How long do i get unemployment for in New York - confused about benefit duration
sorry if this is a dumb question but i just started collecting unemployment and im not sure how long i can get benefits for? i know theres a maximum but i cant find clear info on the NYS Department of Labor website. my friend said 26 weeks but another person told me it depends on how much i worked before. i worked full time for about 8 months at my last job before getting laid off. does anyone know the actual rules for how long unemployment lasts in NY?
12 comments
Join the conversation
Yuki Tanaka
In New York, the standard maximum is 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits. This doesn't depend on how long you worked - as long as you meet the base period requirements and earned enough wages, you get the full 26 weeks. Your benefit amount is calculated based on your earnings, but the duration stays the same.
0 coins
Ethan Davis
•oh ok that makes sense. so everyone gets 26 weeks no matter what? thats good to know thanks
0 coins
Carmen Ortiz
Wait I thought it was different now? I've been on unemployment for 23 weeks already and I'm getting nervous about running out. Do I need to do anything special to make sure I get the full 26 weeks or does it just automatically continue?
0 coins
Yuki Tanaka
•As long as you keep filing your weekly claims and meeting the job search requirements, it continues automatically until you hit the 26-week limit. Just make sure you're documenting your job search activities properly.
0 coins
MidnightRider
The 26 weeks is your maximum benefit duration, but there are some situations where you might not get the full amount. If you find work and then lose it again, any remaining weeks from your original claim carry over. Also, if you're on standby status (temporarily laid off with expected recall), the rules can be slightly different. The key is understanding that these are 26 potential weeks of benefits, not guaranteed weeks.
0 coins
Ethan Davis
•what happens after the 26 weeks are up? do i just lose benefits completely or is there something else i can apply for?
0 coins
MidnightRider
•After regular UI benefits end, you may be eligible for extended benefits during periods of high unemployment, but those aren't always available. You'd need to check if New York has activated extended benefits at that time.
0 coins
Andre Laurent
I had such a hard time getting through to someone at NYS Department of Labor to ask about this same question last month. Spent literally hours on hold and kept getting disconnected. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Might be worth checking out if you need to talk to someone directly about your specific situation.
0 coins
Carmen Ortiz
•did that actually work for you? i've been trying to call for weeks about my claim status
0 coins
Andre Laurent
•Yeah it really did work. I was skeptical at first but I got through to an agent the same day and got my questions answered about benefit duration and my specific claim.
0 coins
Zoe Papadopoulos
this whole system is so confusing!! why cant they just put this basic information somewhere easy to find on the website? 26 weeks seems short when you think about how long it actually takes to find a decent job these days
0 coins
Jamal Washington
•totally agree, job hunting takes forever now. at least we get something though
0 coins