How many unemployment checks do you get from NYS Department of Labor?
I just got approved for unemployment benefits and I'm trying to figure out my budget. How many weekly unemployment checks can I expect to receive from NYS Department of Labor? Is there a maximum number of weeks or does it depend on how long I worked? I worked for about 8 months at my last job before getting laid off. Really need to know so I can plan my finances while job searching.
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Fatima Al-Mansour
In New York, you can receive up to 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits. This is the standard maximum for most people. However, the exact number of weeks you're eligible for depends on your work history and earnings during your base period. You'll need to file weekly claims each week to receive payments, and you must meet the job search requirements.
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Giovanni Rossi
•Thanks! So I need to certify every week? What happens if I miss a week of filing?
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Dylan Evans
yeah its 26 weeks max but you gotta keep looking for work and report it every week or they cut you off... learned that the hard way
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Giovanni Rossi
•Oh no, what happened when you didn't report properly?
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Sofia Gomez
The 26-week limit is for regular UI benefits. Your specific duration might be less depending on your earnings history during the base period (first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed). NYS Department of Labor calculates this automatically when they determine your benefit amount. Make sure you're doing your required work search activities - you need 3 work search contacts per week.
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Giovanni Rossi
•3 contacts per week seems like a lot. Do online applications count?
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Sofia Gomez
•Yes, online applications definitely count as work search contacts. You just need to keep a log with employer names, dates, and contact methods.
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StormChaser
I've been trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor for weeks to ask this same question! Their phone lines are always busy and I keep getting disconnected. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there? I'm worried I'm going to mess something up with my weekly claims.
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Dmitry Petrov
•I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com. They actually get you connected to NYS Department of Labor agents without the endless busy signals. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting nowhere.
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Ava Williams
The whole system is ridiculous if you ask me. 26 weeks isn't enough time to find a decent job in this economy, especially if you're trying to find something that actually pays a living wage instead of just taking the first minimum wage job that comes along!
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Miguel Castro
•I hear you but at least it's something to help pay bills while searching.
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Ryan Vasquez
Just wanted to add that if you exhaust your regular 26 weeks of unemployment benefits, you might be eligible for extended benefits during times of high unemployment, though this depends on economic conditions and federal programs that may be available. Also, make sure you're familiar with the online system at labor.ny.gov - it's much easier than trying to call. You can check your payment history, weekly claim status, and get most of your questions answered through their online portal. Good luck with your job search!
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Omar Zaki
•Thanks for mentioning the online portal! I've been struggling with the phone system too. Quick question - when you say "extended benefits during times of high unemployment," how do you know if those programs are currently active? Is there somewhere specific on the labor.ny.gov site that shows current extended benefit availability?
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