Effective days on NY unemployment suddenly dropped to 0 - did my benefits run out?

Yes, unfortunately when your effective days reach zero, your benefit year has ended. Traditional UI in New York typically lasts 26 weeks (104 effective days). Each week you claim counts as 4 effective days. When you hit zero, that means you've reached the maximum benefits for your claim period.

same thing just happened 2 me. suks cuz i still dont have a job either. the system should really warn us before it just stops!!

When your effective days reach zero, your regular UI benefits have been exhausted. Here are your options: 1. Extended Benefits (EB) might be available if New York's unemployment rate is high enough, but as of early 2025, NY isn't offering EB. 2. If you've worked during your benefit year and earned enough wages, you might qualify for a new claim after your current benefit year ends. 3. Check if you qualify for other assistance programs like SNAP benefits or emergency assistance through local organizations. The NYSDOL should have sent you a notification as you approached the end of your benefits, but sometimes these get missed. You should receive an official notice about your claim exhaustion soon.

Whether your part-time work qualifies you for a new claim depends on how much you earned. In NY, you need to have: 1. Worked in at least two calendar quarters in your base period 2. Earned at least $2,900 in one calendar quarter 3. Earned at least 1.5 times your high quarter wages in the entire base period To file a new claim, you'll need to go through the application process again on the NY.gov site or by phone. Keep in mind that if you qualify, your weekly benefit amount might be lower based on your part-time earnings.

i went thru this last year!! the WORST part is trying to get someone on the phone to explain your options. i spent TWO WEEKS calling every single day trying to reach someone. they never pick up!!!! its so frustrating when ur benefits just stop and u cant even talk to a real person about it!!!

This happened to me too!! So frustrating. If you've been on unemployment for a while, you've probably used up your 26 weeks. I was able to get a new claim because I had worked a few months between claims. Just make sure you have all your employment info ready when you apply again.

I applied online on a Tuesday night and got approved by Friday! But I think I got lucky - my friend applied around the same time and it took her almost 2 weeks. Just make sure all your employment info is accurate and you upload any documents they ask for right away.

THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO CUT YOU OFF WITH NO WARNING!!! They WANT you to miss the deadline to reapply so they can save money. I lost TWO WEEKS of benefits because I didn't know I had to immediately file a new claim. And good luck getting through to anyone on the phone to fix it - the system is BROKEN ON PURPOSE!!!

To clarify some misinformation: While it's true the notification system isn't perfect, there's no "deadline" to reapply that you can miss. When your benefit year ends, you simply need to file a new claim if you qualify. Any delay in benefits is because new claims take time to process, not because of a missed deadline. If you have worked enough during your benefit year to qualify for a new claim, you should apply as soon as your current benefits exhaust. The system doesn't automatically roll you into a new claim - you must initiate it yourself.

I went through this exact situation last month! When I finally got through to someone, they explained that running out of effective days is normal and just means your initial claim period is over. If you've worked at all during your benefit year, definitely apply for a new claim. And seriously, use Claimyr to get through to someone by phone - it saved me days of frustration and the agent was able to tell me exactly what I qualified for with my work history.

You have to file a completely new application. It's basically starting from scratch, but they'll have your previous info in the system which makes some parts easier. Just make sure you have all your employment info ready for any work you did during your benefit year. Good luck!

This just happened to my cousin too! She was totally blindsided when her effective days hit zero. What really helped her was calling first thing in the morning (like 8:01 AM) - she got through after about an hour of waiting instead of the usual all-day busy signals. The agent told her that since she had worked a retail job for about 4 months during her benefit year, she qualified for a new claim but the weekly amount would be based on those recent earnings, not her original job. Also, make sure you keep certifying weekly even while your new claim is being processed - sometimes there can be a gap but they can backdate payments if you stay current with your certifications. The whole system really needs better communication about what happens when benefits end!

I just went through this exact situation a few months ago! When your effective days hit zero, it means you've exhausted your regular UI benefits - typically after 26 weeks. The good news is that if you worked during your benefit year (like your part-time job), you might qualify for a new claim. A few tips from my experience: 1) Apply for the new claim online as soon as possible - don't wait for any official notification, 2) Your new weekly benefit amount will be calculated based on your recent earnings, so it might be lower than before, 3) There's usually a processing gap where you won't receive payments while they review your new application, but keep certifying weekly anyway. The NY minimum weekly benefit is $104, and the maximum is $504 (as of 2025). With $4,000 earned in one quarter, you should qualify, though the exact amount depends on their calculation formula. I'd also recommend trying to call them early morning (8 AM sharp) - that's when I finally got through to confirm my eligibility. The whole process took about 10 days for me. Hang in there!