How long can you get unemployment for in NYS - hitting my benefit year end soon
My benefit year is ending next month and I'm still unemployed. I've been collecting for about 24 weeks now and getting nervous about what happens next. Does anyone know how long you can actually stay on unemployment in New York? I keep hearing different things - some people say 26 weeks max, others mention extensions. I'm actively job searching but the market is really tough in my field right now. Should I be preparing for my benefits to just stop? Really stressed about this and the NYS Department of Labor website isn't super clear about what happens after your benefit year expires.
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Sofia Price
In New York, regular unemployment benefits last up to 26 weeks within your benefit year. Once your benefit year ends, you would need to file a new claim if you're still unemployed and have sufficient work history from the past 18 months. The NYS Department of Labor will evaluate your new claim based on wages earned since your last claim started.
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Mateo Warren
•Thanks for explaining that! So I would need to have worked at some point during my current claim to qualify for a new one? I haven't worked at all since I was laid off.
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Alice Coleman
yeah 26 weeks is the standard but sometimes there are federal extensions during bad economic times. right now there aren't any active extensions though so you're looking at the regular 26 week limit
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Owen Jenkins
If you haven't worked since filing your original claim, you likely won't qualify for a new benefit year. However, you should still apply when your current year ends - sometimes the NYS Department of Labor can extend your existing claim for a few additional weeks if you don't qualify for a new one. The key is to file right away when your benefit year expires, don't wait.
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Mateo Warren
•That's really helpful to know about the possible extension! I'll definitely file right away. Do you know if there's a specific form or do I just file a regular new claim?
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Owen Jenkins
•Just file a regular new claim through the my.ny.gov portal. The system will automatically determine if you qualify for a new claim or if they can extend your current one.
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Lilah Brooks
I was in this exact situation last year and couldn't get through to anyone at NYS Department of Labor to ask questions. Kept getting the busy signal or getting hung up on after waiting forever. Finally found this service called Claimyr that actually got me connected to a real person who explained my options. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really saved me a lot of stress trying to figure out what would happen to my benefits.
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Mateo Warren
•Never heard of that before but definitely worth looking into if I can't get through on my own. Thanks for sharing!
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Jackson Carter
The whole system is designed to kick people off benefits as fast as possible!!! 26 weeks is nothing when you're dealing with a terrible job market. Other states give more weeks than NY does. It's ridiculous that they expect people to find work in that timeframe when employers are being so picky.
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Kolton Murphy
•I feel you on the frustration but 26 weeks is actually pretty standard across most states. The real issue is when there aren't federal extensions during recessions.
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Evelyn Rivera
Make sure you're doing everything right with your job search requirements too. If you're not logging enough job contacts or attending required workshops, that could affect your eligibility even before you hit the 26 week limit.
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Jessica Suarez
I'm going through something similar - my benefit year ends in a few weeks and I'm really worried about what comes next. From what I've gathered reading through these responses, it sounds like the key is to file a new claim immediately when your benefit year expires, even if you haven't worked since your original claim. The system will figure out if you qualify for a new claim or if they can extend your current one for a few more weeks. I've been keeping detailed records of all my job search activities just in case, and honestly considering that Claimyr service someone mentioned since getting through to a real person at NYS DOL seems nearly impossible. This whole process is so stressful when you're already dealing with unemployment!
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Mateusius Townsend
•You're absolutely right about filing immediately - I learned that the hard way when I waited a few days and it caused delays with my case. The detailed job search records are smart too since they can ask for those at any time. I've been using a spreadsheet to track every application, contact, and follow-up. It's definitely nerve-wracking not knowing exactly what will happen, but at least we're not alone in this situation. Hang in there!
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