What is considered high unemployment rate for NYS Department of Labor benefits eligibility?
I'm trying to understand if my area qualifies for extended benefits or special programs. My local unemployment rate has been hovering around 8.5% according to recent reports, but I'm not sure what NYS Department of Labor considers 'high unemployment' for their programs. Does anyone know the threshold? I've been on regular UI for about 16 weeks now and wondering if there are additional weeks available when unemployment rates are elevated in your region.
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Nick Kravitz
High unemployment for extended benefits typically kicks in when your region hits certain thresholds. In NY, it's usually when the unemployment rate exceeds 6.5% for a sustained period, but the exact triggers can vary depending on federal guidelines. At 8.5%, your area might qualify for Extended Benefits (EB) which can add 13-20 additional weeks to your regular 26 weeks of UI.
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Samantha Johnson
•That's really helpful! Do I need to apply separately for EB or does NYS Department of Labor automatically add it to my claim?
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Hannah White
You should check the NYS Department of Labor website for current Extended Benefits status in your area. They usually post updates when regions qualify. The threshold is typically based on a 13-week average compared to the same period in previous years. I think you have to exhaust your regular 26 weeks first before EB kicks in automatically.
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Michael Green
•This is correct - you can't get EB until you've used up all your regular benefits. But once you do, if your area still qualifies, it should continue automatically.
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Mateo Silva
I had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask about this exact thing last month. If you're having issues reaching them by phone, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Really saved me hours of busy signals and hang-ups when I needed to verify my EB eligibility.
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Samantha Johnson
•Thanks for the tip! I've been trying to call for days with no luck. Did they charge a lot for that service?
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Mateo Silva
•It was worth it for me - much easier than spending whole days redialing. The website has all the details about how it works.
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Victoria Jones
Just to add - high unemployment can also affect job search requirements sometimes. When rates are really elevated, NYS Department of Labor might reduce the number of work search contacts required per week, though I'm not sure what the current policy is.
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Cameron Black
8.5% is definitely high! I remember during the recession it got up to like 12% in some areas and that's when all the extended programs kicked in. You should definitely be eligible for something extra.
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Giovanni Ricci
I'm in a similar situation - been on UI for about 14 weeks and my county's unemployment rate is around 9.2%. From what I've researched, New York does have Extended Benefits but they're tied to both state and federal triggers. The state trigger is usually around 6.5% as others mentioned, but there's also a federal component that looks at how current rates compare to previous years. I'd recommend checking the NYS DOL website weekly since EB status can change month to month. Also, if you're getting close to exhausting your regular benefits, make sure you keep certifying even if the system seems to glitch - I heard some people had issues with automatic transitions to EB programs.
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