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Don't forget about the administrative assessment fee and other smaller fees that get tacked on! It's not just the basic UI rate. I was surprised my first year when the total was higher than what I calculated just using the 4.1% rate.
Just went through this process last year when I started my consulting firm. One thing that really helped was calling the NYS Department of Labor directly - their employer services team walked me through the rate calculation and explained how the experience rating system works. They also sent me a packet with all the current rates and fee schedules. The phone wait was long but definitely worth it for getting clarity on exactly what I'd owe each quarter.
The NYS Department of Labor system is so broken. I know people who clearly don't qualify getting benefits while others who lost their jobs through layoffs get denied for random technicalities. The whole eligibility process seems arbitrary sometimes.
Based on what you've shared, you should definitely qualify for NYS Department of Labor unemployment compensation. With $18,000 in earnings from two jobs and being laid off (not fired for misconduct), you meet the basic requirements. The key things to remember: file your claim as soon as possible since there's a waiting period, keep detailed records of your job search activities, and don't get discouraged if the online system seems confusing - it's notoriously user-unfriendly. You can also visit a local career center if you need help with the application process. Good luck!
Also make sure you file your claim as soon as possible! There's no waiting period in NY but you can't get benefits for weeks before you file. Even if you're not 100% sure about eligibility, it's better to file and let NYS Department of Labor make the determination than to wait and lose potential benefit weeks.
One thing to keep in mind is that even though you were laid off due to budget cuts (which should qualify you), NYS Department of Labor will still verify the reason for separation with your employer. Make sure you have any documentation from your layoff - like a termination letter or email - in case there are any discrepancies. Also, if you received any severance pay, that might affect when your benefits start, so be sure to report it when you file. With your work history and earnings, you should definitely be eligible, so don't hesitate to apply!
Just wanted to say keep your head up! I know 6 weeks feels like forever when you're stressed about money. My fact finding took about 5 weeks but once it was approved everything moved quickly. The back pay really helped catch up on everything I'd fallen behind on.
I'm in a similar situation - filed in January after being laid off from my retail job and I'm now at week 8 of fact finding. What's really frustrating is that I called my former manager and they confirmed they already responded to NYSDOL weeks ago saying it was a clear layoff due to store closure. Yet my case is still "pending determination." I've been surviving on savings but that's almost gone now. Has anyone had luck reaching out to their local assemblyperson or senator's office? I heard they sometimes have caseworkers who can help push these things along when they're taking unreasonably long.
Mei Lin
The whole NYS Department of Labor system is confusing as hell. They should just tell you exactly how they calculate everything instead of making you guess. I've been on unemployment twice and both times had to figure out the benefit amount thing on my own.
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Liam Fitzgerald
•Seriously! And good luck trying to appeal if you think they calculated it wrong.
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Gabrielle Dubois
I went through this exact same confusion when I first filed! The key thing to understand is that NYS unemployment benefits are calculated based on your earnings during your "base period" (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you filed). Your weekly benefit amount is roughly 50% of your average weekly wage during that period, up to the state maximum of $504 for 2025. With your $52K salary, $350 weekly sounds about right - that would be consistent with earning around $36K during your base period. The $600 amount people mention is likely leftover confusion from the federal FPUC payments that ended years ago. You can request a detailed benefit calculation from NYS Department of Labor if you want to verify the math, but your amount seems correct based on the standard formula.
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Aisha Patel
•This is really helpful - thank you for breaking down the base period calculation! I didn't realize it was based on the first 4 of the last 5 quarters. That explains why my amount might be different from my most recent salary. Do you know if there's a way to see exactly which quarters they used for my calculation in the my.ny.gov portal? I want to make sure they have the right wage information.
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