Ran out of benefits on my NY unemployment claim - what options do I have now?
I've been on unemployment since April 2022 and just checked my account to see I have 0 effective days left. The system says "you have been paid all benefits due on this claim" which is freaking me out because I haven't found work yet. I've been applying like crazy to jobs for months - sending out applications every week and following up, but the job market in my field is really tight right now. I'm seriously worried about how I'll pay bills now that my benefits are gone. Is there any way to extend benefits or get some kind of additional assistance? I know the extended benefits from covid are gone, but there has to be something else available right? I need to figure this out ASAP because my rent is due next week and I'm starting to panic.
45 comments
Paolo Longo
Once ur regular UI runs out (which is typically 26 weeks), thats pretty much it these days. The pandemic extensions are long gone. You might qualify for other assistance like SNAP benefits for food or cash assistance thru social services. Def check those out if you havent already. Sorry ur in this situation, the system sucks for real.
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Keisha Taylor
Thanks for replying... I was afraid of that. Do you know if applying for those other benefits is complicated? I'm worried about getting stuck in another bureaucratic nightmare.
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Paolo Longo
SNAP is pretty straightforward online application. Takes maybe 30min? Cash assistance is more involved and they make u jump thru more hoops, but worth it if ur desperate. Good luck fam!
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Amina Bah
Adding to this - check ur local food banks too. They dont ask many questions and can help while ur getting SNAP sorted out
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Oliver Becker
When my benefits ran out I was freaking out too! After trying to call unemployment for days with no answer, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual human at unemployment in like 30 mins. The agent told me about some options I didn't know about and helped me figure out next steps. Talking to an agent got me answers SO much faster than trying to figure it out myself. Here's a video about how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE
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CosmicCowboy
Is this for real? Sounds too good to be true tbh. I've been calling for WEEKS with no luck.
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Oliver Becker
Yeah it actually works! I was super skeptical at first but was desperate. They basically call unemployment for you and when they get through, they connect the call to your phone. Saved me literally days of being on hold.
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Natasha Orlova
How much does this cost tho? 🤔
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Oliver Becker
Honestly it was the best money I ever spent to get my situation sorted out. I was losing way more $$$ by not having my benefits questions answered. One phone call with an actual agent solved issues I'd been stuck on for weeks.
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Javier Cruz
another day, another company promising to fix the unfixable unemployment system lol
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Oliver Becker
I get the skepticism, I really do. But when you're desperate and can't get through on the phone for weeks, you'll try anything. It's just a call service that waits on hold so you don't have to. Not claiming it fixes the whole broken system!
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Emma Thompson
Unfortunately you've exhausted your regular UI benefits which is capped at 26 weeks in New York. There are no federal extensions available anymore since all the pandemic programs expired. Some options to consider: 1. Apply for SNAP benefits for food assistance 2. Contact HRA for rental assistance programs 3. Check with your utility companies - many have hardship programs 4. Look into local non-profits that might offer emergency assistance 5. Consider temp agencies for immediate work while you continue searching 6. If you have a disability that prevents certain types of work, you might qualify for other programs The most important thing is to talk to an actual unemployment agent to confirm if there are any other programs you might qualify for based on your specific situation. Regular phone lines are nearly impossible to get through on, but I was able to connect with an agent using claimyr.com who gave me personalized advice about my options after my benefits ran out. Don't give up on the job search - the market does eventually turn around. Good luck!
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Keisha Taylor
Thank you for this detailed response! I'll definitely look into these options. I didn't even think about utility hardship programs.
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Malik Jackson
I can confirm the HRA rental assistance is legit. It saved me after my UI ran out last year. The application process sucks but worth it.
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Isabella Costa
Check if you qualify for a new benefit year. If you worked at all during your claim and earned enough wages, you might be able to start a new UI claim. But there's usually a waiting period between claims I think.
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StarSurfer
Bruh I'm in the exact same situation. My benefits just ran out last week and I'm freaking TF out. The job market is absolute garbage rn. Three interviews and nothing. This system is designed to fail us I swear 😤
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Ravi Malhotra
Facts! Been on 6 interviews in the last month and either get ghosted or they offer pay that won't even cover rent. The system is rigged against us fr
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Keisha Taylor
For real! I had an interview last week that seemed promising and then they just... disappeared. No response to follow-up emails or anything. So frustrating.
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StarSurfer
Companies be like "nObOdY wAnTs To WoRk" but then won't hire ppl who are actively looking 🤡
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Freya Christensen
if u have kids, u might qualify for cash assistance even if u didn't before. the thresholds are different. also some counties have emergency assistance programs for rent/utilities that aren't well advertised. call 211 they can point u to resources.
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Omar Hassan
Have you tried gig work to bridge the gap? DoorDash, Uber, etc aren't great longterm but can help while you're looking for something permanent. I was in your shoes back in October when my NY unemployment ran out.
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Keisha Taylor
I've thought about it but I don't have a car right now... I was thinking about doing some online gig work on Upwork or something similar though.
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Omar Hassan
Instacart lets you do walking deliveries in some areas! Also check out TaskRabbit - you can do things like IKEA furniture assembly or help people move without needing your own car
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Chloe Robinson
There's actually a way to get an extension but you have to talk to an actual human at unemployment. Good luck with that tho LOL I spent 3 weeks trying to get someone on the phone before giving up 💀
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Diego Chavez
This is misleading. There are NO extensions currently available in NY unemployment system. The only "extension" would be if you qualify for a completely new benefit year.
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Chloe Robinson
Not true, my cousin got an extension last month but it was some special circumstance thing. You have to actually talk to someone tho, can't do it online.
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Diego Chavez
Was it actually an extension or did they just fix an issue with his claim? Big difference. I worked with a UI advocate and they confirmed all extensions ended when the federal programs expired.
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NeonNebula
Try reaching out to your state representative's office! When I couldn't get answers from unemployment directly, my assemblyman's office was able to help. They have special contacts at the DOL and can sometimes get things moving that you can't do yourself.
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Keisha Taylor
That's a great idea, I hadn't thought of that. Do I just look up who my local rep is and call their office?
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NeonNebula
Yup! Google your address + "NY state assembly" or "NY state senate" and you'll find your reps. Their websites usually have a "constituent services" section. Fill out their help form or call directly.
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Anastasia Kozlov
unemployment is so broken in this state omg 🤦♀️ i had the same issue and ended up having to move back with my parents at 32 because i couldn't find work fast enough after benefits ran out. not saying thats what will happen to u but definitely make a backup plan NOW
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Sean Kelly
As others said, regular UI is capped at 26 weeks in New York. If you've received all 26 weeks, you're done unless you qualify for a new benefit year. I HIGHLY recommend calling and speaking to someone directly though - sometimes there are issues with how your claim was processed that can only be fixed by talking to an agent. When I couldn't get through on the regular line, I used claimyr.com to connect with an agent in about 45 minutes (after trying for DAYS on my own). Turns out I actually had additional benefits available that weren't showing online!
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Zara Mirza
wait hold up - does this actually work or is it just the usual BS?
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Sean Kelly
Yeah, it worked for me! It's basically a service that calls DOL for you and then connects you when they get a human. Saved me from having to redial 500 times or sit on hold all day.
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Luca Russo
The system is literally designed to run out and leave us hanging. Welcome to America where they'd rather let people become homeless than actually help 🙃
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Nia Harris
TRUE. And then they wonder why people don't want to work for $12/hr with no benefits when rent is $2000/month lmao
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GalaxyGazer
Not helpful. OP is asking for actual solutions, not political commentary.
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Luca Russo
the political reality IS relevant tho. OP needs to understand there likely aren't solutions BECAUSE of these policies.
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Mateo Sanchez
hey serious question - did u get an email or anything warning you that ur benefits were about to run out? i'm worried the same thing's gonna happen to me soon and wanna be prepared
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Keisha Taylor
Nope, that's part of what made it so stressful. I just went to certify like normal and saw the 0 days remaining message. No warning at all.
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Mateo Sanchez
thats MESSED UP. they should at least give people a heads up so you can prepare! the whole system is garbage
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Aisha Mahmood
If you log into your account and go to payment history, you can see how many effective days you have left. I check mine regularly so I know when it's getting low.
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Ethan Moore
After my regular unemployment ran out, I found the best thing was to call and talk directly to someone at unemployment. They actually told me about some training programs that could extend benefits in certain cases. But it was IMPOSSIBLE to get through on the phone until I found out about claimyr.com - they got me connected to an agent in like 30 mins after I'd been trying for weeks. Best decision I made and talking to that agent helped me figure out my next steps.
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Yuki Kobayashi
hmm I've been burned by so many of these 'services' before... what makes this different?
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Ethan Moore
It's not like those scammy services that claim to get you more benefits or whatever. They literally just call the unemployment office repeatedly for you and then connect you when they get through. Saved me hours of frustration.
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