NY unemployment benefits after September 5 with no prior income - still eligible?

You need to have earned wages in your base period to qualify for benefits. The base period is the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. If you haven't worked AT ALL, you probably won't qualify. When was the last time you actually worked and earned wages?

I worked until January 2025, so I have wages from all of 2024 and January 2025. Nothing since then though.

The important thing is not when you apply, but whether you have enough wages in your base period to qualify. In NY, they look at either the regular base period (first 4 of last 5 completed quarters) OR the alternate base period (last 4 completed quarters before filing).\n\nSo if you file in September 2025, your regular base period would be April 2024-March 2025. If you worked enough during that time, you could qualify regardless of not working recently.\n\nYou need to have:\n- Worked in at least 2 calendar quarters in your base period\n- Earned at least $3,150 in your highest quarter\n- Total base period wages must be at least 1.5 times your high quarter\n\nThe fact that you haven't earned since January doesn't automatically disqualify you.

Thank you! That's really helpful. I definitely earned more than that in 2024. So there's no rule saying I had to apply within a certain time after losing my job?

u should apply ASAP!! waiting only hurts u bc benefits aren't retroactive. they only start once u apply, so ur basically leaving $$ on the table by waiting.

Ugh, you're right. I wish I hadn't waited so long. I just kept thinking I'd find something any day now.

While the previous answers are correct about base period calculations, there's another important factor: you need to be able to show you're actively looking for work to receive benefits. Since you've been unemployed for 7+ months, they may question what you've been doing for work search all this time.\n\nWhen you apply, be prepared to document your job search activities since becoming unemployed. In NY, you need to show you've been doing at least 3 work search activities per week. Have you been keeping records of your applications, interviews, etc.?

I've been applying to jobs online but haven't kept detailed records. I can probably go back through my emails to find some proof though. How strict are they about the 3 activities per week? I definitely haven't been that consistent every single week...

Im in almost the EXACT same situation!! Lost job in February, thought I'd find something fast, and here I am still looking in August! I just applied last week and had SO MANY PROBLEMS getting through to anyone on the phone. The website is confusing and my claim got stuck in

Does that Claimyr thing actually work? I tried calling NYSDOL like 50 times last month and never got through.

Yes! It really worked for me after I wasted DAYS trying to get through. The agent told me they get thousands of calls every day and most people never get through.

THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE!!! I've been fighting with NY unemployment for MONTHS about my claim. They make the system complicated ON PURPOSE so people give up. The whole

I hope it's not that bad... I really need this assistance right now.

While the system can be frustrating, it does follow specific rules. The base period isn't arbitrary - it's designed to ensure people have recent work history before claiming benefits. OP should still apply if they meet the earnings requirements.

i was on unemployment last year and they made me provide proof of job applications for every week i claimed. i had to enter employer names, contact info, position applied for, date, etc. for at least 3 per week. if you cant show that you've been looking, they could say you weren't eligible during those weeks.

Thanks for the info. I'm going to start documenting everything better going forward.

To answer your original question more directly: Yes, you can still receive benefits after September 5 if you qualify based on your previous wages in your base period. The date itself (September 5) has no special significance for eligibility.\n\nHowever, there are two important time factors:\n\n1. Your benefit amount is calculated based on your earnings during the base period, which shifts forward as time passes. The longer you wait to file, the more recent quarters need to have wages.\n\n2. You generally should apply as soon as you become unemployed because benefits aren't backdated to when you lost your job - they start when you apply.\n\nBased on what you've shared, you should apply immediately rather than waiting until after September 5.

Thank you for the clear explanation! I'm going to apply today.

my cousin waited 6 months to apply and still got benefits but they only started from when he applied not when he lost his job

When I had to apply back in March, I had to answer why I waited to file if there was a gap between my last day of work and when I applied. Just be honest about why you waited. As long as your base period wages qualify you, it should be fine.

Good to know, thank you! I'll just explain that I thought I'd find work quickly and didn't realize I could apply while still looking.

Here's my advice after helping many people with NY unemployment claims:\n\n1. Apply immediately - don't wait until September\n2. When asked why you delayed filing, be honest that you thought you'd find work quickly\n3. Start documenting your work search activities going forward (3 per week minimum)\n4. Try to gather evidence of past job search efforts if possible\n5. Be prepared for possible follow-up questions about your gap in filing\n\nBased on your work history (all of 2024 and January 2025), you should meet the wage requirements if you had standard employment with regular wages.

Thank you so much. This is incredibly helpful. I'm going to apply today and follow all your advice.