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Anxiety rises for New Yorkers as unemployment benefits begin to run out for many
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NY State has already extended unemployment benefits to 79 weeks, apparently the longest in state history. While there was talk last week of the Senate passing an unemployment benefits extension for another 22 weeks, the Senate was unable to quickly approve the measure—which means that some New Yorkers will be hit hard. The NY Times reports, that lapse will leave about 37,000 residents of the state without benefits this week, and will force others to contemplate applying for food stamps or other forms of welfare that they had never considered.
If you checked the State Labor Department’s Facebook page for news about a pending extension, you will find a video explaining how to apply for food stamps and other assistance from the state. An advocacy group for the unemployed called The National Employment Law Project estimates that 400,000 Americans have already exhausted their benefits during this recession and that an additional 900,000 would by the end of the year. But not all of those at or near the end of their benefits would get a reprieve from another extension.
Senate Democrats in Washington agreed on October 22, 2009 to extend payments for an additional 20 weeks in states with the highest unemployment rates, including New York City who's rates has risen to 9 percent in August. If this proposal had been passed the extension would have made it possible for some New Yorkers to collect up to 99 weeks or close to four times as long as the average time for collecting benefits. Senate Republican prevented a quick approval of the proposal last week, which means that some New Yorkers will be hit hard. The New York State Department of Labor has a Twitter account—most recently updating followers that no Senate vote was taken on the benefits extension—and a Facebook account, where it actually does try to answer some people's questions posted to the wall.
NYS Department of Labor If you have questions about unemployment insurance you can always call 1-888-209-8124 (1-877-358-5306 out of state).
Employment in New York State Newsletter
National Employment Law Project
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