How much does unemployment cover in NY - confused about my benefit amount calculation

Your benefit amount sounds about right for your salary range. NYS Department of Labor calculates your weekly benefit rate using your highest quarter of earnings in your base period, typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed. The maximum weekly benefit in NY for 2025 is $504, so you're getting the max amount. This covers roughly 50% of your average weekly wage up to that cap. You can verify the calculation by logging into your my.ny.gov account and checking your monetary determination.

yeah the $504 is the max right now, lucky you! i only get $347 a week because my previous job didnt pay that well. make sure youre filing your weekly claims on time every week or you'll lose benefits

The weekly benefit amount only covers your basic unemployment compensation. Depending on your situation, you might also be eligible for things like job training programs through the Workforce Development system, but those are separate applications. Your $504 weekly benefit will continue as long as you meet the work search requirements and file your weekly claims. Just make sure you're documenting your job search activities - you need to make at least 3 work search contacts per week in NY.

If you're having trouble reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor to verify your benefit calculation or ask questions about additional programs, I had good luck using Claimyr (claimyr.com) when I needed to speak with an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. I was stuck on hold for hours trying to call directly, but this service got me through to someone who could explain my benefit breakdown and answer questions about my specific situation.

The unemployment system is such a nightmare to navigate. I spent WEEKS trying to understand my benefit amount and whether I was getting everything I qualified for. Nobody explains anything clearly and the website is confusing as hell. At least you're getting the maximum - some of us aren't so lucky even though we worked our butts off for years.

Just confirming what others said - $504 is indeed the current maximum weekly benefit amount for regular unemployment insurance in New York. This amount gets reviewed annually. Your benefits will last up to 26 weeks as long as you continue to meet eligibility requirements. Make sure you understand the work search requirements because that's where a lot of people run into issues.

Welcome to the community! I see you're getting great advice here about your benefit amount. One thing I'd add is that you should also check if you qualify for SNAP benefits (food stamps) while you're on unemployment - the income limits are pretty generous and it can really help stretch your budget. Also, if you had any dependents, make sure NY DOL has that information because there might be additional dependency benefits available. The $504 weekly is just your base amount, but there could be small additions for qualifying dependents.