Is NY unemployment still available in 2025? Need to know if benefits exist

Yes, unemployment insurance definitely still exists in New York! It's a permanent program, not something that would just end. Your friend might be confusing it with some of the temporary pandemic programs that did end years ago, but regular NY unemployment benefits are still very much available in 2025. Tell your friend to visit the NY Department of Labor website and apply right away - the sooner he applies, the sooner he can get benefits.

yep still around. got laid off last month and getting benefits now. tell ur friend to apply online faster than calling

Your friend needs to apply IMMEDIATELY! There's a 7-day window from when you lose your job to when you should apply or they might delay his payments or even deny them completely! I waited 4 days and my claim was flagged for review and I had to wait an extra 3 weeks to get my first payment. The system is designed to make people miss deadlines!!

My cousin just got approved last week so definitely still going strong. Tell your friend good luck in the job search! Took me 5 months to find something after my layoff last year, but the unemployment helped keep me afloat.

Not only does it still exist, but NY actually increased the maximum weekly benefit amount to $644 starting January 2025. Your friend needs to apply online through the NYSDOL website and make sure he has his employment records from the past 18 months ready. They'll need info about all employers during that period.

Yes, unemployment definitely still exists, but your friend should be prepared for possible delays. The system gets very backed up, especially at the start of each quarter. I had to wait nearly 5 weeks for my first payment even though I was approved quickly. The most frustrating part was trying to get through on the phone to check my status. If your friend needs to speak with an actual agent (which he probably will at some point), I recommend using Claimyr.com - it got me through to a live person in about 30 minutes when I had been trying for days on my own. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE. Saved me hours of redial frustration!

Your friend might be confused because some employer-specific unemployment programs ended. For example, my old company had a supplemental unemployment benefit that they discontinued last year. But the state-run unemployment insurance program is permanent - it's been around since the 1930s and isn't going anywhere.

my roomate said he heard they changed the rules this year so u need to apply for like 5 jobs a week instead of 3 to keep getting money. anyone know if thats true?

I'm on unemployment right NOW as I type this!!! Has your friend been living under a rock??? LOL But seriously the application process is HORRIBLE and confusing. I almost gave up three times but I really needed the money. They make it hard on purpose so people will give up, I'm convinced of it!!!!

I remember last summer when I was collecting, I got so confused about the whole "effective days" thing. Kept thinking I was getting shorted money. Turns out NY unemployment has this weird way of calculating where each day equals 1/4 of your weekly benefit. Anyone else find that super confusing?