If you perform occasional freelance work, you ARE STILL ELIGIBLE to draw on the payments you did not claim.

NY Times City Room Q&A wit h Nancy E. Dunphy, the deputy commissioner foremployment security for the state’s Department of Labor.
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/08/answers-about-unemployment-benefits-part-3/

While receiving unemployment weekly, I’ve done occasional projects and have reported working one-two days a week several times. Will my unemployment benefit period be extended by the number of weeks when I had partial employment?

Yes. When your benefit claim is established, you are generally entitled to receive the equivalent of 26 times your weekly benefit amount, presuming you continue to be unemployed. That total amount can be paid during your benefit year, which is essentially the 52 weeks after you filed your claim. If you received partial benefits for some weeks because of sporadic work and you remain unemployed during that benefit year, your benefit period remains “open” during this time until you are paid the equivalent of 26 times your full weekly benefit amount, the maximum benefit dollar amount possible. In effect, you are drawing down against this at a reduced level while partially unemployed, and have 52 weeks to draw down against these monies.

-By Hung Up My Shingle, Guest Blogger & Contributing Member