How to reapply for unemployment after 26 weeks - NYS Department of Labor guidance needed

Unfortunately, once you've exhausted your 26 weeks of regular UI benefits in New York, there are no automatic extensions available anymore. The federal programs like PEUC that provided additional weeks ended in 2021. You would need to file a completely new unemployment claim, but there's a catch - you need to have worked and earned sufficient wages since your last benefit year began to establish a new claim. NYS Department of Labor requires you to have earned at least 10 times your weekly benefit rate in covered employment since your benefit year started.

same boat here, benefits ended 3 weeks ago and trying to figure out next steps... have you looked into other assistance programs while job hunting? might have to explore food stamps or medicaid if unemployment isnt an option

You should still attempt to file a new claim through the my.ny.gov portal to see if you qualify. Even if you don't have enough recent wages for regular UI, NYS Department of Labor will review your work history. Sometimes people qualify for a reduced benefit amount or there might be other options available. The worst they can do is say no, but you won't know unless you try the online application process. Make sure you have your Social Security card and employment records from the past 18 months ready.

I was in a similar situation last year and had to get creative about reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor to understand my options. The phone lines are absolutely impossible - I must have tried calling hundreds of times. Eventually I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually gets you through to speak with an agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Cost me way less than I expected and I finally got clear answers about whether I could file a new claim. Turned out I did qualify for a small weekly amount based on some part-time work I'd forgotten about.

The whole system is so frustrating!! I exhausted my benefits in March and have been struggling ever since. Applied for probably 500 jobs at this point and still nothing. Meanwhile rent and bills don't stop coming. Really wish they would bring back some kind of extended benefits program for long-term unemployed people who are actually trying.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now - exhausted my benefits in April and the job search has been brutal. One thing that helped me was reaching out to the local One-Stop Career Center (you can find yours at https://www.ny.gov/services/find-job-training-program). They have free job search assistance, resume help, and sometimes know about training programs that might make you eligible for benefits while you're learning new skills. Also check if you qualify for any trade adjustment assistance programs if your job loss was related to imports/trade - those can sometimes provide extended benefits and retraining. It's not unemployment but it's something. Hang in there, the hospitality industry is slowly recovering but I know it's tough right now.

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago. After my 26 weeks ended, I tried filing a new claim but didn't have enough recent wages to qualify for regular benefits. However, the NYS Department of Labor caseworker I eventually spoke with told me about something called the Shared Work Program that some employers participate in - it allows you to work reduced hours and still collect partial unemployment benefits. It's not widely advertised but might be worth asking potential employers about if you're open to part-time work while continuing your job search. Also, don't forget to check if you qualify for SNAP benefits and emergency rental assistance programs through your county - these can help bridge the gap while you're between unemployment and your next job. The whole process is incredibly stressful but there are some safety net programs available even when UI runs out.

I'm dealing with this same situation right now - my benefits exhausted in February and I've been scrambling to figure out what comes next. The my.ny.gov portal really doesn't make it clear at all what your options are once you hit that "exhausted" status. I did try calling the unemployment office but like everyone else mentioned, it's basically impossible to get through. What's been really frustrating is that I've been actively job searching the entire time, doing all the required work search activities, but the market in my field (retail management) is still really competitive. I had no idea about some of these programs people are mentioning like the Shared Work Program or the One-Stop Career Centers. It feels like there should be better guidance provided when your benefits run out about what resources are actually available. Has anyone had success with filing a new claim even if you haven't worked since your original benefit year started? I'm wondering if it's worth the effort or if I should focus my energy on these other assistance programs instead.

I'm going through this exact situation right now too - my benefits just ran out last week after 26 weeks and I'm feeling pretty lost about what to do next. Like you, I've been religiously doing my job searches and have all my documentation, but the my.ny.gov portal just shows "exhausted" with no helpful guidance on next steps. Reading through all these responses has been really eye-opening - I had no idea about programs like the Shared Work Program or the One-Stop Career Centers. It's frustrating that this information isn't more readily available when your benefits end. I think I'm going to try filing a new claim online first like Kristian suggested, and then also reach out to my local One-Stop Career Center to see what other resources might be available. The Claimyr service that Kaitlyn mentioned might be worth trying too if I can't get through the regular phone lines to speak with someone. Thanks for posting this question - it's really helpful to know I'm not alone in dealing with this confusing process and to learn about options I didn't even know existed.

I'm in a very similar situation - my benefits exhausted about 5 weeks ago and I've been really struggling to figure out what options are available. The hospitality industry has been so unpredictable since the pandemic and finding management positions that pay decently has been incredibly challenging. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about the Shared Work Program or the One-Stop Career Centers. I'm definitely going to try filing a new claim online first to see if I qualify for anything, even if it's a reduced amount. The Claimyr service sounds like it might be worth trying too since I've had zero luck getting through on the phone lines. It's really frustrating that when your benefits exhaust, you're basically left in the dark about what resources might still be available. Thank you for starting this conversation - it's been more informative than anything I've been able to find on the official websites. Hoping we all find some solutions soon!

I'm in almost the exact same situation - my benefits exhausted about 4 weeks ago and I've been completely overwhelmed trying to figure out what comes next. Like you, I've been keeping up with all my job search requirements and have everything documented, but the my.ny.gov portal just leaves you hanging with that "exhausted" status and no clear guidance. This whole thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about programs like the Shared Work Program or the One-Stop Career Centers that people are mentioning. It's honestly frustrating that this critical information isn't provided upfront when your benefits end. I think I'm going to follow the advice here and try filing a new claim online first to see if I qualify for anything, then reach out to my local One-Stop Career Center to explore other options. The hospitality industry has been so unpredictable - finding stable management positions that pay a living wage has been really tough. Thank you for posting this question - it's reassuring to know so many of us are navigating the same confusing process and that there are actually more resources available than the system makes obvious.