There are a number of factors that go into determining how many weeks you can collect unemployment benefits in New York State - the state unemployment rate, the date you begin collecting unemployment benefits, and the reason for your job loss.

Unemployment

Federal and state governments provide unemployment benefits to those who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. You need to meet eligibility requirements to collect benefits and each state sets its own standards.

New York Unemployment Benefits

I wrote to and called the New York State Department of Labor and asked how they determine the length of time an individual is allowed to collect unemployment. Here is how NY determines weeks of unemployment eligibility:

• The initial unemployment claim is considered “regular” unemployment and that can last for 26 weeks.
• Once the 26 weeks of regular unemployment is exhausted, you may be eligible for up to 33 weeks of Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC). There are two tiers of EUC in NY; 20 and 13 weeks, respectively.
• If you exhaust both regular and EUC benefits, you then may be eligible to collect up to 20 weeks of Extended Benefits.

As a result, in New York you can collect up to 79 weeks of unemployment benefits depending on when you were laid off. According to a New York State Department of Labor representative, New Yorkers who started collecting benefits during the period May 2007, through approximately March 2009, can collect up to 79 weeks of benefits, but only 26 weeks of benefits are available for those who began collecting benefits after March 2009.

You may also collect unemployment in the event of a presidential disaster declaration and for trade related job loss:

Disaster Unemployment Insurance

If the U.S. president declares a location a disaster area, unemployment insurance benefits may be available for up to 26 weeks if job loss or job interruption is the result of the declared disaster. These benefits may be also available for the self-employed.

Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA)

Under certain conditions you may collect unemployment if you lost your job or your hours were reduced as a result of foreign import competition. Weekly TRA payments become effective after you exhaust all other unemployment compensation.

Unemployment Benefits Extension Update

As of September 22, the House of Representatives approved an additional 13 weeks of unemployment benefits for those living in states with unemployment rates at or above 8.5%. The Senate is now considering legislation that would extend benefits to all states for 14 weeks and to states with unemployment rates at 8.5% and above for 20 weeks.

http://www.labor.state.ny.us/ui/claimantinfo/ExtendedBenefits.shtm
http://www.ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/disaster.asp
http://www.ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/tra.asp