Had a nightmare trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor to ask about my benefit duration. Their phone lines are constantly busy and the online chat never works. If you need to talk to someone about your specific situation, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually gets you connected to a real agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Finally got my questions answered about my benefit year after weeks of trying on my own.

just make sure you dont work any part time while collecting or they'll reduce your benefits. learned that the hard way when I picked up some freelance work

Just to add - when you file online make sure you have your Social Security number, employer information for the last 18 months, and your bank account info if you want direct deposit. The system will ask for your last day of work and reason for separation, so have those details ready. Don't stress too much about getting everything perfect on the first try - you can always call later to make corrections if needed.

That would definitely be a layoff due to lack of work. NYS Department of Labor has specific categories and 'lack of work' or 'business closure/downsizing' would be the right selection. Budget cuts that eliminate positions fall under that category, so you should qualify for benefits assuming you meet the other requirements like having enough earnings in your base period.

The whole unemployment system is broken when rates go up! More people need help but they don't hire more staff to handle the volume. I've been waiting 3 weeks just to get my regular weekly claim processed because of some verification issue. Meanwhile bills keep coming. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through so many hoops when the economy is already struggling.

Just to clarify the extended benefits situation - as of now, New York's unemployment rate would need to be significantly higher to trigger the extended benefits program. The standard 26 weeks of regular UI is what most people will get. However, you should definitely start exploring other programs like job training assistance or workforce development programs through your local One-Stop center while you're still collecting benefits. These can help improve your job prospects before your benefits run out.

ofc their system is broken again 🙄 water is wet. But seriously go check r/NYunemployment - bunch of people saying theres a system wide delay this week affecting payments. Some people on there said payments are delayed 3-4 days because of a "system migration" whatever that means

I had this EXACT same issue about 6 weeks ago - certified on Monday, nothing showed up for over a week. Turns out there was some random flag on my account that needed manual review, but the system never told me about it. I finally got through using one of those callback services people mentioned here (used Claimyr after reading about it) and the agent cleared it immediately. Payment showed up the next day. Don't wait too long hoping it fixes itself - these delays usually mean there's something that needs human intervention. The automated system is garbage at communicating what's actually wrong.

Been there! Worked at a summer camp for three years and always filed unemployment during the off-season. Never had any problems with my claims. Just make sure you report any odd jobs or part-time work you pick up while collecting benefits.

I'm in a similar situation - just finished my seasonal job at a resort in the Finger Lakes region and was nervous about filing for unemployment. Reading everyone's responses here is really encouraging! One thing I'm curious about - when you file the initial claim, do you need to provide any special documentation proving your seasonal employment ended, or is it treated the same as any other layoff? Also, has anyone had experience with how quickly NYS Department of Labor processes seasonal claims compared to regular unemployment claims?