How do you know how much unemployment you will get from NYS Department of Labor?
I just filed my unemployment claim with NYS Department of Labor last week and I'm trying to figure out what my weekly benefit amount will be. The my.ny.gov portal doesn't show any dollar amounts yet, just says my claim is being processed. I made about $52,000 last year at my job but I have no idea how they calculate what you actually get. Does anyone know how NYS Department of Labor determines your weekly benefit amount? I'm stressing about whether it will be enough to cover my basic expenses.
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NebulaNinja
NYS Department of Labor calculates your weekly benefit rate using your highest quarter of earnings from your base period, which is typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed. They take 1/26th of that highest quarter amount. So if your highest quarter was $15,000, your weekly benefit would be around $576. The maximum weekly benefit for 2025 is $504 though, so even if your calculation is higher, you'd get capped at that amount.
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Zara Mirza
•Thanks! That makes sense. My highest quarter was probably around $13,500 so that would put me at about $519 but capped at $504. Do you know when they actually tell you the exact amount?
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Luca Russo
it usually takes like 2-3 weeks after filing before you see your actual weekly benefit amount in the system. mine took forever to show up but when it did it was pretty close to what i calculated myself
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Nia Wilson
Just went through this myself. The monetary determination letter should arrive within 10 business days of filing your claim. That letter will break down exactly how they calculated your benefit amount and show your base period wages. You can also check your my.ny.gov account under 'Claim Status' once the adjudication is complete. If you need to speak with someone about the calculation, I had good luck using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to actually get through to a NYS Department of Labor agent without waiting on hold forever. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works.
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Mateo Sanchez
•Never heard of that service before but honestly anything that helps you actually talk to someone at NYS Department of Labor sounds worth trying. The phone system is impossible.
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Aisha Mahmood
ugh the whole calculation thing is so confusing! I thought they just took a percentage of your last paycheck but apparently it's way more complicated than that. why can't they just make it simple??
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Ethan Clark
The NYS Department of Labor system is deliberately opaque about benefit calculations to discourage people from filing claims. They don't want you to know what you're entitled to until the last possible moment. I've been fighting with them for months over an incorrect wage calculation and getting nowhere. The whole system is designed to wear you down.
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NebulaNinja
•While the system can definitely be frustrating, the calculation method is actually published on their website. The issue is more about processing delays and getting accurate wage information from employers.
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AstroAce
Same boat here! Filed 10 days ago and still showing 'under review' with no benefit amount. Getting really anxious about when I'll actually see some money.
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Marina Hendrix
I'm in a similar situation - filed my claim about a week and a half ago and still waiting to see my benefit amount. From what I've gathered reading through everyone's responses, it sounds like the waiting period is pretty normal but still nerve-wracking when you're counting on that income. @Zara, have you tried calling them directly or are you just waiting it out? I'm debating whether it's worth the hassle of trying to get through on the phone or if I should just be patient for the monetary determination letter.
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