How much can I earn while on NYS Department of Labor unemployment without losing benefits?
I just got approved for unemployment benefits and I'm getting $365 a week. My cousin said I can work part-time and still collect but I'm confused about the earnings limit. I found a weekend job that pays $150 for two days but I don't want to mess up my benefits. Does anyone know exactly how much you can earn before NYS Department of Labor starts reducing your weekly payment? I tried calling but couldn't get through to anyone.
23 comments
Join the conversation
Chloe Taylor
You can earn up to $504 per week in 2025 before it affects your benefits. Anything over that gets deducted dollar for dollar from your weekly benefit amount. Make sure you report ALL earnings when you file your weekly claim, even if it's just $20. NYS Department of Labor will find out anyway and you don't want an overpayment notice.
0 coins
Omar Zaki
•Thank you! So if I earn $300 one week I still get my full unemployment amount? And I just report it honestly on my weekly claim?
0 coins
Diego Flores
The magic number is $504 - that's 25% of the state average weekly wage. Anything under that doesn't reduce your UI benefits at all. Just make sure you're still available for full-time work and actively job searching. Part-time work while on unemployment is actually encouraged by NYS Department of Labor.
0 coins
Anastasia Ivanova
•wait so if I make $505 do I lose ALL my benefits or just $1??
0 coins
Diego Flores
•Just $1! It's dollar for dollar reduction over the $504 threshold. So if you earn $600 and your weekly benefit is $400, you'd get $304 that week ($400 minus the $96 over the limit).
0 coins
Sean Murphy
I've been doing gig work while on unemployment and it's been fine. Just be super careful about reporting everything correctly. I use a spreadsheet to track all my earnings before I file my weekly claim. The NYS Department of Labor system asks for gross earnings before taxes so don't try to calculate net pay yourself.
0 coins
Omar Zaki
•Good idea about the spreadsheet! Do you know if tips count as earnings too?
0 coins
Sean Murphy
•Yes tips definitely count! Report everything - cash tips, credit card tips, all of it.
0 coins
Ravi Kapoor
You can earn up to 25% of your weekly benefit amount without any reduction. In your case, that's about $91 per week. Anything above that and they start reducing your benefits dollar for dollar. So if you earn $150, they'll deduct $59 from your $365 weekly benefit, leaving you with $306 plus the $150 you earned.
0 coins
Isabella Oliveira
•Wait, so I'd actually make more money working that weekend job even with the reduction? $306 + $150 = $456 total vs just $365 from unemployment alone?
0 coins
StarStrider
I was in your exact situation last year and was terrified to take any work. Honestly the phone lines for NYS Department of Labor are usually swamped but I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual agent in like 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. The agent confirmed all the $504 rule details and I felt so much better knowing I could work part-time safely.
0 coins
Zara Malik
•Never heard of that but honestly anything that helps you talk to a real person at NYS Department of Labor sounds amazing right now
0 coins
Luca Marino
just take the work and report it honestly, you'll be fine as long as you dont go over the limit. i've been working weekends while collecting and no problems
0 coins
Freya Larsen
just make sure you report ALL earnings when you file your weekly claim or they'll hit you with an overpayment later. I made that mistake and owed them back $1200
0 coins
Isabella Oliveira
•How do I report the earnings? Is there a specific section on the weekly claim form?
0 coins
Ravi Kapoor
•Yes, there's a section that asks about any work performed and gross earnings. You report the full amount before taxes for the week you actually worked, not when you get paid.
0 coins
GalacticGladiator
The whole system is confusing honestly. I've been trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor for weeks about my part-time work situation. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to an agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Way easier than sitting on hold for hours.
0 coins
Isabella Oliveira
•That sounds helpful! Did they charge you a lot for the service?
0 coins
GalacticGladiator
•It was worth it to actually talk to someone who could explain the earnings rules clearly. Much better than guessing and potentially messing up my claim.
0 coins
Omar Zaki
i think its different if youre on regular UI vs standby status though? my friend on standby has different rules
0 coins
Ravi Kapoor
•You're thinking of partial unemployment benefits for people with reduced hours. That has different calculations. Regular UI like the OP has follows the 25% rule I mentioned.
0 coins
Chloe Taylor
Don't forget you still need to do your job search activities even if you're working part-time. NYS Department of Labor requires three job contacts per week unless you're exempt.
0 coins
Ben Cooper
I'm in a similar situation and just want to confirm - so the $504 weekly earnings limit that everyone is mentioning, that's the total amount you can earn before ANY deduction happens? So if I make $500 in a week, I still get my full unemployment benefit amount, but if I make $510, then $6 gets deducted from my weekly benefit? Also, does this apply to 1099 contractor work or just W-2 employment?
0 coins