ALBANY – The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) must delay unemployment insurance benefits for nearly two weeks while the state updates its antiquated system beginning Monday evening. The upgrades are the largest of their type in the country, according to officials. The deadline to file a new claim or certify an existing claim is Monday, November 2, 2026, at 5 p.m. The process to bring the upgraded Unemployment Services system fully online is expected to take nine to 12 days.
During the system upgrade, all online and phone-based unemployment insurance services will be temporarily unavailable.
New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said,”New Yorkers deserve an unemployment insurance system that is modern, reliable, and easy to use. For too long, our customers have had to rely on technology that is more than 50 years old. This upgrade ensures that New Yorkers will be able to file claims from their phones, track their claims in real time, and get the information they need more quickly and easily.”
Individuals and businesses should be aware of the following:
- Customers will not be able to file new unemployment insurance claims, certify for weekly benefits, or access or update account information during the upgrade period.
- The deadline to file a claim or certify is Monday, November 2, 2026, at 5 PM.
- Individuals will experience delays in payments; however, customers will receive all benefit payments to which they are entitled once the upgrade is complete and they file or certify for benefits in the upgraded system.
- Customers must continue to complete and record work search activities during the upgrade period.
- To stay eligible for unemployment insurance benefits, individuals must complete and record at least three work search activities each week unless they are exempt from work search requirements.
- NYSDOL will notify all customers when the upgraded system is available.
- The Unemployment Services upgrade will not affect electronic filing for Form NYS-1 and NYS-45 through the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance (TAX). Businesses will continue to file NYS-1 and NYS-45 through TAX once Unemployment Services is available.
NYSDOL plans to provide additional updates throughout the upgrade period to keep the public informed. For more information regarding the system upgrade or to register for email and text notifications, visit the Department’s .
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