How to apply for more unemployment benefits after my claim expired?
My regular unemployment claim ran out last month after 26 weeks and I'm still looking for work. I keep hearing people talk about applying for more unemployment benefits but I'm not sure what that means or how to do it. Do I need to file a new claim with NYS Department of Labor or is there some kind of extension I can apply for? I've been checking my.ny.gov but it just shows my claim as exhausted. Has anyone been through this process before?
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Luca Romano
You'll need to file what's called a new claim if your benefit year has ended. In New York, you get 26 weeks of regular UI benefits, and if you're still unemployed after that, you can potentially qualify for a new claim if you've worked enough since your last claim started. Log into your my.ny.gov account and look for the option to file a new initial claim.
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Zara Rashid
•Thanks! Do I need to meet the same work requirements as when I first applied? I did work part-time for about 3 months during my claim.
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Nia Jackson
Be careful about the timing - you can't just automatically get more benefits. NYS Department of Labor will look at your work history since your original claim started to see if you qualify for a new benefit year. If you didn't earn enough wages in covered employment, you might not be eligible for a new claim.
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NebulaNova
•This is so confusing. I thought once you used up your 26 weeks that was it. The whole system is unnecessarily complicated.
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Mateo Hernandez
I had the same issue last year and couldn't get through to NYS Department of Labor for weeks to ask about applying for more benefits. Finally used claimyr.com to get connected to an actual agent who explained everything. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Way easier than sitting on hold for hours just to get disconnected.
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Zara Rashid
•How much does that service cost? I'm already struggling financially and can't afford to pay for help.
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Mateo Hernandez
•It's worth checking out their site for the details. For me it was better than wasting entire days trying to get through on my own.
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Aisha Khan
wait so you can get MORE than 26 weeks?? i thought that was the max and then you're just screwed
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Luca Romano
•Not exactly more than 26 weeks - you can potentially qualify for a new claim with a new 26-week benefit year if you meet the work requirements. It's not an extension, it's essentially starting over with a new claim based on more recent work history.
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Ethan Taylor
The whole system is designed to make it as difficult as possible to get help when you need it most. I've been trying to figure out how to apply for more unemployment benefits for weeks and every NYS Department of Labor rep gives me different information.
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Landon Morgan
•I totally feel your frustration @Ethan Taylor! The inconsistent information is the worst part. What I've learned is that you need to look at two key things: 1) Has your benefit year ended (it's exactly one year from when you first filed), and 2) Did you earn enough wages since your original claim started. If both are yes, you can file a new initial claim. The earnings requirement is usually 10 times your weekly benefit amount in covered employment. Hope this helps clarify things a bit!
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Omar Fawaz
I went through this exact same situation a few months ago! After my 26 weeks ran out, I was able to file a new claim because I had worked enough during my benefit year. The key thing to know is that NY looks at your wages earned AFTER your original claim start date. I had to wait until my full benefit year ended (365 days from my first claim) before I could apply for the new claim. When I finally did apply through my.ny.gov, it took about 2-3 weeks to get approved. Just make sure you have all your employment records ready from any work you did during your previous claim period, even if it was part-time or temporary work.
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Klaus Schmidt
•@Omar Fawaz this is really helpful! So just to clarify - you had to wait the full 365 days from your original claim date before you could file the new claim? I m'worried about the gap in benefits during that waiting period. Did you have any income support during the time between when your first claim exhausted and when you could file the new one?
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