How much do you get for unemployment benefits in New York? Need to understand NYS Department of Labor payment amounts
I'm trying to figure out how much I might qualify for in unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor. I've been working at a retail job for about 2 years making $18/hour, usually getting around 32-35 hours per week. My manager said they're doing layoffs next month and I might be affected. I know the amount depends on your previous wages but I can't find clear information on the NYS Department of Labor website about exactly how they calculate it. Does anyone know what percentage of your previous income you typically get? And is there a maximum amount they'll pay regardless of how much you were making?
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Lucas Bey
NYS Department of Labor calculates your weekly benefit rate based on your highest earning quarter from the past 5 quarters, then divides that by 26. For 2025, the maximum weekly benefit is $504. So if you were making around $18/hour for 32-35 hours weekly, you'd probably qualify for somewhere between $280-350 per week depending on your exact earnings history. You can get a better estimate by logging into your my.ny.gov account and using their benefit calculator.
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Charlotte Jones
•Thanks! That's actually higher than I expected. Do you know if that amount includes any taxes taken out or is that the gross amount?
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Harper Thompson
The calculation is actually your highest quarter divided by 26, but there's also a minimum you have to meet. Right now the minimum is $104 per week and maximum is $504. Your $18/hour job should definitely put you above the minimum. Just make sure you file your claim as soon as you're laid off - you can't get benefits for weeks before you actually file with NYS Department of Labor.
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Caleb Stark
ugh the whole system is so confusing! I tried to estimate mine when I got laid off last year and was way off. The NYS Department of Labor website has all this complicated language about base periods and qualifying wages. I ended up getting way less than I thought I would because I had switched jobs earlier that year.
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Lucas Bey
•Yeah the base period thing trips people up. They look at a specific 12-month period, not just your most recent job. If you switched jobs recently it can definitely affect your benefit amount.
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Jade O'Malley
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask questions about your specific situation, I used 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 that shows how it works. Was way easier than trying to call the regular number and getting hung up on constantly.
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Charlotte Jones
•How much does something like that cost? I'm trying to avoid spending money if I'm about to lose my job.
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Jade O'Malley
•It was worth it for me because I was stuck in adjudication for weeks and couldn't get anyone on the phone. But you might want to try the regular methods first since you're just looking for benefit estimates right now.
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Hunter Edmunds
Don't forget you'll probably have to pay taxes on the unemployment money too. I made that mistake my first time and owed money when I filed my taxes.
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Ella Lewis
The maximum keeps going up each year which is good I guess. When I was on unemployment in 2022 it was way lower. Still not enough to cover most people's bills though, especially with rent prices now.
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Andrew Pinnock
•True, but it's better than nothing. At least NYS Department of Labor benefits last for 26 weeks if you qualify.
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Madison Allen
Just want to add that you should also check if your employer offers any severance package - sometimes that can affect when you're eligible to start collecting unemployment benefits. Also, make sure you have all your wage information ready when you file. NYS Department of Labor will need details about your earnings for the past 18 months, so gather up your pay stubs or W-2s beforehand. The whole process goes much smoother when you have everything organized.
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