills sounds way better than just burning through what little savings I have left. The union hall tip is great too, I should probably swallow my pride and check with some of the other trades even if it's not exactly what I did before. Construction is construction, right? Thanks for the encouragement - really needed to hear that this is temporary even though it feels endless right now.
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Oliver Wagner
I'm in a similar boat - my benefits are running out next month after being laid off from my marketing job. It's terrifying knowing there's no safety net after 26 weeks. What really gets me is how the job search requirements keep ramping up even when there are barely any decent openings to apply for. I've been networking like crazy and even reached out to old colleagues, but everyone's either laying people off or not hiring. Has anyone had luck with those workforce development programs someone mentioned? I'm wondering if it's worth looking into retraining for something more stable, even if it means starting over salary-wise. At this point I'm considering everything from medical coding bootcamps to getting my real estate license - anything that might lead to actual employment instead of just more rejection emails. The stress of watching that benefit countdown is unreal. Hope you find something soon Ravi!
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