New Yorkers to Get Benefit Extension

POSTED on July 23, 2010

ALBANY - President Obama signed extension for unemployment benefits on Thursday and over 200,000 New Yorkers can expect to get benefits retroactive to June 2 beginning next week according to NY Labor Comissioner Colleen Gardner.

Unfortunately, the new legislation does not extend the additional $25 dollars in weekly benefits that were included under the stimulus package so New Yorkers will miss out on $100 per month that were previously given. The maximum weekly unemployment payment in NY state is $405.

The extension does not affect those who have exhausted their 99 weeks of benefits.

Also, because New York's three-month unemployment rate of 8.3% is below the national average of 8.5%, the state will no longer be eligible for additional federal unemployment benefits after August 15. The maximum amount of benefits will then be 93 weeks for New York residents. This could affect 90,000 people.