How Long Can I Claim Unemployment Benefits?

There are two key factors that affect the number of weeks that you can claim unemployment benefits:

1. The state that you claim benefits from

2. The date of your original claim

Most states provide unemployment benefits for 26 weeks.  There are also multiple tiers of federal emergency benefits and extended benefits that you may be eligible for depending on your original claim date and whether you have exhausted the previous tier of benefits.  For example, if your started claiming unemployment benefits from the state of New York between May 1, 2006 and June 23, 2008 you can receive up to 93 weeks of payments as follows:

26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits
20 weeks of Tier 1 emergency benefits
13 weeks of Tier 2 emergency benefits
20 weeks of extended benefits
14 weeks of additional emergency benefits
= 93 weeks total

If your claims began more recently (after June 22, 2009), you will only be eligible for the regular 26 weeks of unemployment benefits.  Your state's unemployment office should be able to provide you with the specific details on benefit duration. Click here for a table of links to each state's frequently asked questions on unemployment benefits.