When do you stop certifying for unemployment benefits in NYS?
I've been collecting unemployment for about 14 weeks now and I'm starting to wonder when I need to stop certifying. I know there's a limit but I can't find clear info on the NYS Department of Labor website about exactly when your benefits end. Do you automatically stop getting paid after a certain number of weeks or do you have to do something? I'm worried I might miss a deadline or mess something up. Also wondering if there's any way to extend if you're still looking for work.
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Destiny Bryant
In New York, regular unemployment benefits last for 26 weeks maximum. You'll automatically stop receiving payments after you've collected for 26 weeks OR if your benefit year ends, whichever comes first. Your benefit year is the 52-week period that started when you first filed your claim. You don't need to do anything special to stop - the system will just stop allowing you to certify once you hit your limit.
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Hattie Carson
•Thank you! So I still have about 12 weeks left then. What happens if I find a job before then - do I just stop certifying?
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Dyllan Nantx
Yes, if you find work you stop certifying immediately. Make sure to report ANY earnings on your weekly certification even if it's just part-time work. The NYS Department of Labor will calculate if you can still get partial benefits or if you need to stop completely. Don't try to hide income - they cross-check with employers and you could get hit with an overpayment.
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TillyCombatwarrior
•this is so important!! i made the mistake of not reporting some freelance work thinking it was too small to matter and now i owe them back like $800
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Anna Xian
Wait I'm confused about the benefit year thing. I filed in March 2024 but only collected for like 8 weeks because I found work. Then I lost that job in November and had to file again. Does my 26 weeks start over or am I still using up my original benefit year?? The NYS Department of Labor phone system is impossible to get through to ask about this stuff.
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Destiny Bryant
•If you're still within your original benefit year (which would be March 2024 to March 2025 in your case), you'd continue using your remaining weeks from the original claim. You wouldn't get a fresh 26 weeks until your benefit year expires and you file a completely new claim.
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Jungleboo Soletrain
•I had this exact same situation and couldn't get through to NYS Department of Labor either. Ended up using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to actually talk to someone. They have a service that gets you through to a real agent - there's even a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Finally got my benefit year questions answered instead of being stuck in phone hell.
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Rajan Walker
Also keep in mind that even after your regular UI benefits end, there might be extended benefits available depending on the unemployment rate. This doesn't happen often but it has in the past during recessions. The NYS Department of Labor will notify you if you're eligible for any extensions.
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Nadia Zaldivar
•yeah but don't count on extended benefits right now, the unemployment rate isn't high enough to trigger them in NY
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