How do I find out what my unemployment insurance rate is from NYS Department of Labor?
I just got laid off from my manufacturing job after 8 years and I'm trying to figure out what my weekly unemployment benefit amount will be. I know it's based on my wages but I can't find anywhere on the my.ny.gov website that shows what my actual rate would be. Do I have to wait until I file my claim to find out? My last job paid around $58k annually but I had a part-time gig on weekends too for the past two years. Not sure if that affects the calculation. Anyone know how to check this beforehand?
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Aria Khan
Your weekly benefit rate is calculated using your highest earning quarter from your base period, which is typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file. NYS Department of Labor takes 1/26th of your highest quarter earnings, with a maximum of $504 per week in 2025. You can estimate it but won't know the exact amount until they process your claim and verify all your wages.
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Reginald Blackwell
•Thanks! So if my highest quarter was around $16k, that would be roughly $615 weekly? But that's over the max so I'd get $504?
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Everett Tutum
yeah you cant really know for sure until you file. i thought i knew what mine would be but they had wage info from jobs i forgot about and it ended up being different than what i calculated
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Sunny Wang
The part-time job definitely counts toward your base period wages if you worked it during the relevant quarters. NYS Department of Labor will pull wage records from all your employers automatically when you file. Just make sure you report any continuing part-time work when you file your weekly claims, since that can affect your benefits.
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Reginald Blackwell
•Good point about the part-time work. I'm not working it anymore since I got laid off, but those wages should help my benefit calculation right?
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Sunny Wang
•Exactly, those wages will be included in your base period calculation which should increase your weekly benefit amount.
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Hugh Intensity
I was in a similar situation and couldn't get through to NYS Department of Labor on the phone to ask about my rate calculation. Spent hours calling and either got busy signals or got disconnected after waiting. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent who explained my benefit calculation. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Was worth it just to get a real person to walk through my specific situation.
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Effie Alexander
•How much does something like that cost? I'm already stressed about money.
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Hugh Intensity
•I don't remember the exact cost but it was reasonable for what I got - actual answers instead of just guessing. Way less stressful than calling for hours.
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Melissa Lin
The NYS Department of Labor benefit calculator used to be easier to find on their website but they moved everything around. Your benefit rate also depends on having enough wages in your base period to qualify, not just the weekly amount calculation. If you haven't worked consistently or had gaps in employment it might affect your eligibility too.
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Genevieve Cavalier
I just went through this process a few months ago after getting laid off from my construction job. You're right that you can't get the exact amount until you file, but I found a rough way to estimate it. Look at your pay stubs from your highest-earning quarter (usually your most recent full quarter before layoff) and add up the gross wages. Then divide by 26 - that gives you a ballpark figure, though it'll be capped at the maximum weekly benefit amount. With your salary plus the part-time work, you'll probably hit or get close to the maximum. The good news is NYS Department of Labor processes claims pretty quickly once you file, so you won't be waiting weeks to find out your actual rate.
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