What happens when unemployment balance runs out - still have weeks left to claim?

When your monetary balance reaches zero, your regular unemployment benefits end regardless of how many weeks you have left in your benefit year. The weeks remaining don't matter once the money runs out. However, you might be eligible for Extended Benefits (EB) depending on the state's unemployment rate, but that's pretty rare in NY unless we're in a recession.

yeah this happened to me too, ran out after like 20 weeks because my benefit amount was lower. once its gone its gone, no more payments

The monetary balance exhaustion is based on your weekly benefit amount times the number of weeks. If you had a lower paying job, your balance runs out faster. You can apply for other assistance like SNAP or local emergency aid programs. Also make sure you're using all the job search resources through NYS Department of Labor - sometimes they have additional training programs that come with stipends.

I was in the exact same boat last year - balance ran out with 6 weeks left. The worst part was trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor to understand my options. I spent weeks calling and getting nowhere. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me actually reach an agent who explained everything. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. The agent confirmed I had no other unemployment options but helped me understand the timeline for potentially filing a new claim.

same thing happened to my neighbor, she just had to apply for other benefits and keep looking for work

This is such a frustrating situation and unfortunately very common. The system calculates your total benefit amount when you first file based on your previous wages, and once that money is gone, that's it - even if you have weeks left in your benefit year. It's not based on a guaranteed 26 weeks, but rather on your specific monetary entitlement. I'd suggest calling the NYS DOL to confirm you don't qualify for any extensions, and definitely look into other safety net programs like SNAP, emergency rental assistance, and local food banks while you continue your job search. Don't give up - keep applying and using all the job placement services available through the state.