Can I still claim ny unemployment after my 26 weeks if they might approve Extended Benefits?

YES! 100% keep certifying every week. When I exhausted my benefits last year I kept certifying anyway and when they approved the extension I got ALL my back weeks. If you stop certifying you'll definitely have problems. The system might not pay you now but its tracking that you're still eligible and looking for work.

I was in this exact situation and couldn't get a straight answer for weeks. Finally I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual agent within 30 minutes. Talking to an agent got my benefits extended so fast when I was about to give up. They confirmed I should keep certifying! Check out their youtube for more info: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

Unfortunately there's no guarantee NY will approve more extended benefits. Its all about the unemployment rate and budget allocations. But 100% keep certifying weekly - theres literally no downside and it keeps you in the system as actively looking. Make sure ur still doing the work search requirements too (apply to at least 3 jobs per week).

This whole system is such a joke. I've been fighting with ny unemployment for 5 months now. Keep certifying but also DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. Screenshots of your certifications, work search activities, any correspondence. I learned the hard way when they randomly accused me of not looking for work despite having applied to 50+ places 🤡

I'm gonna go against the grain here and say it depends on your situation. Certifying takes what, 5 minutes a week? If you have even a slim chance of getting more benefits, it's worth it. But don't put all your eggs in that basket. Focus on finding ANY work, even part time, because EB might never come. The political will just isn't there like it was during covid.

Here's what you need to know about the current NY unemployment situation: First, YES, keep certifying every single week without fail. The system will record these certifications even if you're not receiving payments right now. Second, Extended Benefits (EB) are triggered by economic indicators - specifically when the state's unemployment rate exceeds certain thresholds. The last official data showed NY's unemployment rate at 4.1%, which isn't high enough to trigger automatic EB yet. Third, work search requirements are still in effect - you must document applying to at least 3 jobs weekly. Keep detailed records of every application - company name, position, application date, contact info, and any responses. Fourth, if you're struggling to get answers, don't waste days on hold. I used claimyr.com to get through to an agent when my benefits were in limbo. It's a service that waits on hold for you and calls when an agent picks up. Finally, consider looking into other assistance programs while you wait - SNAP benefits, rental assistance, etc. Don't put all your hopes on EB being approved. Hang in there - the system is frustrating but persistence pays off.

Tbh I wouldn't get my hopes up about EB. The state is broke af and they make the qualification requirements harder every year. But definitely keep certifying - it literally costs you nothing except 5 min of ur time each week.

KEEP CERTIFYING!!!! I cannot stress this enough! My benefits exhausted in August, I kept certifying every week, and when they approved a small extension in October I got backpaid for every week I certified. If I hadn't kept certifying I would have gotten NOTHING.

has anyone heard any actual news about bringing back EB? or is this just a rumor going around? I haven't seen anything official from ny unemployment about it

you could try reaching out to your state representatives office. sometimes they can give you better info or even help with your case. i was stuck in limbo for weeks until i contacted my assembly person and magically my case started moving again

make sure your resume is uploaded in the system too and updated. i heard that if EB does get approved, they look at who's actively using all parts of the system including the job matching section.

I stopped certifying after my benefits ran out last year and it was THE BIGGEST MISTAKE. When they approved more weeks (during covid) I had to appeal and prove I was still looking for work during those weeks I didn't certify. Complete nightmare. Just spend the 5 minutes each week and keep certifying.

call them!!! seriously the website never has updated info. I couldn't get through for weeks but found claimyr.com and they got me connected to an agent who told me exactly what to do. the website said one thing but the agent gave me totally different instructions that actually worked

After my benefits ran out I started doing gig work (instacart, doordash, etc) to make ends meet. You can still certify each week and report whatever income you make. That way if EB comes through youll be all set, but youre not sitting around with zero income in the meantime.

Has anyone tried using the chat function on the website? I've had better luck with that than calling (tho it still sucks). maybe you can get an answer about EB that way

I'm in almost the exact same situation - exhausted my 26 weeks last month and have been wondering the same thing. Reading through all these responses, it's pretty clear that continuing to certify is the way to go. Even if there's only a small chance of EB being approved, the downside of not certifying seems way worse than taking 5 minutes each week to stay in the system. The job market really is brutal right now. I've been applying everywhere and getting nothing back. It's so frustrating when you're doing everything right but the opportunities just aren't there. At least if we keep certifying and documenting our job searches, we'll be ready if any extensions do get approved. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread has been super helpful in making the decision to keep going with the weekly certifications!