What is the oldest you can collect unemployment - NYS Department of Labor age limits?

There's no maximum age limit for unemployment benefits in New York. As long as you meet the work requirements, were laid off through no fault of your own, and are able and available to work, you can collect UI regardless of your age. The NYS Department of Labor doesn't discriminate based on age for benefit eligibility.

my dad collected unemployment when he was 71 after his company downsized, so yeah there's definitely no age limit

You'll still need to meet all the regular requirements including job search activities and filing weekly claims. The NYS Department of Labor expects you to be actively looking for work regardless of age. However, if you're receiving Social Security retirement benefits, that might affect your weekly benefit amount since it's considered income.

I had trouble getting through to someone at NYS Department of Labor when I had questions about my claim. If you need to speak with an agent about age-related concerns or anything else, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Made the whole process much easier than trying to call repeatedly.

Just make sure when you file that you indicate you're able and available to work. Some older workers run into issues if the NYS Department of Labor thinks they might be retired or not seriously looking for employment. As long as you're genuinely seeking work, your age shouldn't matter at all.

I went through this same situation at 65 when my manufacturing job ended. The application process online is straightforward - just make sure to emphasize that you're actively seeking employment and available for work. One thing that helped me was being specific about the types of positions I was willing to accept and my availability. The NYS Department of Labor treated my claim just like any other worker's. Don't let your age discourage you from applying - you've earned these benefits through years of work and contributions.