NYS Department of Labor unemployment benefits - when does unemployment run out exactly?
I've been collecting unemployment for about 18 weeks now and I'm getting worried about when my benefits will end. I know there's a time limit but I can't find clear information on the NYS Department of Labor website about exactly when unemployment runs out. Is it 26 weeks total? Does it depend on when I filed? I'm still actively job searching and filing my weekly claims but I need to know how much time I have left. My effective days remaining on my account shows 12 but I'm not sure if that's accurate. Can someone explain how this works?
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Connor O'Reilly
In New York, regular unemployment benefits last for 26 weeks maximum. Your effective days remaining should be accurate - that's showing you have 12 weeks left. The 26-week period starts from when you first filed your claim, not when it was approved. You can check your exact benefit year end date in your my.ny.gov account under claim summary.
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Zainab Yusuf
•Thank you! So if I filed in July, my benefit year would end in January? That matches what I'm seeing on my account.
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Yara Khoury
yeah its 26 weeks but sometimes they extend it when unemployment is really high. not sure if thats happening now though
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Keisha Taylor
The 26-week limit is for regular UI benefits. After that, you may be eligible for Extended Benefits (EB) if New York's unemployment rate triggers it, but that's rare. Make sure you're using your remaining weeks wisely and document all your job search activities. NYS Department of Labor requires 3 work search contacts per week.
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Zainab Yusuf
•I've been doing way more than 3 contacts per week because I'm nervous about running out. Good to know that's the minimum requirement.
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StardustSeeker
I was in the same situation last year and panicked when I saw my weeks running low. The system is pretty accurate with the remaining days. One thing that helped me was using claimyr.com to actually talk to someone at NYS Department of Labor to confirm my benefit year dates and ask about any potential extensions. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Way easier than trying to get through their regular phone lines.
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Paolo Marino
•Never heard of that service but might be worth it if you can actually reach someone. The regular NYS Department of Labor number is impossible.
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Amina Bah
The whole system is designed to run out and leave people hanging! 26 weeks isn't enough in this economy. I've been looking for work for months and there's nothing out there that pays a living wage. They should automatically extend benefits until the job market improves.
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Yara Khoury
•I get the frustration but the 26 weeks has been the standard for years. At least we have something unlike some other states
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Oliver Becker
Just went through this myself - my benefits ended exactly at 26 weeks. Make sure you file your final weekly claim even if it shows 0 days remaining, sometimes there are small adjustments. Also start preparing now for what you'll do after benefits end. The job search pressure definitely increases when you're getting close to the deadline.
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Hiroshi Nakamura
@Zainab Yusuf - I'm currently at week 20 myself so I understand the anxiety! One thing that really helped me was calling my local One-Stop Career Center. They have counselors who can help you prepare for when benefits end and sometimes know about programs or temporary assistance that might bridge the gap. Also, if you haven't already, make sure you're signed up for job alerts on multiple platforms so you're not missing any opportunities in these final weeks. The countdown is stressful but you've got this!
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Max Knight
•@Hiroshi Nakamura That s'really helpful advice about the One-Stop Career Centers! I hadn t'thought about reaching out to them. Do you know if they offer any specific services for people who are close to exhausting their benefits? I m'definitely feeling that countdown pressure and want to make sure I m'exploring all my options before those 12 weeks are up.
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