How much do you make off unemployment benefits in NY - what's the actual amount?
I'm trying to figure out what I'll actually get if I file for unemployment. I've been working at a warehouse making $18/hour for about 8 months now but my hours got cut to almost nothing. Everyone keeps telling me different amounts about what unemployment pays. Some say it's like 50% of what you made, others say there's a maximum. Can someone break down how much you actually make off unemployment in New York? I need to know if it's worth filing or if I should just find another job ASAP.
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Tate Jensen
The NYS Department of Labor calculates your weekly benefit rate based on your highest quarter of earnings in your base period. For 2025, the maximum weekly benefit is $504. You get roughly 50% of your average weekly wage, but it's capped at that max. Since you were making $18/hour, if you worked full-time that's about $720/week gross, so you'd probably get around $360/week in benefits.
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Marcelle Drum
•Thanks that helps! So even if I was making more I wouldn't get more than $504? That seems low for NY cost of living.
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Adaline Wong
yeah i get like $430 a week and i was making decent money before. its not great but its something while you look for work
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Gabriel Ruiz
Just remember you have to actively search for work and report it in your weekly claims. The NYS Department of Labor requires you to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep a detailed log. If you're not meeting the job search requirements, they can cut off your benefits. Also, any part-time work you do gets deducted from your weekly benefit amount.
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Marcelle Drum
•Wait so if I work part time while on unemployment they take it out of my benefits? That doesn't seem fair.
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Gabriel Ruiz
•They allow you to earn up to 25% of your weekly benefit rate without any reduction. Anything above that gets deducted dollar for dollar. So if your benefit is $360, you can earn up to $90 without penalty.
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Misterclamation Skyblue
I've been trying to get through to the NYS Department of Labor for weeks about my claim status and can't reach anyone! The phone lines are always busy and when I do get through I get disconnected. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there? I'm stuck in adjudication and have no idea what's going on with my benefits.
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Peyton Clarke
•I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr. They actually get you connected to NYS Department of Labor agents when you can't get through yourself. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. I was stuck in adjudication for 6 weeks and finally got answers within a day of using them.
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Vince Eh
unemployment is such a joke in this state. i worked for 15 years paying into the system and when i finally need it they make you jump through hoops for peanuts. $504 max when rent alone is like $2000+ anywhere decent? give me a break
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Sophia Gabriel
•I hear you man, it's rough out there. Better than nothing though.
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Adaline Wong
one thing i learned is make sure you file your weekly claim every week even if your claim is pending or in adjudication. if you miss weeks you cant go back and get those payments later. learned that the hard way and lost out on like $1200
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Marcelle Drum
•Good to know! So I should file even if I haven't heard back about my initial application yet?
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Tate Jensen
•Yes, absolutely. The NYS Department of Labor requires continuous weekly claims to maintain your benefit eligibility. Missing weeks creates gaps that can't be filled retroactively.
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NeonNebula
Just went through this process myself a few months ago. One thing nobody mentioned is that you need to have worked at least 2 quarters in your base period to qualify, and your base period is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. So if you've only been at your warehouse job for 8 months, make sure those months fall within the right time frame. Also, if your hours got cut but you're still employed, you might qualify for partial unemployment benefits which could help bridge the gap while you look for something better.
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