How much do you get paid from unemployment benefits in NY?
I'm thinking about filing for unemployment since my hours got cut to basically nothing at my retail job. I've never been on unemployment before and honestly have no idea how much money I'd actually get from NYS Department of Labor. Is there like a calculator or something? I was making about $18/hour working around 32-35 hours a week before this happened. Would that even be worth filing for or is the amount so small it's not worth the hassle?
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Carmen Ruiz
Your weekly benefit amount is based on your highest earning quarter from the past 18 months. NYS Department of Labor takes that quarter's earnings and divides by 26 to get your weekly rate. The maximum weekly benefit in 2025 is $504, but most people get between $200-400 depending on their work history. You should definitely file - even partial benefits can help with bills.
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Yuki Sato
•Oh wow, I didn't know it was based on your highest quarter! That actually makes me feel better about applying. Thank you for explaining that.
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Andre Lefebvre
the amount varies SO much person to person. i was getting like $380 a week but my friend only got $195. definitely worth filing though, free money is free money lol
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Zoe Alexopoulos
You can get a rough estimate on the NYS Department of Labor website before you file. Go to labor.ny.gov and look for the benefit calculator. It's not 100% accurate but gives you a ballpark. With your hours being cut, you might also qualify for partial unemployment benefits while still working reduced hours.
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Yuki Sato
•I didn't even know partial unemployment was a thing! I'll definitely check out that calculator, thanks.
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Jamal Anderson
Ugh I've been trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor for weeks to ask about my benefit amount calculation because something seems wrong with mine. The phone system is absolutely impossible!! Has anyone found a way to actually talk to a real person there?
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Mei Wong
•I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They basically call NYS Department of Labor for you and get you connected to an actual agent. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustration trying to get through myself.
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QuantumQuasar
just file already! worst case they say no but you won't know until you try. the whole process is online now so it's not like the old days where you had to go sit in an office all day
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Liam McGuire
I remember when I first filed, I was shocked at how much paperwork there was. But yeah definitely worth it. Even if you only get like $250 a week, that's still $1000 a month to help with rent and stuff. Plus you have to do the job search requirements but honestly that just helps you stay motivated to find something better anyway.
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Yuki Sato
•Good point about the job search requirements. I should probably be doing that anyway even without unemployment pushing me to do it.
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Mia Rodriguez
Based on your income ($18/hour, 32-35 hours/week), you'd likely qualify for a decent amount. I was making similar wages and got around $320/week when I filed last year. The key thing is they look at your earnings over the past 18 months, not just your current reduced hours. And yes, you can definitely file for partial benefits if you're still working reduced hours - you don't have to be completely unemployed. The application process is pretty straightforward online, just have your employment history and wage info ready. Don't let the paperwork intimidate you, it's worth it!
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