How much do you get for dependents on unemployment benefits in NY?

Unfortunately, New York State does not provide dependent allowances or additional payments for children on regular unemployment insurance. Your weekly benefit amount is calculated solely based on your past earnings history, not your family size. The maximum weekly benefit in NY for 2025 is $504, but most people get less depending on what they earned in their base period.

yeah NY unemployment doesn't care how many kids you have, kind of unfair if you ask me. some states do give dependent benefits but not here

While NYS Department of Labor doesn't provide dependent allowances, you should definitely look into other programs that can help with kids - SNAP benefits, WIC if your children are young enough, and reduced-price school meals. Also make sure you're claiming the Child Tax Credit when you file your taxes next year, that can be substantial.

Wait I thought there was something about dependents? Maybe I'm thinking of disability benefits... this whole system is so confusing with all the different programs

I had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask about this same question last year. If you need to call them about your benefit calculation or have other questions, I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Made it so much easier than sitting on hold for hours.

The whole unemployment system needs an overhaul. Other states manage to help families with dependents but NY just leaves you hanging. Typical bureaucracy.

I went through this same situation when I was laid off from my retail job. NY really doesn't provide any extra for dependents, which was a shock coming from another state. One thing that helped me was contacting 211 (dial 2-1-1) - they connected me with local food banks and utility assistance programs that I didn't know existed. Also check if your county has any emergency rental assistance programs. It's not unemployment benefits, but every bit helps when you're trying to make ends meet with kids.

I'm in a similar boat - just started collecting unemployment with a 3-year-old and was really hoping there would be something for dependents. It's tough when you're used to a steady paycheck and suddenly have to stretch every dollar. One thing I discovered is that if you're receiving unemployment benefits, you might qualify for emergency childcare assistance through your county's social services department. I applied in my county and got help with daycare costs while I'm job searching. Also, don't forget that unemployment benefits are taxable income, so you might want to have taxes withheld or set some aside so you don't get hit with a big bill next year.

Just wanted to add that while NY doesn't give dependent allowances for regular unemployment, if you end up qualifying for Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) or any federal extensions in the future, those also don't include dependent payments. However, I found out that some utility companies have special programs for unemployed customers with children - Con Edison and National Grid both have hardship programs that can help reduce your bills. Also, if your kids are school-age, make sure to ask about free breakfast programs too, not just lunch. Every little bit helps when you're stretching that unemployment check to cover everything. Hang in there!

I'm dealing with this exact situation right now - single parent with unemployment benefits trying to make it work. One resource I stumbled upon that hasn't been mentioned yet is the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) through your local food bank. It's different from SNAP and you can qualify even if you're already getting food stamps. Also, if you haven't already, check with your local library - many have programs that provide free meals for kids during school breaks and some even have "lending libraries" for things like winter coats and school supplies. The librarians are usually really knowledgeable about local assistance programs too. It's frustrating that NY doesn't help with dependents like some other states, but at least there are these other safety nets if you know where to look.