NYS Department of Labor benefits ending soon - what if I can't find a job before unemployment runs out?
I'm getting really stressed because my regular UI benefits are going to end in about 6 weeks and I still haven't found anything. I've been looking for 8 months now, doing all the job search requirements, applying to everything that matches my skills but nothing's working out. What happens when the 26 weeks runs out? Is there any extension or do I just lose everything? I can't afford to have no income at all. Has anyone been in this situation before?
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StarStrider
Unfortunately, regular unemployment insurance in NY maxes out at 26 weeks and there aren't any federal extensions available right now like there were during COVID. Once your benefit year ends, you're done unless you qualify for a new claim with recent work history. You'd need to have worked and earned enough wages since your original claim started to establish a new benefit year.
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Anastasia Fedorov
•So basically I'm screwed? I haven't worked since I got laid off so I wouldn't have any new wages to qualify with. This is terrifying.
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Sean Doyle
same boat here, my benefits end next month and im freaking out too. been applying everywhere but no callbacks
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Zara Rashid
•Have you both looked into other assistance programs? SNAP, emergency rental assistance, utility help through HEAP? It's not unemployment but it can help bridge the gap while you keep searching.
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Luca Romano
The system is absolutely broken. 26 weeks is nothing in this job market. I've been searching for 7 months myself and the jobs that are available either pay half what I used to make or want you to have 15 different certifications for an entry level position. Meanwhile NYS Department of Labor acts like finding work is no big deal.
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Nia Jackson
•I feel this so much. The job search requirements feel like a joke when there literally aren't enough decent jobs for everyone looking.
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Zara Rashid
One thing that might help - if you're having trouble reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor to discuss your options or get clarification on anything, I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me through to a real person. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals when I needed to talk to someone about my claim status.
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Anastasia Fedorov
•Thanks, I'll check that out. I've been trying to call for weeks to ask about my situation but can never get through.
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Luca Romano
•Does it actually work? I've wasted so many hours on hold just to get disconnected.
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Mateo Hernandez
My cousin went through this last year. When her benefits ended she had to apply for every assistance program she could find and picked up gig work to survive. It's rough but there are food pantries, emergency help programs, sometimes churches have assistance too. Just don't give up on the job search.
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CosmicCruiser
Wait, I thought there was something called extended benefits? Or is that only in certain situations? I'm confused about what happens after regular UI ends.
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StarStrider
•Extended Benefits (EB) only kick in when unemployment rates hit certain triggers, and NY hasn't met those thresholds recently. Right now there's no automatic extension program running.
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