New York State is waiving the 7-Day waiting period for unemployment insurance benefits for people who are totally or partially unemployed due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) closures or quarantines.

The Unemployment Insurance hotline is experiencing intermittent phone issues and long wait times. You should use the DOL website if possible to file your claim and wait for DOL to contact you directly. Everyone who is eligible will get their benefits.

New Yorkers who are currently receiving unemployment insurance benefits due to COVID-19 may be eligible to receive:

• Up to 24 additional weeks of Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) until the week ending March 14, 2021
• Up to 20 additional weeks of Extended Benefits (EB)

Visit the U.S. Department of Labor website.

New Yorkers that are still unemployed when their unemployment insurance claim reaches its Benefits Year End (BYE) date, may qualify for extended benefits under federal programs or for an entirely new claim, based on your work history and non-self-employment wages earned since filing your initial claim.

• If you have worked for an employer and earned 10 times your weekly benefit rate since filing your initial claim, you must file a new claim. If you continue to claim on an expired claim, your benefits may be stopped.
• If you have not worked for an employer or have worked for an employer but have not earned 10 times your weekly benefit rate since filing your initial claim, continue to certify your existing claim.

If you are filing a claim for benefit in March or April 2021, the day you should file your new claims for benefits is based on the first letter of your last name:

• A – F: file your new claim the Tuesday after your BYE date
• G – N: file your new claim the Wednesday after your BYE date
• O – Z: file your new claim the Thursday after your BYE date

New Yorkers receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) do not have to reapply when their claim reaches its BYE date. While the PUA program is ongoing, claimants who remain unemployed should continue certifying to receive the benefits they are entitled to.

Learn about Unemployment Insurance, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), and Extended Benefits.

Career Centers

All Career Centers in New York City are closed and providing virtual services until further notice. Unemployment Insurance benefits will not be impacted. You should continue to file for weekly benefits as normal.