NYS Department of Labor unemployment duration - how long can u be on unemployment?
hey everyone - just got laid off from my construction job last month and filed for unemployment. got approved but now im wondering how long can u be on unemployment in ny? my buddy said something about 26 weeks but i heard it might be different now. anyone know the current rules? really need to plan out my finances and job search timeline. thanks
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Sebastian Scott
In New York, regular unemployment benefits last up to 26 weeks (that's about 6 months). However, the exact duration depends on your work history and earnings during your base period. NYS Department of Labor calculates your benefit year when you file your initial claim. You can check your remaining weeks in your online account on the my.ny.gov portal.
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Sarah Jones
•ok cool so 26 weeks max. do i need to do anything special to keep getting benefits or just file my weekly claims?
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Emily Sanjay
Yes, you need to file your weekly claim certification every week and meet the job search requirements. You're required to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep a log of your search activities. NYS Department of Labor can audit your job search records at any time, so make sure you're documenting everything properly. Also, you must be able and available for work each week.
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Jordan Walker
•wait 3 job contacts per week? i thought it was more than that. my case worker told me something different when i went to the one stop center
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Emily Sanjay
•The standard requirement is 3 job contacts per week, but some people may have additional requirements depending on their situation or if they're in certain programs. Check your eligibility interview notes or call NYS Department of Labor to confirm your specific requirements.
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Natalie Adams
Just went through this whole process myself. Had to deal with an adjudication issue that delayed my benefits for weeks. If you run into problems reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor (which you probably will because their phone lines are constantly busy), I found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to an agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of trying to get through on my own.
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Elijah O'Reilly
•never heard of that before... is it legit? kinda skeptical about paying someone to make phone calls for me
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Natalie Adams
•I was skeptical too but honestly after sitting on hold for literally hours multiple times and getting disconnected, it was worth it. They don't ask for any personal info, just help you get connected to an actual person at NYS Department of Labor.
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Amara Torres
The 26 weeks thing is correct but here's what they DON'T tell you - if you exhaust your regular benefits and unemployment is still high in NY, sometimes extended benefits kick in. But don't count on it because it depends on the state's unemployment rate and other factors. Focus on finding work within those 26 weeks.
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Olivia Van-Cleve
ugh the whole system is such a mess. i was on unemployment for almost the full 26 weeks last year and let me tell you the job search requirements are NO JOKE. they really do check up on you and if you mess up your weekly claims or don't have proper job search documentation they'll cut you off fast. make sure you understand ALL the rules before you get too comfortable
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Sarah Jones
•damn ok good to know. guess i better start taking this job search stuff seriously from the beginning
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Jordan Walker
One more thing - your benefit year is exactly 52 weeks from when you first filed, but you can only collect for up to 26 of those weeks. So if you find work and then get laid off again within that same benefit year, you might be able to reopen your claim instead of filing a new one. Just something to keep in mind for planning purposes.
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