New York Unemployment Extension

In cases of unusually high unemployment rates, natural disasters, and pandemics, New Yorkers who have exhausted their unemployment benefits may be able to qualify for some level of extended benefits. Several different federal programs exist that empower states to make additional unemployment compensation available to their residents during exceptionally hard times. Let’s take a look at some of the available programs, many of which were deployed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Please note that all COVID-19-related emergency provisional programs expired in New York as of Sept. 5, 2021.

NY Extended Benefits (EB)

This extension of regular unemployment insurance benefits provides up to 13 additional weeks of unemployment compensation if a state is experiencing unusually high levels of unemployment. Please note that the weekly benefit amount associated with extended benefits will be the same as regular unemployment compensation. In most cases, a claimant already receiving regular unemployment insurance benefits will not need to submit an additional New York unemployment application.

Continued Assistance for Unemployed Workers Act

This act made sure that benefits provided under relief programs including the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program, and the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program was extended through March 2021.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance

Disaster Unemployment Assistance makes available financial assistance to New Yorkers w

CARES Act

The CARES Act, passed in March 2020, established several programs that allowed individual states to extend traditional unemployment insurance benefits to non-traditional employees. The programs included gig workers, independent contractors, self-employed workers, freelancers, and other individuals who were unable to work because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This meant that the New York unemployment eligibility requirements were relaxed. Certain eligibility requirements were listed under the CARES Act to qualify for the expanded and extended NY unemployment benefits. 

Updated Expanded And Extended New York Unemployment Benefits

On Tuesday, December 29, 2020, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced federal unemployment benefits that will begin reaching people starting January 3, 2020, till March 14, 2021. The newly announced federal programs included: 

1. Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)
2. Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)
3. Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)

The newly announced programs varied slightly from those announced under the CARES Act in March 2020. 

Previously, Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation provided $600 weekly additional benefits, and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation offered benefits for additional 13 weeks. On the other hand, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance provided benefits for 39 weeks of benefits to those residents who otherwise do not qualify for the regular state benefits.  

However, the newly announced FPUC provided $300 additional benefits per week to the qualified residents, PEUC provided benefits for additional 24 weeks and PUA for 57 weeks. 

“This pandemic has created an unprecedented economic crisis, and New Yorkers have waited in uncertainty for far too long. I have repeatedly called on the federal government to do the right thing by renewing critical benefits to support millions of unemployed families through to the end of this pandemic – and now that Washington has finally acted, New York is immediately delivering those funds,” stated Governor Andrew Cuomo. 

“In the spring, New York led the nation in implementing federal unemployment programs, and this winter, we will once again act swiftly to get money in the hands of New Yorkers who need it most,” added Governor Cuomo. 

PUA

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), was a federal program that provided support for Americans who were unable to work due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but did not qualify for traditional unemployment insurance benefits.

Eligibility Requirements For PUA 

1. You must have been self-employed (includes independent contractors, gig-workers, and freelancers).
2. You must not qualify for any other unemployment benefits such as regular unemployment benefits, Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE), Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), Extended Benefits (EB), etc., in your or another state or territory.
3. You must have been scheduled to start employment (self-employment or with an employer).
4. You must be fully or partially unemployed for any one of the reasons. 

• You had to quit your job as a direct result of COVID-19
• You were experiencing symptoms or diagnosed with COVID-19 and are seeking medical help
• Your family member has contracted COVID-19
• You are providing care for a family member diagnosed with COVID-19
• You are unable to reach your workplace because of quarantine imposed
• You are unable to reach your workplace because a health care provider has advised you to self-isolate due to concerns related to COVID-19
• Your workplace has been shut down as a result of the COVID-19
• You have been scheduled to commence a job but cannot reach the workplace due to COVID-19
• The head of your family lost his or her life due to COVID-19, and you are the major breadwinner

PEUC

The Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation Program (PEUC) ultimately provided 53 weeks of additional benefits for unemployment insurance recipients. This program went into effect on April 5, 2020.

Eligibility Requirements For PEUC

1. You must have exhausted all your benefits received through the regular unemployment benefits program. 
2. You must be able to, available and actively looking for work. (The state may provide flexibility in meeting this requirement if you are unable to look for work due to COVID-19.)
3. You are ineligible to receive benefits under another state Unemployment Compensation (UC) laws or benefits under any other federal law.

Note – If you have exhausted the 13 weeks of PEUC under the CARES Act and transitioned to the Extended Benefits (EB), you could begin receiving payment under the extended PEUC program once you exhausted your EB benefits.

FPUC

The CARES Act also created the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program, which paid unemployed workers $600 a week. This payment was available in addition to claimants’ regular state or federal unemployment benefits.

Eligibility Requirements For FPUC

1. You must be able to work, look for work, and be available for work. 
2. You must submit a complete record of work searches.
3. You must report earnings made during the week of claiming benefits. They include income or wages, vacation pay, paid sick time, etc.
4. You must be able to work, look for work, and be available for work. 

• Regular Unemployment Insurance (UI)
• Extended Benefits (EB)
• Work Sharing Benefits
• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)
• Trade Readjustment Allowances ( TRA)
• Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE)
• Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Service members (UCX)
• Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)

MEUC

The Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation (MEUC) benefit was created to help gig workers, freelancers, and other self-employed individuals who receive artificially low unemployment insurance benefits. The term “mixed earner” describes someone who earns money both through traditional W2 employment and also through self-employment income. This program provided an additional $100 per week in unemployment support for eligible claimants as long as they submitted a weekly claim.

Those employment or self-employment has been either lost or interrupted as a result of a major disaster and who otherwise would not be eligible for unemployment insurance benefits.

Additional Benefits Available for New Yorkers

New Yorkers facing difficult financial circumstances have many other resources for temporary financial assistance. Here are some of the most helpful programs.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

New Yorkers who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program receive monthly financial benefits via an Electronic Benefits Transfer card that can be used like cash to purchase food from participating retailers. SNAP helps low-income working people, senior citizens, the disabled, and other eligible citizens gain access to the nutritious foods they and their families need to thrive. Eligibility and benefit amounts for SNAP participants are determined by household size, income, and other factors.

In addition to financial assistance, the SNAP program also offers recipients free nutrition education, which is available to any individual who qualifies for benefits through SNAP. The key goals for this program in New York are for participants to eat more fruits and vegetables, drink fewer sugar-sweetened beverages, exercise more, and healthfully balance calories.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) provides temporary financial support for low income adults and children. It operates via two separate programs: Family Assistance and Safety Net Assistance. While both programs provide a similar level of financial support, Family Assistance is designed to help eligible families that include a minor child living with a parent/parents or a caretaker relative, while Safety Net Assistance primarily supports eligible individuals and families who are not eligible for Family Assistance. This includes, but is not limited to, single adults, couples without children, or children living apart from family.

Typically, a claimant may receive SNA benefits for a maximum of two years over a lifetime. After that, if a claimant is eligible for SNA, it is provided in a non-cash form, such as payments made directly to a landlord or vouchers sent directly to a utility company.

Home Energy Assistance Program

The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) provides financial assistance to help eligible New Yorkers heat and cool their homes. Eligible candidates may receive one regular HEAP benefit per year and also may be eligible to receive emergency benefits if they are in danger of running out of fuel or having utility service terminated because of non-payment.

WIC

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) makes available federal grants that states can administer for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or non-breastfeeding postpartum, and to infants and children up to age 5 who are identified as being at nutritional risk.

School Breakfast and Lunch Programs

These federal programs provide free, reduced, or full-priced breakfast and lunch at participating schools throughout the state of New York. The New York State Department of Education administers these federal programs, and they are operated by individual local schools. Meals served are the same for all children regardless of how much they pay.

In addition to the breakfast and lunch programs made available throughout the school year, children and teenagers up to age 18 have access to free, healthy meals at parks, community centers, and libraries across the state through the Hunger Solutions New York program. All meals include healthy options like fruits, vegetables, protein, and grains.