How much does unemployment give you in New York State - weekly benefit amounts?
I just got laid off from my job at a warehouse and I'm trying to figure out if I should even bother applying for unemployment benefits. Does anyone know how much NYS Department of Labor actually pays out per week? I was making about $18/hour working full time so around $720 gross per week. Will unemployment even be worth it or is it like $100 a week? I need to know if I should focus on finding another job ASAP or if unemployment will help me get by for a bit while I look.
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Brianna Schmidt
Your weekly benefit amount depends on your earnings over the past 18 months. NYS Department of Labor calculates it using your highest quarter of earnings in your base period. Generally you'll get about 50% of your average weekly wage, but there's a minimum of $104 and maximum of $504 per week for 2025. With your income level you're probably looking at somewhere around $350-400 per week before taxes.
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Andrew Pinnock
•That's actually better than I thought! So they look at 18 months of earnings not just my most recent job?
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Alexis Renard
Yeah the benefit calculator on the NYS Department of Labor website can give you an estimate if you have your pay stubs. You'll need your gross earnings from each quarter going back. Just remember you have to pay taxes on unemployment benefits so budget for that.
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Camila Jordan
•wait unemployment is taxable?? nobody told me that when I filed my claim last year
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Tyler Lefleur
The system is so confusing honestly. I applied 2 weeks ago and still don't know what my weekly amount will be. My claim is stuck in adjudication and every time I try calling NYS Department of Labor I get hung up on after waiting forever.
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Madeline Blaze
•If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone, I used a service called Claimyr that helped me reach an actual agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting disconnected.
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Max Knight
just apply anyway, even if its not a ton of money its better than nothing and you paid into the system through your payroll taxes so you earned it
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Andrew Pinnock
•True, I never thought about it that way. I did pay into this system so I might as well use it when I need it.
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Connor Murphy
I went through this same situation last year when I got laid off from my retail job. With your $18/hour wage, you should definitely apply - I was making similar and ended up getting around $380 per week. The application process can be frustrating but it's worth it. Make sure you have all your recent pay stubs ready and apply as soon as possible since there's usually a waiting period. Also start your job search right away since you have to show you're actively looking for work to keep getting benefits. The money definitely helped me cover rent and groceries while I found something new.
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Mateo Silva
•@Connor Murphy That s'really helpful to know! How long did it take for your benefits to start after you applied? I m'worried about the gap between filing and actually getting paid since I don t'have much saved up.
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