How long does unemployment run out in New York - NYS Department of Labor benefit duration?
I'm getting close to what I think might be the end of my unemployment benefits and I'm starting to panic. I've been collecting for about 22 weeks now and my balance is getting really low. Does unemployment run out completely at some point? I thought it was 26 weeks but I'm not sure if that's still accurate. My claim status on my.ny.gov just shows my remaining balance but doesn't tell me exactly when it ends. Is there any way to extend benefits if you still can't find work? I've been doing all my job searches and certifying every week but the job market is terrible right now.
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Atticus Domingo
Yes, regular unemployment benefits in New York have a maximum duration of 26 weeks. This is the standard across most states. Once you exhaust your regular UI benefits, they don't automatically renew. However, there are sometimes extended benefit programs available during periods of high unemployment, but these depend on economic conditions and federal legislation. You should check with NYS Department of Labor to see if any extended programs are currently available.
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Elin Robinson
•So after 26 weeks it just stops completely? That's terrifying. I still haven't found anything decent and most jobs are paying way less than what I was making before.
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Beth Ford
i think it depends on the unemployment rate in your area? like if its really high they sometimes add more weeks but idk if thats happening right now
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Morita Montoya
•You're thinking of Extended Benefits (EB) which can add up to 13 additional weeks, but it's triggered by state unemployment rates. New York hasn't triggered EB recently because our unemployment rate hasn't hit the required thresholds.
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Kingston Bellamy
The whole system is designed to push people into taking any job, even if it pays garbage wages. I hit my 26 weeks last year and that was it - no extensions, no help, nothing. Had to take a job paying $15/hour less than my previous position just to survive.
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Joy Olmedo
•That's exactly what I'm afraid of happening to me. The jobs available now are mostly retail or food service and I have 15 years of office experience.
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Morita Montoya
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask about your specific situation, I had good luck using claimyr.com recently. They actually got me connected to a real person who could explain my benefit timeline. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call and getting busy signals.
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Elin Robinson
•Thanks, I'll check that out. I've been trying to call for weeks but can never get through during business hours since I'm doing interviews.
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Isaiah Cross
Make sure you're keeping detailed records of all your job search activities. Even if regular benefits end, having good documentation might help if any new programs become available. Also, some people don't realize they might qualify for other assistance programs through the state.
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Elin Robinson
•I've been keeping my job search log updated every week. What other programs are you talking about?
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Isaiah Cross
•SNAP benefits, housing assistance, utility help - there are various programs depending on your situation. Check the NYS benefits website or call 211 for information about what's available in your county.
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Seraphina Delan
I'm in a similar situation and just found out that you can check your exact benefit year end date by logging into your NY.gov account and looking under "Payment History" - it shows when your claim was established and the benefit year end date. Mine runs out next month too and I'm stressed about it. From what I've read, there aren't any federal extensions right now like there were during COVID, so we're pretty much on our own after 26 weeks unless the unemployment rate spikes dramatically.
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