How long can you draw unemployment benefits in NY - 2025 update needed
I'm trying to figure out how long unemployment benefits last in New York for 2025. I've been getting conflicting information online and some articles are still showing 2023 data. My cousin in another state said theirs is different than ours. I filed my initial claim last month and want to know what to expect. Does the NYS Department of Labor still do the 26 weeks maximum or did that change? Also does it matter if you were laid off vs fired or quit? Really need to plan my finances accordingly.
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Sofia Price
In New York, regular unemployment benefits are still 26 weeks maximum. This hasn't changed for 2025. The NYS Department of Labor calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your earnings history, but the duration stays at 26 weeks regardless of how much you made. Whether you were laid off, fired, or quit can affect your eligibility but not the duration if you're approved.
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Mateo Warren
•Thanks that's helpful! So if I get approved I should expect 26 weeks total? Do I need to do anything special to keep getting payments or just file my weekly claims?
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Alice Coleman
yeah its 26 weeks but you gotta keep filing every week and do the job search stuff or they'll cut you off. i missed one week of filing and it was a huge pain to get it back
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Mateo Warren
•What kind of job search requirements? How many applications do you need to submit per week?
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Owen Jenkins
The job search requirement in NY is 3 work search activities per week. This can include applying for jobs, networking events, job fairs, or even creating/updating your LinkedIn profile. You need to keep detailed records because NYS Department of Labor can audit your work search log at any time. Make sure you're documenting everything properly in your online account.
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Lilah Brooks
•I had trouble reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor when they questioned my work search activities. Kept getting disconnected after waiting on hold for hours. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Made the whole process way less stressful.
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Jackson Carter
26 weeks sounds right but honestly the whole system is so messed up. I know people who got cut off early for stupid reasons and others who somehow got extended. The NYS Department of Labor website is confusing as hell too
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Kolton Murphy
•I feel you on the website being confusing! But to be fair, extensions only happen during really bad economic times like the pandemic. Under normal circumstances it's definitely 26 weeks max in NY.
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Evelyn Rivera
Just wanted to add that if you exhaust your 26 weeks of regular UI, you might be eligible for extended benefits during periods of high unemployment, but that's rare and depends on statewide unemployment rates. For planning purposes, definitely count on 26 weeks and not a day more.
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Vanessa Figueroa
Hey Mateo! Just to add some practical advice - I went through this process last year and the 26 weeks goes by faster than you think. Start your job search immediately even if you're taking a few days to decompress. The weekly certification process becomes routine but don't skip it - I set a phone reminder for the same day/time each week. Also, your benefit amount is calculated from your highest earning quarter in your base period, so it might be different than what you expect. The NYS DOL website has a benefit calculator that can give you a rough estimate. Good luck with everything!
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Sofia Morales
•@Vanessa Figueroa This is really helpful practical advice! I didn t'realize the benefit amount was based on the highest earning quarter - that s'good to know for planning. Setting a weekly reminder is a great tip too. Did you find the benefit calculator on the NYS DOL website accurate compared to what you actually received? I m'trying to budget for the next few months and want to make sure I m'being realistic about the weekly amount.
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