Can I file a new NY unemployment claim right after my benefits end? Confused about timing

You can't file a NEW claim till your benefit year is over. Your benefit year is one year from when you first filed (so Sept 2024 like you mentioned). What you might be thinking of is an EXTENSION, but those were mostly pandemic related and aren't available anymore. Your only option might be EB (Extended Benefits) but I don't think those are active in NY right now because unemployment isn't high enough statewide to trigger them.

After days of trying to get through to someone at unemployment, I found this service called Claimyr that got me connected to an actual person at NY unemployment who explained everything to me. I was in the same boat - confused about when I could file again. The agent told me I had to wait until my benefit year was over, but also gave me info about other assistance I could apply for. Talking to a real person was the best money I ever spent after wasting HOURS on hold. Here's their site if you need it: claimyr.com. They also have a video explaining how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

Short answer: NOPE. You gotta wait until your benefit year is over. Its a full 12 months from when you first applied. Your friend is probably thinking of how it used to be during covid when they had all those extensions and extra weeks but those are LONG gone now. The 26 weeks is all you get these days unless something changes.

Look into applying for SNAP benefits if your income is low enough. Also check with your local department of social services about emergency assistance programs. There's also the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) if you need help with utility bills. These won't replace unemployment but might help you get by until you can reapply or find work.

The whole system is designed to be confusing on purpose 🤔 They don't want to make it easy to get benefits. I spent literally 5 weeks trying to get an answer about my claim status. The website says one thing, the automated phone line says another, and if you EVER manage to talk to a human (which is like finding a unicorn) they tell you something completely different! Classic NY unemployment nonsense.

Here's everything you need to know about NY unemployment claims and benefit years: Your BENEFIT YEAR is the 12-month period starting from when you first filed your claim. During that year, you can only collect a maximum of 26 weeks of regular benefits. Once your 26 weeks are exhausted, you CANNOT file a new claim until your benefit year ends. This is because you need to have NEW work and earnings to qualify for a new claim. If you've worked during your current benefit year and earned enough wages, you might be eligible to file a new claim when your benefit year ends. If you're desperate to speak with someone at unemployment to confirm this, use Claimyr.com - it's a service that will wait on hold and connect you with a live agent when they finally pick up. It saved me hours of frustration. In the meantime, look into other assistance programs: - SNAP benefits (food assistance) - Local rent assistance programs - Utility payment assistance programs - Food banks and community resources I've been through this exact situation twice and understand how stressful it is. The system isn't designed to be user-friendly on purpose.

Friend of mine was in the same spot and started driving for Uber until he could find a new job in his field. Not ideal but it kept money coming in when the benefits ran out. just a thought if u need something short term

Your 26 weeks of benefits is all you get during your benefit year (which is 12 months from when you first applied). Once thats exhausted, you cant file a new claim until the full 12 month benefit year is over AND you must have worked and earned enough in the meantime to qualify again. Your friend is wrong, sorry.

I literaly just went through this last month! My benefits ran out after 26 weeks but my benefit year wasn't over yet. I couldn't file a new claim, but I DID qualify for something called 599 training benefits because I enrolled in a job training program. Maybe look into that? It lets you get benefits while your learning new skills if your approved.

Why does ny unemployment make everything so COMPLICATED?! It's almost like they don't want people to get the help they need. 🙄 I've been through 3 periods of unemployment in the last 10 years and I swear it gets worse every time. The website is from 1995, the phone system is a joke, and the rules are impossibly confusing.

Side note but keep applying for jobs even if they seem a little out of reach! I was unemployed for 4 months and applied to like 200+ positions. Finally got an offer from a company I thought was way out of my league. You never know what might happen!

The whole 26 week limit is such BS frankly. How are people supposed to survive when the job market is still so difficult? I'm in the same boat - my benefits ran out last month and I've applied to literally hundreds of jobs. It's not like we're not trying!

Mmm pretty sure they changed some rules recently. My cousin said something about being able to get an extension if you're enrolled in some kind of job training program? Might be worth looking into that.

have u tried contacting ur state rep? sometimes they can help when ur dealing with unemployment issues. my sisters BF was having problems for months and nothing worked until he reached out to his assembly persons office. they got it fixed in like 2 days.

I'm in a similar situation and just wanted to share what I learned after spending way too much time researching this. You're correct that you can't file a new claim until your benefit year ends in September. The 26 weeks is your maximum during that 12-month period, period. However, there are a few things that might help bridge the gap: 1) Look into the 599 training program if you're willing to do job training - you can potentially get benefits while learning new skills, but you MUST get it approved before starting any program. 2) Check if you qualify for Trade Readjustment Allowance (TRA) if your job loss was due to foreign trade impact. 3) Definitely apply for SNAP, local emergency assistance, and food banks. Also, I know everyone's mentioning Claimyr but I actually got through to NY unemployment by calling right at 8am on a Tuesday - took 47 minutes on hold but I did get a real person. Sometimes persistence pays off before paying for a service. Hang in there!

I went through this exact situation last year and it's so frustrating! You're absolutely right that you can't file a new claim until your benefit year ends in September. The system is confusing because your benefits can run out (26 weeks) before your benefit year ends (12 months). I ended up having to get creative during that gap period - applied for SNAP benefits, found a part-time gig doing bookkeeping for a small business (since you mentioned you're in accounting), and used local food banks. It's not ideal but it helped me survive those months. Also, definitely look into that 599 training program others mentioned - I wish I had known about it when I was going through this. The waiting period between benefit exhaustion and being able to file again is honestly one of the worst parts of the whole system. Keep your head up and keep applying - something will come through!

I just went through this same exact situation a few months ago and I feel your pain! The confusion is totally understandable because the NY unemployment system does a terrible job explaining the difference between when your benefits run out versus when your benefit year ends. You're stuck until September unfortunately - you can't file a new claim until that full 12-month benefit year is over AND you need to have earned enough wages from new work during that time to qualify again. In the meantime, definitely apply for SNAP benefits immediately - the application was way easier than I expected and it helped SO much with groceries. Also check with 211 (dial 2-1-1) for local emergency assistance programs in your area. Some churches and community organizations have rent assistance funds too. I know it's scary when savings are running low, but there are resources out there to help bridge this gap. Don't give up on the job search either - I applied to probably 300+ positions before finally landing something. You've got this!

I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago and it's incredibly frustrating! You're absolutely correct that you cannot file a new claim until your benefit year ends in September. The 26 weeks of benefits can be exhausted before your 12-month benefit year is over, which creates this awful gap period where you're left with no income. During my gap period, I applied for SNAP benefits (which was honestly a lifesaver), reached out to local food banks, and picked up some freelance bookkeeping work through Upwork and local small businesses. Since you're in accounting, you might want to check out temp agencies that specialize in finance/accounting - they often have short-term assignments that can help bridge the gap. Also look into the 599 training program that others mentioned if you're interested in learning new skills. I know it feels hopeless right now, but you'll get through this. Keep applying for jobs and don't be afraid to take something temporary while you search for your ideal position. The job market is tough but persistence really does pay off eventually!