Can I still extend my NY unemployment benefits or did I miss the deadline?

Extensions aren't automatic - you gotta apply for them. You should be fine to apply since youre still within your benefit year (which is 52 weeks from when you first applied). Just make sure you keep certifying weekly even if your initial benefits run out while waiting for the extension to process.

Had the same issue last month! After trying to call for DAYS with no luck, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that basically waits on hold with ny unemployment for you and calls you when an agent picks up. Literally saved me hours of frustration and the agent confirmed I was eligible for the extension right away. Talking to an agent got my extension processed so fast - best decision ever! Check out this video too: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

yooo I just went through this last week! The extension is called Extended Benefits (EB) and yes its still available. But heres the thing - you dont apply for it until AFTER your regular UI benefits are completely exhausted. The system should automatically review your case when you hit week 26. But definitely call to confirm this before your benefits run out just to be safe.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but are you sure extensions are still available? I thought all the pandemic extensions ended a while ago. Regular NY unemployment is only 26 weeks total unless theres been a change I missed.

Here's what you need to know about unemployment extensions in NY right now: Regular UI benefits last for 26 weeks. After that, NY does have an Extended Benefits (EB) program that can provide additional weeks when unemployment rates are high enough in the state. Whether you qualify depends on several factors: - If you've used all 26 weeks of regular benefits - If you're still within your benefit year - If NY's unemployment rate currently triggers the extension program - If you've maintained your eligibility requirements The most reliable way to find out is to contact NYSDOL directly. However, getting through to them is notoriously difficult. I highly recommend using claimyr.com - it's a service that handles the hold time for you and connects you with an agent. I used it last month after trying for weeks to get through on my own. In the meantime, continue certifying weekly even if your benefits appear to be exhausted. This maintains your claim status while any extension is being processed. Hope this helps!

Don't listen to these ppl saying call!!! The nysdol phone system is HELL ON EARTH. I spent 3 weeks trying to get someone on the phone. Email them instead at their general mailbox. That's what finally worked for me.

why not just go to one of their offices in person? i know that sounds crazy in 2023 but thats what I did and got everything sorted in one day

I was in your exact situation in October! The key thing to understand is that Extensions and new claims are completely different things. If you're approaching the end of your 26 weeks but you're still within your benefit year (which starts from your initial claim date), then you might qualify for Extended Benefits. But if you're approaching the end of your benefit YEAR, that's when you'd file a new claim. The whole system is designed to be confusing I swear 😤

Best advice - DONT WAIT until your benefits run out to figure this out! Try claimyr.com to get through to an agent now. When my regular benefits were about to expire I waited until the last week and ended up with a 3 week gap before my extension kicked in. Nearly got evicted. Don't make my mistake!

im so sick of the unemployment system... designed to be impossible to navigate on purpose 😡

Hey Marilyn! I was in a similar spot a few months back and it's definitely stressful. Here's what I learned - NY does have Extended Benefits available, but it depends on the state's unemployment rate triggering the program. Since you're at 22 weeks, you're getting close to the 26 week mark for regular UI. The tricky part is you won't know if you qualify until your regular benefits are exhausted. The system is supposed to automatically review your case, but honestly I wouldn't count on that happening smoothly. My advice: start the process now before you hit week 26. I know everyone's saying call, but if you can't get through (and trust me, you probably won't), try reaching out to your local legislator's office. They have direct lines to unemployment offices and can actually get answers. That's what finally worked for me when I was stuck in limbo. Keep certifying weekly no matter what, even if it looks like your benefits stopped. And document everything - save screenshots, keep records of your job search. You'll need that stuff if there are any issues with the extension. Hang in there! The system sucks but you'll get through this 💪

Just wanted to add something that might help - if you're having trouble finding the extension info on the website, try logging into your NY.gov account and look under "Labor" then "Unemployment Insurance Services." There's usually a section that shows your benefit year dates and remaining balance. Also, I've noticed that sometimes the system glitches and doesn't automatically trigger the extension review when it should. A friend of mine had this happen and she ended up with a 2-week gap in payments because she assumed it would be automatic. Definitely try to get someone on the phone (or use one of those callback services people mentioned) to confirm your status before you hit week 26. The job market is rough right now so don't feel bad about needing the extension. That's literally what it's there for! Good luck with everything 🤞

I'm going through something similar right now - just hit week 24 and starting to panic about what happens next! Reading through all these responses is both helpful and terrifying lol. It sounds like the consensus is to be proactive and not wait until the last minute, which makes total sense. I'm definitely going to try that claimyr service people keep mentioning since I literally cannot afford to spend entire days on hold. Has anyone had issues with it or is it pretty reliable? Also curious if anyone knows roughly how long the extension approval process takes once you actually get through to someone? The whole "automatic review" thing sounds sketchy based on what people are saying here. Nothing about this system has been automatic for me so far, so I'm not holding my breath that extensions will be any different 😅 Thanks for asking this question Marilyn - you basically asked everything I've been wondering about but was too stressed to post!

I'm in almost the exact same situation - been collecting for about 20 weeks now and starting to stress about what happens when I hit that 26 week mark. This thread has been incredibly helpful though! Based on what everyone's saying, it sounds like the key things are: don't wait until your benefits actually run out, keep certifying weekly no matter what, and be prepared for the "automatic" system to not be so automatic. That claimyr service keeps getting mentioned and honestly for $20 it sounds worth it to avoid the phone hell everyone describes. One thing I'm still confused about though - if NY's Extended Benefits program is tied to the state's unemployment rate, does anyone know what the current status is? Like are we actually in a period where extensions are being triggered right now? I feel like that's a pretty crucial piece of info that determines whether any of us can even get extensions in the first place. Also want to echo what others said about documenting everything. I've been pretty casual about my job search records but sounds like I need to get more organized about that ASAP. Thanks for starting this conversation Marilyn - definitely not alone in this stress!

I'm actually at week 18 and this whole thread has been a wake-up call that I need to start preparing for this now instead of waiting! The fact that so many people are saying the "automatic" system doesn't work properly is honestly terrifying but at least now I know what to expect. That claimyr service sounds like a lifesaver - I've already wasted half a day trying to call the regular line and got nowhere. For $20 to avoid that nightmare it seems like a no-brainer. Plus hearing that someone got their extension processed in 10 days after talking to an agent gives me some hope that it's not completely hopeless. One thing I'm going to do based on everyone's advice is start keeping way better records of my job search activities. I've been pretty casual about it but sounds like having detailed documentation could be crucial if there are any issues with the extension approval. Thanks for asking this question Marilyn - you've basically crowdsourced all the info that the official website should have but doesn't! Definitely feeling less alone in this whole stressful process now. Good luck with your extension!

I'm at week 19 and honestly this thread is both reassuring and terrifying at the same time! It's good to know I'm not the only one stressing about this, but hearing how unreliable the "automatic" extension process is has me pretty worried. I've been putting off dealing with this because the whole system seems so overwhelming, but clearly I need to be proactive about it. That claimyr service keeps getting mentioned and honestly $20 to avoid sitting on hold for hours sounds like the best investment I could make right now. My mental health can't handle another day of that awful hold music 😅 One thing that's really hitting me from reading everyone's experiences is how much the system seems designed to make us give up. Like, making it nearly impossible to get someone on the phone, having confusing websites, not sending clear notifications about next steps - it feels intentional. But at least we've got each other to share what actually works! Definitely going to start documenting my job search way more carefully and try to get through to an agent in the next week or two before I get closer to that 26 week deadline. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this has been way more helpful than anything I've found on the official sites!

I'm at week 14 and this entire thread has been such an eye-opener! I had no idea the extension process was so complicated and unreliable. I've been assuming it would just automatically happen when I hit 26 weeks, but clearly that's not something I should count on. The claimyr service sounds like it could be a game-changer - I've already tried calling twice and spent literally 6 hours total on hold with nothing to show for it. $20 seems like a small price to pay to actually talk to a human being who can give me real answers about my specific situation. I'm definitely going to start being way more organized about documenting my job search activities too. I've been pretty informal about tracking applications and interviews, but it sounds like having detailed records could make or break the extension approval process. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this community is providing way better guidance than the official DOL resources! Marilyn, I hope you get your extension sorted out soon. Going to start being proactive about this now instead of waiting until I'm in panic mode at week 25!