NYS Department of Labor - how do you know when unemployment ends and benefits stop?

In New York, regular unemployment benefits typically last for 26 weeks maximum. However, the NYS Department of Labor will send you notices as you approach the end of your benefit year. You should receive a notification when you have about 4-6 weeks left. The exact timing can vary based on your benefit year start date and whether there are any federal extensions available. Keep filing your weekly claims until you're officially notified that your benefits have ended.

yeah they definitely send you letters before it ends, at least they did for me last year. but honestly the whole system is confusing and sometimes the letters aren't super clear about what happens next

You can also check your remaining benefit balance by logging into your my.ny.gov account. Go to the NYS Department of Labor section and look for your claim summary - it should show how much you have left in terms of both weeks and dollar amounts. This gives you a better idea of exactly where you stand rather than guessing.

I'm in a similar situation but I've been having trouble getting through to anyone at NYS Department of Labor to ask questions about my claim status. The phone lines are always busy and when I do get through I get disconnected. It's so frustrating when you need actual answers about something this important!

ugh the whole unemployment system is such a mess. they make it impossible to get straight answers about anything. i swear they design it to be confusing on purpose

One thing to keep in mind is that even when your regular benefits end, you might be eligible for extended benefits depending on the unemployment rate in New York. The NYS Department of Labor will automatically review your case, but it's not guaranteed. Also make sure you're keeping up with your job search requirements right until the end - I've heard of people getting in trouble for slacking off in their final weeks.

As someone who went through this recently, I can confirm what others have said about the 26-week limit and notifications. What I found really helpful was setting up a simple spreadsheet to track my weeks - just the date I filed each claim and a running count. That way I knew exactly where I stood without having to dig through the NYS Department of Labor website every time. Also, don't wait until the last minute to start preparing for when benefits end - I wish I had started looking into other resources and assistance programs earlier in the process rather than scrambling at week 24!

I went through this exact same anxiety when I was approaching my benefit limit last year. The NYS Department of Labor does send notifications, but I found it really helpful to also call the automated phone system (1-888-209-8124) where you can check your remaining benefit balance 24/7 without waiting on hold. Just have your PIN ready. The automated system will tell you exactly how many weeks and dollars you have left. I started checking this weekly once I hit week 20 just to stay on top of it. Also, start documenting all your job search activities really carefully now - if you do qualify for any extensions or need to appeal anything later, having detailed records of your job search efforts is super important.