How long can I receive unemployment benefits from NYS Department of Labor?
I just started receiving unemployment benefits and I'm wondering how long I can actually collect them for. My cousin in another state said she got benefits for like 6 months but I've heard different things about New York. Does anyone know the exact timeframe for NYS Department of Labor unemployment? I want to plan ahead since I'm not sure how long my job search will take.
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Andre Laurent
In New York, regular unemployment insurance (UI) benefits last for 26 weeks maximum. This is based on your base period wages and you need to meet certain earnings requirements. You can check your exact benefit year dates in your my.ny.gov account under the NYS Department of Labor portal.
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Carmen Diaz
•Thanks! So that's about 6 months then. Do I need to do anything special to keep getting the full 26 weeks or does it automatically continue?
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AstroAce
You have to file your weekly claims every week and meet the job search requirements. NYS Department of Labor requires you to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep a log. Miss a week of filing or don't meet the job search requirements and your benefits can get suspended.
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Zoe Kyriakidou
•ugh the job search log is so annoying to maintain but yeah they do check it sometimes
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Jamal Brown
I've been trying to call NYS Department of Labor for weeks to ask about my benefit duration but can never get through! Their phone lines are always busy. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there about questions like this?
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Mei Zhang
•I had the same problem until I found claimyr.com - they actually got me through to a NYS Department of Labor agent within a few hours. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration trying to call myself.
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Liam McConnell
Just remember the 26 weeks is the MAXIMUM. If you find a job before then or if there are any issues with your claim, it could be shorter. Also if you refuse suitable work or don't meet the weekly requirements, NYS Department of Labor can disqualify you.
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Amara Oluwaseyi
26 weeks seems like nothing when you're actually looking for work in this job market! Took me 8 months to find something decent last time I was unemployed.
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Andre Laurent
•That's why it's important to start your job search immediately and not wait. The 26 weeks goes by faster than you think, especially if you're being selective about positions.
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