How long does unemployment last in NY - confused about benefit duration

In New York, regular unemployment insurance (UI) benefits last up to 26 weeks, which is about 6 months. This is the standard duration for most claimants who qualify. Your benefit year runs for 52 weeks from when you first filed, but you can only collect benefits for a maximum of 26 of those weeks. The NYS Department of Labor calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your earnings history, and you'll continue receiving that amount each week as long as you meet the ongoing eligibility requirements like job search and weekly claim filing.

In New York, regular unemployment insurance (UI) benefits last for up to 26 weeks under normal circumstances. This is the standard duration that most people receive. However, the exact number of weeks you're eligible for depends on your work history and earnings during your base period. NYS Department of Labor calculates this based on your wages in the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim.

yeah its 26 weeks but you gotta keep filing those weekly claims and doing the job search stuff or they'll cut you off. I learned that the hard way when I missed filing one week and had to call them to fix it

The 26-week limit is firm unless there are special extensions during economic emergencies, which hasn't been the case recently. Make sure you're actively job searching because NYS Department of Labor requires you to make at least 3 job contacts per week and be ready to provide documentation if they request it during a review. If you find work that pays less than your benefit amount, you might qualify for partial benefits, but there are specific earnings thresholds that determine how much you can earn while still collecting.

The whole system is confusing honestly. They say 26 weeks but then you have all these requirements and if you mess up one little thing they can disqualify you. I've been on unemployment twice and both times I was stressed the entire 6 months about whether I was doing everything right.

The 26 weeks is just for regular state benefits. There used to be federal extensions during economic downturns, but those aren't available right now in 2025. You might want to start looking into job retraining programs through NYS Department of Labor if you think you'll need more time. Also make sure you're doing your job search requirements each week or they'll cut off your benefits early.

Wait, is it always exactly 26 weeks or does it depend on how much you worked? I thought I read somewhere that it could be less if you didn't work long enough before filing.

I've been dealing with NYS Department of Labor for months now and let me tell you, getting through to them to ask questions like this is nearly impossible! I spent HOURS trying to call their customer service line just to get basic information. If you need to talk to someone there about your specific situation, I found this service called Claimyr that actually gets you connected to NYS Department of Labor agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration.

The whole system is designed to make it as difficult as possible for people to collect what they're owed. 26 weeks sounds good until you realize how hard it is to find decent paying work these days. And don't even get me started on the job search requirements - it's just busy work to make people jump through hoops.

wait so if I worked part time for most of last year will I still get the full 26 weeks? or does it depend on how much I made?

@Zainab Abdulrahman With 8 years of full-time work at $55K, you should definitely qualify for the full 26 weeks of benefits. Your weekly benefit amount will be calculated based on your earnings during the base period (first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters). Just make sure you keep up with the weekly certifications and job search requirements - you'll need to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep records. Given your manufacturing background, you might also want to look into any retraining programs through NYS Department of Labor if you're considering switching industries. The 26-week timeframe gives you about 6 months to find something, but starting your search early is always smart.

@Zainab Abdulrahman The good news is that with your 8 years of full-time work history, you should easily qualify for the full 26 weeks of benefits in New York. Your weekly benefit amount will be roughly half of your average weekly wage during your base period, capped at the state maximum. Since you were making $55K annually, you'll likely get a decent weekly amount. Just remember that these 26 weeks don't have to be consecutive - if you find temporary work that ends, you can return to claiming benefits for any remaining weeks within your benefit year. The key is staying on top of your weekly certifications and job search requirements. Don't let the paperwork overwhelm you - it's just part of the process to ensure you're actively looking for work.

@Zainab Abdulrahman With your solid work history of 8 years at $55K, you'll definitely qualify for the full 26 weeks of unemployment benefits in New York. The weekly benefit amount is calculated based on your earnings during the base period and will likely be around $400-500 per week given your salary level. One thing to keep in mind is that New York doesn't currently have any extended benefit programs beyond the standard 26 weeks, so it's important to use this time strategically. Start your job search immediately even while waiting for your first payment - the 3 weekly job contacts requirement kicks in right away. Also consider reaching out to your former colleagues and industry contacts since manufacturing jobs often come through networking. The 6-month window gives you a good buffer, but in today's job market it's smart to cast a wide net early and stay organized with your search efforts.

@Zainab Abdulrahman Having gone through this process myself after being laid off from a similar manufacturing position, I can confirm that with your 8 years of full-time work at $55K, you'll definitely qualify for the full 26 weeks. What really helped me was creating a spreadsheet to track everything - your weekly certifications, job search activities, and any potential interviews or callbacks. The NYS Department of Labor system can seem overwhelming at first, but once you get into the routine of filing your weekly claims (usually takes 5-10 minutes online), it becomes pretty straightforward. One tip: save all your job application confirmations and keep detailed notes about each contact you make. I never got audited, but knowing I had everything documented gave me peace of mind. Also, don't forget to apply for jobs slightly outside your usual geographic area if possible - it shows good faith effort and might open up opportunities you wouldn't have considered otherwise. The manufacturing sector has been evolving, so this might actually be a good time to explore related fields that value your experience. Good luck with your search!

@Zainab Abdulrahman I went through the exact same situation last year after 6 years at a manufacturing company. With your work history, you'll definitely get the full 26 weeks. The thing that caught me off guard was how quickly those weeks go by when you're actively job searching. My advice is to treat the job search like a full-time job from day one - I wish I had started networking more aggressively in week 1 instead of week 10. Also, since you're in manufacturing, definitely look into the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program if your layoff was due to trade/import competition. It can provide additional training funds and extended benefits beyond the 26 weeks. The regular unemployment gives you a good foundation, but having a backup plan really helped my stress levels. Document everything religiously - I used a simple Google Sheet with columns for date, company, position, contact method, and follow-up notes. Made the weekly certifications much easier and I felt prepared in case they ever audited my search efforts.