What can you do when your unemployment runs out in NY - need options
My regular UI benefits are going to exhaust next week after 26 weeks and I'm starting to panic. I've been looking for work but haven't found anything yet in my field (marketing). Does NYS Department of Labor have any extensions available? What happens to my health insurance? I'm a single mom and really stressed about how I'm going to pay rent. Has anyone been in this situation and what did you do?
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Aisha Patel
After your regular unemployment benefits exhaust, you might be eligible for Extended Benefits (EB) if the unemployment rate in NY is high enough. Check your my.ny.gov account to see if there are any available programs. You should also look into SNAP benefits and emergency rental assistance programs through your county. The NYS Department of Labor website has a section on what to do when benefits end.
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Klaus Schmidt
•Thank you! I'll check my account right now. Do I need to apply separately for Extended Benefits or does it happen automatically?
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LilMama23
same thing happened to me last year, no extensions were available at the time but I found out about workforce development programs through the american job center. they helped with resume writing and interview skills. also applied for medicaid right away because cobra was too expensive
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Klaus Schmidt
•How long did it take to get approved for Medicaid? I'm worried about the gap in coverage.
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Dmitri Volkov
Unfortunately, Extended Benefits aren't available in NY right now because our unemployment rate isn't high enough to trigger them. Your best bet is to apply for other assistance programs immediately. Contact 211 (dial 2-1-1) for local resources. Also, if you've been having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor agents about your claim status or questions, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual person. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works.
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Gabrielle Dubois
•Is that service legit? I've been trying to call NYS Department of Labor for weeks about my adjudication issue and can never get through.
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Dmitri Volkov
•Yeah it worked for me. I was frustrated with getting hung up on constantly and this actually connected me to an agent who could explain my claim status.
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Tyrone Johnson
The system is so broken!!! I exhausted my benefits 3 months ago and there's NOTHING available. No extensions, no extra help, just figure it out yourself. Meanwhile politicians keep saying the economy is great. FOR WHO??
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Ingrid Larsson
•I feel you on this. It's really tough out there right now.
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Carlos Mendoza
You definitely want to apply for SNAP and see if you qualify for emergency assistance through your county's Department of Social Services. Also check if your local food banks have any job training programs - some of them partner with employers for direct hiring. Don't wait until your last payment to start applying for other help.
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Klaus Schmidt
•That's good advice about not waiting. I guess I was hoping I'd find something before my benefits ran out.
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Mateo Martinez
I'm in a similar situation - my benefits are ending in a few weeks and I'm terrified. Has anyone had luck with the WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) programs through the career centers? I heard they sometimes provide funding for retraining or certification programs while you're job searching. Also, @Klaus Schmidt, you might want to check if your county has emergency rental assistance programs - many still have federal funding available from the pandemic relief money. It's not much but could buy you some time while you figure out next steps.
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