How long does NYS Department of Labor unemployment last - need to plan ahead
I just got laid off from my warehouse job after 8 years and need to know exactly how long does unemployment last in NY? I'm trying to figure out my budget and whether I should start looking for temporary work or hold out for something in my field. My last job paid $52,000 so I'm hoping the benefits will be decent but I have no idea about the time limits. Does anyone know the maximum weeks you can collect?
11 comments
Join the conversation
Paolo Ricci
In New York, regular unemployment benefits last up to 26 weeks (6 months) maximum. Your weekly benefit amount will be roughly half your average weekly wage, capped at $504 per week for 2025. Since you made $52k annually, you'd likely get around $500 weekly. The exact amount depends on your earnings history over the past 4 quarters that NYS Department of Labor reviews.
0 coins
Keisha Williams
•That's actually better than I expected! So I have about 6 months to find something good instead of jumping at the first offer. Thanks for breaking down the math.
0 coins
Amina Toure
dont count on getting the full 26 weeks though, they make you jump through hoops with job search requirements and can cut you off if they think your not trying hard enough
0 coins
Oliver Zimmermann
•The job search requirement is 3 work search activities per week, but it's not that hard to meet if you document everything properly. Keep records of applications, networking, interviews - NYS Department of Labor is pretty reasonable as long as you're making genuine efforts.
0 coins
CosmicCommander
I've been on unemployment twice and both times I had issues reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor when I had questions about my claim status. Last time I used a 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. Really saved me time instead of sitting on hold for hours.
0 coins
Natasha Volkova
•How much does something like that cost? I'm already worried about money and don't want to spend more if I don't have to.
0 coins
CosmicCommander
•It was worth it for me because I needed to resolve an adjudication issue that was holding up my payments. Much cheaper than missing weeks of benefits while trying to get through on my own.
0 coins
Javier Torres
Just remember you have to file your weekly claim every week even if you haven't found work yet. Miss a week and you lose that week's payment permanently. Set a reminder on your phone or something because NYS Department of Labor doesn't give you a do-over on missed weekly claims.
0 coins
Keisha Williams
•Good tip! I'll set up a Sunday reminder to file my weekly claim. Better safe than sorry with missing payments.
0 coins
Emma Davis
The 26 weeks goes by faster than you think. I burned through mine last year and had to take a job paying way less than what I was making before. Start applying for good jobs right away instead of waiting - unemployment gives you a cushion but don't rely on it lasting forever.
0 coins
Malik Jackson
I agree with Emma - don't wait to start your job search! I made that mistake thinking I had plenty of time and ended up scrambling in weeks 20-26. Also, if you do find part-time or temporary work while collecting, you can still get partial unemployment benefits as long as you report the earnings. NYS Department of Labor will reduce your weekly benefit based on how much you earn, but you don't lose benefits completely. This can actually help stretch your coverage longer while you look for that perfect full-time position in your field.
0 coins