Can you apply for unemployment again after benefits run out - NYS Department of Labor options?

You can potentially file a new claim if you've worked enough since your last claim started and earned sufficient wages. NYS Department of Labor requires you to have worked in at least two quarters and earned a minimum amount during your base period. Since you worked 8 months, you might qualify if those wages weren't already used for your previous claim.

yes you need to have worked and earned wages AFTER your benefit year started to file a new claim. if you haven't worked since getting laid off then you probably can't file again right now

This is exactly what happened to me last year! I exhausted my regular UI benefits and couldn't file a new claim because I hadn't worked since. But I did find out about something - if you can't get through to NYS Department of Labor to check your options, there's this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me actually reach an agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals.

The system is so confusing! I thought you could just keep filing week after week but apparently there's all these rules about benefit years and base periods. Why don't they explain this stuff better when you first apply??

Unfortunately if you haven't worked since your original claim, you're probably out of luck for now. You'd need to find employment first, work for a while, then potentially qualify for a new benefit year. The good news is even part-time or temporary work can help you build up eligibility again.

yeah this happened to my brother too. he had to take some gig work for a few months before he could file again. it sucks but at least there are options