How much can I get with unemployment benefits in NY - what's the maximum weekly amount?
I'm thinking about filing for unemployment after getting laid off from my warehouse job last week. I was making about $22/hour working full time but I have no idea how much unemployment actually pays. Does anyone know what the maximum weekly benefit amount is right now? I've heard it's based on your earnings but I can't find clear info on the NYS Department of Labor website about the actual dollar amounts. Really need to figure out if this will cover my rent and basic expenses while I look for work.
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Austin Leonard
The maximum weekly benefit rate for 2025 is $504 per week in New York. Your actual amount depends on your earnings in your base period, which is usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed. The formula calculates your weekly benefit as roughly half of your average weekly wage during your highest earning quarter, up to that $504 maximum.
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Sophie Duck
•Thanks! So if I was making around $880 a week gross, I'd probably get close to the maximum then?
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Anita George
yeah the max is like $500 something but most people dont get that much. i was making $18/hr and only got $320 a week
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Abigail Spencer
You can actually estimate your benefit amount before filing by using the benefit calculator on the NYS Department of Labor website. Just have your pay stubs ready from the last 18 months. Keep in mind you'll also need to meet the job search requirements - 3 work search activities per week unless you're on standby with your employer.
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Logan Chiang
•The job search thing is such a pain honestly. I spent more time documenting my searches than actually searching sometimes lol
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Isla Fischer
I'm in a similar situation and having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to check on my application status. The phone lines are always busy and I keep getting disconnected. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there? I filed two weeks ago and my claim is still pending.
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Miles Hammonds
•I had the same problem until someone told me about Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get through to NYS Department of Labor agents by calling for you. I watched their demo video (https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI) and decided to try it. Got connected to an agent within 20 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. Really saved me a lot of frustration.
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Isla Fischer
•Interesting, I'll check that out. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get some answers about my claim status.
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Ruby Blake
Just remember the $504 is before taxes. They do withhold federal taxes if you elect to have them taken out, which I'd recommend unless you want a surprise at tax time. Also if you have any other income while collecting you need to report it on your weekly claims or you could end up with an overpayment situation.
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Jamal Harris
Based on your $22/hour full-time wage, you should qualify for a decent benefit amount. At 40 hours a week, that's about $880 gross weekly, so you'd likely get somewhere in the $400-450 range per week depending on your exact earnings history. One thing to keep in mind - make sure you file as soon as possible since there's usually a one-week waiting period before benefits start, and you can't get benefits for weeks before you actually file your claim. The sooner you get the process started, the sooner you'll start receiving payments.
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