NY unemployment extensions in 2025 - did the 13 weeks of regular UI end completely?

ya the 13 weeks is the Extended Benefits (EB) program not the same as the pandemic stuff that ended. its still available if ur states unemployment rate is high enough. NY still qualifies i think

The 13-week extension you're referring to is likely the Extended Benefits (EB) program, which is separate from the pandemic programs that ended years ago. EB is still available in New York as our state unemployment rate currently qualifies for this program. The process works like this: 1. Use all 26 weeks of your regular UI benefits 2. You'll be automatically considered for EB after that 3. You'll receive a determination notice in your online account and by mail 4. Keep certifying weekly while this determination happens The key thing to understand is that you must continue certifying every week even during the transition period. The system will automatically evaluate your eligibility once your regular UI is exhausted.

The extension you're asking about is the Extended Benefits (EB) program, which is different from the pandemic unemployment programs that ended years ago. EB is triggered by state unemployment rates and provides up to 13 additional weeks after regular UI is exhausted. As of March 2025, EB is still available in New York because our state unemployment rate remains above the threshold. Here's what you need to know: - EB activates automatically when your regular UI ends - You must meet the same eligibility requirements as regular UI - You must continue to certify weekly without interruption - The weekly benefit amount remains the same as your regular UI If you're approaching the end of your regular benefits, I recommend calling NYSDOL directly to confirm your specific situation. The transitions between programs can sometimes have technical issues.

I had the same problem last month trying to get info about the EB program. Could NOT get through to anyone at NYSDOL for like 4 days straight - just constant busy signals or disconnections. Finally I found this service called Claimyr that got me connected to an unemployment agent in about 20 minutes. They basically call for you and when they get someone, they connect you. Saved me days of frustration. Check their demo video: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE or website claimyr.com The agent confirmed I was eligible for the 13-week extension and fixed an issue with my account that was going to cause delays. Totally worth it.

okay so im confused too cuz i got a letter saying my benefits are exhausted but nothing about any extensions?? this was like 2 weeks ago. do i need to apply for something else now or just keep certifying???

I just went through this whole process in January! The extension IS still available but there's a weird gap period where you have to keep certifying but you might not get paid for 1-3 weeks while they evaluate your eligibility for the extended benefits. It's super stressful because they don't tell you this anywhere on the website! I almost gave up certifying because I thought I was done, but luckily my neighbor had gone through it and told me to keep doing it. After about 2 weeks of certifying with no payment, suddenly all the money showed up in my account retroactively. Just keep certifying!!!

The online system is GARBAGE!!! I've been trying for WEEKS to get a straight answer about this. I exhausted my 26 weeks in February and got ZERO communication about what to do next. No email, no letter, NOTHING! I kept certifying like everyone says but NO MONEY! When I finally got through to someone after calling 47 TIMES they said "oh yeah you qualify for extended benefits" but then had to "fix something in the system" because it wasn't processing automatically like it's supposed to. THIS is why people hate dealing with government programs!!!!

To summarize what everyone's saying based on the current 2025 policies: 1. Yes, the 13-week Extended Benefits program is still available in NY 2. It's NOT the same as the pandemic programs that ended years ago 3. You should be automatically considered once you exhaust regular UI 4. You MUST continue certifying weekly without interruption 5. There might be a 1-3 week gap while they process your extension 6. If you don't see movement after 2-3 weeks of continued certification, call NYSDOL The key is persistence with your weekly certifications even if you don't see payments immediately after your regular benefits end.

Just wanted to add my experience from last year - I was in the same situation and the Extended Benefits program saved me! One thing I learned is that you can actually check your EB eligibility status in your online account under the "Benefit Programs" section. It's not super obvious but there's a small link that shows if you're potentially eligible for extensions. Also, if you're worried about the gap in payments, you can try calling early in the morning (like 8:00-8:15 AM) right when they open - I had better luck getting through then rather than later in the day. The wait was still long but at least I didn't get the busy signal. The 13 weeks really helped me get back on my feet, so don't give up! The system is frustrating but the benefits are definitely still there if you qualify.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! I'm on week 24 of my regular benefits and have been stressing about what happens next. This thread is so helpful - I had no idea about the Extended Benefits program still being available. One thing I'm wondering about - does anyone know if there are any work search requirements for the EB program that might be different from regular UI? I've been doing my 3 work searches per week but want to make sure I don't miss anything that could disqualify me from the extension. Also, for those who got through to NYSDOL agents - did they give you any timeline for when the EB program might end? I know it's tied to unemployment rates but I'm curious if there's any indication of how long it might continue to be available in NY. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this is way more helpful than anything I could find on the official website!

I'm currently on week 20 of my regular UI benefits and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea about the Extended Benefits program still being available - I thought all the extensions ended with the pandemic programs. One thing I'm wondering about that I haven't seen mentioned yet - does anyone know if there are income limits or other eligibility requirements for EB that might be different from regular UI? I've been doing some part-time work while collecting benefits (reporting it properly of course) and want to make sure that won't disqualify me from the extension. Also, for those who have successfully gotten the EB extension, did you notice any changes to your weekly benefit amount or is it exactly the same as what you were getting on regular UI? Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this is way more informative than anything I could find on the official NYSDOL website!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently on week 19 of my regular UI benefits and was starting to panic about what would happen when I hit 26 weeks. The NYSDOL website is so confusing - I kept seeing conflicting information and wasn't sure if any extensions were still available after all the pandemic programs ended. Reading everyone's experiences here has been such a relief. It sounds like the Extended Benefits program is definitely still active in NY and provides up to 13 additional weeks, which would be a huge help while I continue my job search. The key takeaways I'm getting are: - Keep certifying every single week without interruption, even during the transition - Be prepared for a potential 1-3 week gap in payments while EB gets processed - The work search requirements stay the same (3 per week) - Start preparing around week 24 rather than waiting until the last minute I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service when I get closer to week 26 to make sure everything is set up correctly in my account. The horror stories about people having technical issues or gaps in communication from NYSDOL are concerning, but it's reassuring to know that others have successfully navigated this process. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world information that you can't find anywhere on the official websites!

I'm currently on week 14 of my regular UI benefits and this entire thread has been a lifesaver! I had no idea the Extended Benefits program was still available - I thought everything ended with the pandemic programs. The NYSDOL website is absolutely useless for finding clear information about this. Based on everyone's experiences here, I'm going to start preparing early (around week 24 like Zoe suggested) and definitely keep detailed records of everything. The tip about taking screenshots of your account is brilliant - I'm going to start doing that now just to have a complete record. One question for those who've been through the EB process - did any of you have issues if you had a brief gap in employment during your regular UI period? I had about 3 weeks where I took a temporary job that didn't work out, properly reported it to NYSDOL, and then resumed benefits. I'm worried this might complicate my EB eligibility somehow. Also planning to try that Claimyr service when I get closer to the end - the idea of actually talking to a real person at NYSDOL instead of getting endless busy signals sounds amazing. Thank you all for sharing your real experiences - this is infinitely more helpful than anything on the official website!

I'm on week 23 of my regular UI benefits and this thread has been incredibly helpful - thank you all for sharing your real experiences! It's so frustrating that NYSDOL doesn't make any of this information clear on their website. One thing I'm curious about that I haven't seen addressed yet - does anyone know if there are any specific deadlines for applying for Extended Benefits? Like, do you have to request the extension within a certain timeframe after your regular benefits end, or is it really automatic as long as you keep certifying? I'm planning to use the Claimyr service in a few weeks to talk to an agent before my benefits run out, but I want to make sure I don't miss any critical timing requirements. The last thing I want is to lose eligibility for the 13-week extension because I didn't do something within a specific window. Also, has anyone heard anything about whether the EB program might be extended beyond the current unemployment rate triggers? I know it's tied to economic conditions, but I'm wondering if there's any political discussion about making it more permanent or expanding it. Thanks again to everyone who's shared their experiences - this community is providing way better guidance than any official resource!

I'm currently on week 11 of my regular UI benefits and this thread has been absolutely amazing - I can't believe how much more helpful this is than the NYSDOL website! I had been starting to stress about what happens after 26 weeks, especially since I keep hearing conflicting information about whether any extensions still exist. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like the Extended Benefits program is definitely still active and provides up to 13 additional weeks, which would be huge for me since the job market in my field is still pretty tough. The fact that it's automatic (even if there are processing delays) and uses the same work search requirements is really reassuring. I'm definitely going to start taking screenshots of my account like Zoe suggested, and I'll plan to use that Claimyr service around week 24-25 to make sure everything looks good before I hit the transition. The stories about people having gaps in communication from NYSDOL are concerning, but it's clear that persistence and continuing to certify every week is key. One quick question - for those who've successfully gotten EB, did you notice the "Extended Benefits" section appear in your online account before you hit week 26, or only after you exhausted regular benefits? I'm checking my account regularly now and don't see it yet, but want to know what to watch for as I get closer. Thank you all for creating such a helpful resource here - you're definitely helping people navigate this confusing system!

I'm currently on week 8 of my regular UI benefits and this discussion has been incredibly eye-opening! I had absolutely no idea that Extended Benefits were still available - I thought all unemployment extensions ended years ago with the pandemic programs. The NYSDOL website is completely unhelpful for finding this kind of crucial information. It's really reassuring to read all these real experiences from people who have successfully navigated the EB system. The fact that it provides up to 13 additional weeks after regular UI is exhausted could be a lifesaver if I'm still job hunting when I reach week 26. I'm in the tech industry and the market is still pretty competitive, so having that safety net is incredibly valuable. I'm definitely going to start implementing everyone's advice early - taking screenshots of my account, preparing for the transition around week 24, and planning to use that Claimyr service to speak with an actual NYSDOL agent before my regular benefits run out. The stories about communication gaps and system glitches are concerning, but it's clear that persistence and continuing to certify every single week is the key to success. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and creating this amazing resource. This thread contains more useful, practical information than I could find anywhere on any official government website. It's incredible how community members looking out for each other can provide better guidance than the actual agencies responsible for these programs!

I'm on week 15 of my regular UI benefits and honestly this thread has been more helpful than hours of trying to navigate the NYSDOL website! I had been getting really anxious about what happens after 26 weeks because everywhere I looked online just talked about pandemic programs that ended years ago. Reading everyone's experiences with the Extended Benefits program is such a relief - knowing that there are potentially 13 additional weeks available if you exhaust regular UI is huge. I'm in retail management and the job market has been brutal, so that extra time could make all the difference. I love all the practical tips people have shared here, especially about starting to prepare around week 24 and taking screenshots of everything in your account. The Claimyr service sounds like a game-changer too - I've tried calling NYSDOL a few times already just for other questions and it's impossible to get through. One thing I'm wondering about - has anyone had experience with EB if you've had to move during your unemployment period? I might need to relocate within NY state for family reasons, and I want to make sure that won't complicate the transition from regular UI to extended benefits. I know I'd need to update my address with NYSDOL, but hoping it wouldn't affect eligibility for the 13-week extension. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed experiences - you're helping way more people than you probably realize!

I'm on week 22 of my regular UI benefits and this thread has been an absolute lifesaver! Like so many others here, I had no clue that Extended Benefits were still available and was starting to panic about what would happen in a few weeks when I hit 26. The NYSDOL website is truly awful for finding this information - I spent hours going in circles trying to understand what extensions might still exist. Reading everyone's real experiences here has given me so much hope and clarity about the EB program providing up to 13 additional weeks. I'm definitely going to follow all the great advice shared here: start preparing around week 24, keep detailed screenshots of everything, continue certifying every single week during any transition period, and use that Claimyr service to actually speak with a human at NYSDOL before my regular benefits end. The stories about 1-3 week payment gaps during the EB transition are nerve-wracking but it's reassuring to know this seems to be normal and that people eventually get their backpay. I'm going to make sure I have some savings set aside just in case there's a delay. Thank you all for creating such an incredibly helpful resource - this community discussion contains more useful information than I could find anywhere on official websites. You're genuinely helping people navigate one of the most stressful parts of unemployment!