How long can you be on unemployment benefits in New York - NYS Department of Labor duration limits?
I just got laid off from my marketing job after 6 years and filed for unemployment yesterday. My friend told me there's a limit on how long you can collect benefits but she wasn't sure what it was for New York. Does anyone know how long you can stay on unemployment through NYS Department of Labor? I'm worried I might not find something right away in this job market and want to know what I'm working with timeline-wise.
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Freya Nielsen
In New York, regular unemployment insurance (UI) benefits last for 26 weeks maximum. That's about 6 months of benefits as long as you keep filing your weekly claims and meet the job search requirements. The NYS Department of Labor requires you to actively look for work and document your job search activities each week.
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Ravi Kapoor
•Thanks! Do you know what the job search requirements are exactly? I want to make sure I'm doing everything right from the start.
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Omar Mahmoud
yea its 26 weeks but thats only if you dont find work before then. also you have to do like 3 job contacts per week or something like that, they track it on the website
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Chloe Harris
The 26-week limit is for regular state unemployment benefits. However, this can vary based on the unemployment rate in your area - during periods of high unemployment, extended benefits might be available but that's pretty rare these days. You'll need to complete at least 3 work search activities per week and log them in your online account. Make sure you're filing your weekly claims every week even if you haven't received your first payment yet, because missing a week can cause delays.
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Diego Vargas
•Wait, what happens if I miss filing a weekly claim? I've been so stressed about this whole thing and I'm worried I'll forget something important.
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Chloe Harris
•If you miss filing your weekly claim, you can usually file it late but there might be a delay in payment. Don't panic if you miss one week, just file it as soon as you remember. The NYS Department of Labor system will ask you why you filed late.
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NeonNinja
I was on unemployment for almost the full 26 weeks last year when my company downsized. The job search thing is real - they do check sometimes. I got a letter asking for proof of my job search activities around week 15. Also heads up that the weekly benefit amount is based on your previous earnings, so if you made good money at your marketing job you'll probably get a decent weekly amount.
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Ravi Kapoor
•Did they actually follow up on your job search activities? I'm wondering how strict they are about the 3 contacts per week requirement.
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NeonNinja
•Yeah they sent me a form asking for details about specific job applications I had listed. I had to provide company names, dates, and contact information. As long as you're actually doing the job search activities and keeping records you'll be fine.
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Anastasia Popov
Just went through this whole process myself after getting laid off in October. 26 weeks goes by faster than you think, especially if you're picky about jobs. I was having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor on the phone when I had questions about my claim status - their phone lines are always busy. Someone on here recommended this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to actual agents. I tried it and it actually worked - got connected to someone at NYS Department of Labor within like 20 minutes instead of calling for hours. They have a demo video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Might be worth checking out if you run into any issues with your claim.
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Sean Murphy
•never heard of that service but the phone situation is definitely frustrating!! i gave up trying to call after like 2 hours of busy signals
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Ravi Kapoor
•Thanks for the tip! Hopefully I won't need to call but good to know there are options if I do have problems.
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Zara Khan
THE 26 WEEKS IS A JOKE!! I burned through mine in 2023 and STILL couldn't find anything decent in my field. The NYS Department of Labor acts like 6 months is plenty of time but try finding a good job when you're over 50! And don't get me started on their stupid job search requirements - half the jobs posted online are fake anyway but you still have to apply to meet their quotas.
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Sean Murphy
hang in there! the marketing field is tough right now but 26 weeks should hopefully be enough time. just stay on top of the weekly claims and job search stuff and you should be good
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