Update: NY approved for a total of six weeks of $300 supplemental unemployment benefits

September 21, 2020 6:45 PM

On September 18th, the New York State Department of Labor announced that the state has been approved for three additional weeks of supplemental unemployment benefits provided under the Lost Wages Assistance Program. Eligible New Yorkers will now receive an additional $300 a week in unemployment benefits for a total of six weeks.

New York will not be able to apply for more supplemental benefits at this time. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which is responsible for administering the additional benefits, has announced that there is not enough funding to provide more than six weeks of benefits.

The first round of the $300 weekly payments were issued last week to eligible New Yorkers. The payments cover the weeks ending August 2, August 9, and August 16, 2020. The NY DOL says the second round of $300 a week payments will be paid out this week, and will cover the weeks ending August 23, August 30, and September 6, 2020.

If you are pre-qualified:

The majority of unemployed New Yorkers will pre-qualify for the additional three weeks of payments and do not need to take any further action. The NY DOL has said that you will receive an email and a text message notifying you that you are pre-qualified.

If you are not pre-qualified:

If you do not pre-qualify for the second round of $300 payments, you must certify with the New York Department of Labor that you are out of work due to COVID-19 and were not working during the weeks ending August 23, August 30, and September 6, 2020.

The NY DOL has emailed a document to those who did not pre-qualify. You must sign and submit the document to be considered for the second round of payments. If you already submitted this document in order to receive the first round of payments, you must sign and submit it again. You can also call 833-491-0632 to certify via an automated phone system. In order to receive your payments this week, you must certify by 5:00 PM on Tuesday, September 22.