Does unemployment pay your full salary in NY - confused about benefit amounts

No, unemployment benefits don't replace your full salary. In New York, the maximum weekly benefit amount is $504 as of 2025. Your actual benefit is calculated as roughly 50% of your average weekly wage from your base period, but it can't exceed that $504 cap. So if you were making $68k annually, that's about $1,308 per week, so you'd likely get the maximum $504 weekly benefit.

The benefit calculation is based on your highest paid quarter in your base period divided by 26. NYS Department of Labor looks at the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. You can get an estimate by logging into your my.ny.gov account and using the benefit calculator before you actually file your claim.

been on unemployment twice and yeah its definitely not your full pay lol. more like survival mode money. you gotta really cut back on everything and maybe find some side work if possible

I was in a similar situation last year when I lost my job. The NYS Department of Labor phone lines were impossible to get through to ask questions about my benefit amount. I ended up using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me actually reach a real person at the unemployment office. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really saved me weeks of frustration trying to get answers about my claim.

The whole system is designed to keep you barely afloat while you look for work. Don't expect unemployment to maintain your lifestyle - it's basically poverty wages no matter what you used to make. And they make you jump through hoops with job search requirements every week too.

same boat here! was making about 55k and getting like 400 something a week. its tough but better than nothing i guess. make sure you file right away though because theres a waiting period

Just want to add some clarity on the base period calculation since there seems to be some confusion. Your base period is typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. So if you file in Q1 2025, your base period would be Q4 2023 through Q3 2024. The weekly benefit amount is calculated by taking your highest quarter earnings in that base period, dividing by 26, then that amount is roughly your weekly benefit (capped at $504). Also, there IS a one-week waiting period in NY, so your first payable week is actually your second week of unemployment. Make sure you continue certifying even during that waiting week or you could lose benefits later.