Do I qualify for new NY unemployment benefits with only 6 weeks of work in 2025?

The main thing NYSDOL looks at is your base period, which is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. You need to have worked and earned wages in at least two calendar quarters in your base period, with minimum earnings of $2,900 in your highest quarter and total base period earnings of at least 1.5 times your high quarter. So with 6 weeks of work at $8,400, it really depends on when those weeks happened and how they fell across calendar quarters. When exactly did you work those 6 weeks?

ur probably not gonna qualify sorry. i had something similar happen last year and got denied. they want u to work in at least 2 different quarters, sounds like u only worked in 1. its bs if u ask me.

The previous answers aren't completely accurate. If all your work was in Q1 2025, you wouldn't qualify under the standard base period, BUT NY also has something called the Alternate Base Period which uses the last 4 completed quarters. So depending on when you apply, that Q1 2025 work might count. However, you still need work in at least 2 quarters, so if ALL your work was just in those 6 weeks in Q1, then unfortunately you wouldn't qualify either way. Did you work at all in 2024? Even a little bit in Q4 2024 could potentially help you qualify if combined with your Q1 2025 work.

Yes! That December work could potentially help. If you combine your Q4 2024 work ($1,600) with your Q1 2025 work ($8,400), you might qualify under the Alternate Base Period. Your high quarter is clearly Q1 2025 at $8,400, which exceeds the $2,900 minimum. Your total would be $10,000, which is more than 1.5 times your high quarter ($8,400 × 1.5 = $12,600... wait, no, that's wrong... it would be $8,400 × 1.5 = $12,600, so you'd need at least $12,600 total... so you might still fall short). Actually, I need to double-check my math. Let me recalculate.

NYSDOL is impossible to get through to for questions like this! I spent 3 WEEKS trying to get someone on the phone about my eligibility when my benefit year was ending. Finally I tried Claimyr (claimyr.com) after seeing it mentioned here. They got me connected to an agent in about 30 minutes. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE - way better than spending hours on hold or getting hung up on. The agent I spoke with went through all my earnings quarters and told me exactly what I qualified for.

i think u should just apply anyway!!! worst they can say is no right?? my cousin got benefits with like 2 months of work but that was during covid so maybe different rules idk

The whole system is RIGGED against workers!!! I worked 10 years straight, then only 4 months at my last job before layoff and they said I didn't qualify for a new benefit year because the wages weren't in the right quarters or some technical BS. Meanwhile the CEO of my company got a $3 million bonus for FIRING EVERYONE. The system is designed to DENY benefits even when we've paid into it for YEARS.

I had a problem with quarters too last year. One thing nobody mentioned is that you need to make at least $2,400 in covered employment during your base period OUTSIDE your high quarter. So even if you meet the other requirements, you need some minimal amount of work outside your best quarter. The whole system is really complicated.

Thank you everyone for the detailed explanations! It sounds like I probably won't qualify based on the quarters and earnings, but I'll apply anyway just in case. I might try that Claimyr service to speak directly with an agent about my specific situation instead of guessing. Really appreciate all the help - this system is definitely more complicated than I realized!

Good plan! One last bit of advice - when you apply, make sure you include ALL employment from the last 18 months, even small jobs or part-time work. Sometimes people forget to include everything, which can affect eligibility. And definitely document all your attempts to contact NYSDOL - screenshots of calls, wait times, etc. This can help if you need to appeal a decision later. Good luck!