Just confirming what others said - $504 is indeed the current maximum weekly benefit amount for regular unemployment insurance in New York. This amount gets reviewed annually. Your benefits will last up to 26 weeks as long as you continue to meet eligibility requirements. Make sure you understand the work search requirements because that's where a lot of people run into issues.

Welcome to the community! I see you're getting great advice here about your benefit amount. One thing I'd add is that you should also check if you qualify for SNAP benefits (food stamps) while you're on unemployment - the income limits are pretty generous and it can really help stretch your budget. Also, if you had any dependents, make sure NY DOL has that information because there might be additional dependency benefits available. The $504 weekly is just your base amount, but there could be small additions for qualifying dependents.

just apply asap dont overthink it the system walks you thru everything step by step

Sorry to hear about your restaurant closing down @Andre. One thing to add that others haven't mentioned - when you're filling out the application online, make sure you have your bank account info ready if you want direct deposit (routing and account numbers). It's much faster than waiting for a debit card to arrive in the mail. Also, the system will ask why you're unemployed - since your workplace closed, that should be straightforward, but if they ask for any documentation later, try to get something in writing from your former employer about the closure if possible. The online system usually processes applications pretty quickly once everything is submitted correctly.

Just to add - some people confuse reemployment services with Reemployment Assistance Programs (which is what they call unemployment in other states). In New York, we have Unemployment Insurance benefits AND separate reemployment services requirements. Both are administered through NYS Department of Labor but they serve different purposes in getting you back to work.

This is exactly why I joined this community - the NYS DOL website makes it sound like you need a PhD to understand basic unemployment benefits! I'm going through the same process right now and what helped me was thinking of it this way: unemployment insurance = your weekly check, reemployment services = the hoops you jump through to keep getting that check. The orientation will probably explain your specific work search requirements (like how many jobs you need to apply for each week) and what resources are available. Don't stress too much about the terminology - just show up to everything they tell you to attend and you'll be fine!

Just remember the $504 is before taxes. They do withhold federal taxes if you elect to have them taken out, which I'd recommend unless you want a surprise at tax time. Also if you have any other income while collecting you need to report it on your weekly claims or you could end up with an overpayment situation.

Based on your $22/hour full-time wage, you should qualify for a decent benefit amount. At 40 hours a week, that's about $880 gross weekly, so you'd likely get somewhere in the $400-450 range per week depending on your exact earnings history. One thing to keep in mind - make sure you file as soon as possible since there's usually a one-week waiting period before benefits start, and you can't get benefits for weeks before you actually file your claim. The sooner you get the process started, the sooner you'll start receiving payments.

Hey OP, what specific issue are you having with filing your claim? Might be able to give more targeted advice if we know exactly where you're stuck.

Just went through this same nightmare last month! Here's what finally worked for me: 1) Try the online portal at exactly 8 AM on weekdays - seems to be the sweet spot before it gets overloaded 2) If you get that SSN error, clear your browser cache and try a different browser entirely 3) For phone calls, I had better luck calling the local office directly instead of the main number. The wait times were still brutal but at least I got through eventually. Stay persistent - it's a broken system but you'll get there! 💪