How many days of unemployment benefits can I get - NYS Department of Labor eligibility question
I'm trying to figure out the maximum number of days I can collect unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor. I've been working part-time for the past 18 months but my hours got cut drastically and I think I qualify for partial benefits. My base period earnings were around $28,000 total. Does anyone know how the day calculation works? I keep seeing different numbers online - some say 104 days, others mention 26 weeks. I'm confused about whether weekends count toward the total days or if it's just business days. Also wondering if there are any extensions available right now in 2025?
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Isabella Ferreira
The standard unemployment benefit period in NY is 26 weeks, which equals 182 calendar days, not just business days. However, you can only claim benefits for the days you're actually unemployed and meet the weekly requirements. So if you're working part-time, you might be eligible for partial benefits depending on how much you earn each week. The key is that your weekly earnings must be less than your weekly benefit rate plus $50.
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Malik Thompson
•Thanks for clarifying! So it's 26 weeks total regardless of whether I'm getting full or partial benefits? That makes more sense than the day counting I was trying to do.
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CosmicVoyager
You need to be careful about the partial benefits calculation. NYS Department of Labor has specific rules - if you work more than 3 days in a week or earn more than your benefit rate plus $50, you won't get anything for that week. But those weeks still count against your 26-week maximum. Make sure you're reporting all your earnings accurately on your weekly claims or you could face an overpayment situation later.
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Malik Thompson
•Wait, so even if I don't get paid for a week because I earned too much, that week still counts against my 26 weeks? That seems unfair.
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CosmicVoyager
•Unfortunately yes, that's how the system works. The 26-week clock starts ticking from when you first file your claim, regardless of whether you actually receive benefits each week.
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Ravi Kapoor
I had a similar situation last year and could never get through to NYS Department of Labor to get answers about my specific case. The phone lines are always busy and the online chat rarely works. I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Definitely worth checking out if you need to speak to someone about your eligibility.
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Freya Nielsen
•How much does something like that cost? I'm already struggling financially and can't afford expensive services.
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Ravi Kapoor
•It's way less than you'd think, especially compared to the money you could lose by not understanding your benefits correctly. The peace of mind was worth it for me.
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Omar Mahmoud
The whole system is designed to confuse people and make them give up on benefits they've earned! I've been dealing with NYS Department of Labor for months and they keep changing the rules or giving different answers depending on who you talk to. 26 weeks, 104 days, partial this, partial that - it's all bureaucratic nonsense designed to save them money at our expense.
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Chloe Harris
•I feel your frustration but the rules are actually pretty consistent once you understand them. The confusion usually comes from mixing up different benefit programs or not understanding how partial benefits work.
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Diego Vargas
just went through this myself. its 26 weeks max, no extensions right now that i know of. make sure ur doing the job search requirements too or they'll cut u off
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Malik Thompson
•What are the current job search requirements? I thought since I'm still working part-time I might be exempt from those.
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Isabella Ferreira
•You still need to do job search activities even on partial benefits, unless you have standby status with your employer. Check your claim status on the NYS Department of Labor website to see what specific requirements apply to your situation.
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