NYS Department of Labor claim during recession - do benefits get extended when unemployment is high?
I've been on unemployment for about 16 weeks now and my regular benefits are running out soon. I keep hearing that when unemployment is high like it is now, they sometimes extend benefits or make changes to the program. Does anyone know if NYS Department of Labor has any plans to extend UI benefits during this recession? I'm worried about what happens when my 26 weeks runs out since jobs are still really hard to find in my area.
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Mateo Rodriguez
During economic downturns, there are sometimes federal programs that extend benefits beyond the standard 26 weeks. However, these extensions need to be authorized by Congress and implemented by NYS Department of Labor. Right now there aren't any active federal extension programs, but keep checking the my.ny.gov site for updates since these things can change quickly when unemployment rates stay elevated.
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Nia Thompson
•Thanks, I'll keep checking. Do you know what the unemployment rate needs to be for them to trigger extensions?
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Aisha Abdullah
im in the same boat, been looking for work for months and nothing. the job market is terrible right now, feels like 2008 all over again
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Ethan Wilson
I had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask about this exact thing. Kept getting hung up on after waiting for hours. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to a real person who could explain the current benefit situation. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Made dealing with the high call volume so much easier.
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Nia Thompson
•That's interesting, I've been trying to call for weeks. What did they tell you about extensions?
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Ethan Wilson
•The agent explained that right now it's just the standard 26 weeks, but they're monitoring the situation. She said to keep filing weekly claims and they'll notify claimants if any federal programs become available.
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NeonNova
This whole situation is so frustrating!! The economy is clearly in bad shape but they're not doing anything to help people who can't find work. I've applied to over 200 jobs and gotten maybe 5 interviews. How are we supposed to survive on just 26 weeks when there are NO JOBS out there?
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Yuki Tanaka
•I feel you, it's really tough out there right now. Are you making sure to log all your job search activities? NYS Department of Labor requires documentation of your search efforts.
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Carmen Diaz
Keep in mind that even during recessions, you still need to meet all the regular requirements - filing weekly claims, documenting job searches, being available for work. The economic conditions don't change those basic UI rules. Make sure you're staying compliant while waiting to see if any extensions become available.
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