NYS Department of Labor - when do unemployment benefits end for my claim?
I've been collecting unemployment since I got laid off in August and I'm getting worried about when my benefits will run out. My weekly benefit amount is $420 and I think I qualified for 26 weeks but I'm not sure exactly when the clock started ticking. Does anyone know how NYS Department of Labor calculates the end date? I tried looking on my.ny.gov but the information is confusing. I'm hoping to find work soon but want to know how much time I have left.
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Lara Woods
In New York, regular unemployment benefits last for 26 weeks maximum. Your benefit year starts the Sunday of the week you filed your initial claim. So if you filed in August, count 26 weeks from that first Sunday. You can check your remaining weeks on your online account under 'claim summary' - it should show weeks remaining.
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Oliver Alexander
•Thank you! I filed on a Wednesday in August so I need to count from that Sunday. That's really helpful.
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Adrian Hughes
yeah mine ran out after exactly 26 weeks, there's no extensions anymore like during covid. make sure you keep filing weekly even if you think you're close to running out because sometimes there are calculation errors
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Molly Chambers
The 26-week limit is based on your benefit year, not calendar weeks. Your benefit year is 52 weeks starting from when you first filed. Within that year, you can collect up to 26 weeks of benefits IF you remain eligible. If you find work and then get laid off again within the same benefit year, you might still have weeks remaining.
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Ian Armstrong
•Wait I'm confused - so if I got laid off again 6 months later I could still collect from the same claim?
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Molly Chambers
•Yes, as long as it's within your benefit year and you have weeks remaining. You'd need to reopen your claim though.
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Eli Butler
I had such a hard time getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask about my remaining weeks because their phone lines are always busy. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an agent in like 10 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Was worth it to get my exact end date confirmed.
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Oliver Alexander
•That's interesting, I've been trying to call for weeks with no luck. Did they charge you anything?
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Eli Butler
•They do charge but it was worth it for me since I couldn't get through any other way. Really helped clear up my confusion about my remaining weeks.
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Marcus Patterson
Just remember you need to keep doing your job search activities even if you're close to running out of weeks. NYS Department of Labor still requires the job contacts and if they audit you near the end, they can disqualify you for the remaining weeks.
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Lydia Bailey
This whole system is so stressful!! I'm constantly worried about running out of money before I find something. The job market is still tough out there.
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Marcus Patterson
•I know it's scary but try to focus on your job search. Use the time you have left to really network and apply widely.
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Ravi Gupta
One thing that helped me track my remaining weeks was creating a simple spreadsheet when I first filed. I marked down my start date (the Sunday of the week I filed) and counted out 26 weeks from there. Also keep in mind that if you do any part-time work while collecting, those earnings might extend your benefit period slightly since you'd still be using up weeks but getting reduced payments. The key is to stay organized and keep all your documentation - I saved screenshots of my weekly certifications just in case there were ever any disputes about my claim.
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Riya Sharma
•That spreadsheet idea is brilliant! I wish I had thought of that when I first started collecting. I've been trying to keep track in my head but it's stressful not knowing exactly where I stand. The part about part-time work potentially extending the period is something I didn't know - does that mean if I pick up some freelance work it could actually help stretch my benefits longer?
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