How is unemployment measured - confused about NYS Department of Labor eligibility requirements
I'm trying to understand how unemployment is actually measured by the NYS Department of Labor for benefit eligibility. My company laid me off last month but I'm getting conflicting information about whether I qualify. Some people say it's based on how long you worked, others say it's about your earnings, and I've heard there are weekly work search requirements too. Can someone explain how the NYS Department of Labor actually measures unemployment for benefit purposes? I worked for 8 months at my last job making $52,000 annually before the layoff.
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Zoe Alexopoulos
The NYS Department of Labor uses several measurements for unemployment benefits. First, you need sufficient work history - typically 20 weeks of work or equivalent earnings in your base period. Second, your weekly benefit amount is calculated from your highest quarter earnings. Third, you must be actively seeking work and meet weekly job search requirements. With 8 months of work, you should meet the basic eligibility requirements.
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Andre Lefebvre
•Thanks! What exactly counts as the base period? Is that the last year I worked or something different?
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Jamal Anderson
The base period is usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. So if you file in January 2025, your base period would be October 2023 through September 2024. The NYS Department of Labor looks at your wages during this time to determine your weekly benefit amount and total benefits available.
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Mei Wong
•this is confusing... why don't they just use your last job wages?? the base period thing makes no sense
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Jamal Anderson
•It's designed to look at a longer work history rather than just your most recent job. This way it captures your overall earnings pattern and prevents people from getting benefits based on a short high-paying job.
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QuantumQuasar
I've been trying to reach the NYS Department of Labor for weeks to get clarity on my own eligibility calculation. Their phone lines are impossible! Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there about how they measure your specific case?
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Liam McGuire
•I had the same problem until I found Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get through to NYS Department of Labor agents without waiting on hold forever. There's a demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Saved me hours of frustration trying to understand my benefit calculation.
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Amara Eze
The unemployment measurement system is completely broken anyway. I had perfect work history and they still made me jump through hoops for months. The NYS Department of Labor acts like they're doing you a favor when it's YOUR money from taxes you already paid!!
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Giovanni Greco
•feel you on this one, took them 6 weeks to approve my claim even though everything was straightforward
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Zoe Alexopoulos
To answer your original question more specifically - unemployment measurement for NYS Department of Labor benefits involves: 1) Base period wage requirements (need wages in at least 2 quarters), 2) Weekly benefit calculation (roughly 50% of your average weekly wage up to the maximum), 3) Ongoing eligibility through work search activities. Your $52K salary should easily meet the wage requirements assuming it was spread across multiple quarters.
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