How much is unemployment after military service in NY - NYS Department of Labor rates?
Just got out of the Army last month and trying to figure out what my unemployment benefits would be in New York. I know there's some special rules for veterans but I'm confused about how much unemployment after military service actually pays. My last civilian job was 4 years ago making about $45k but obviously I've been getting military pay since then. Does NYS Department of Labor use my military wages or do I need to have civilian work history? Really need to know the dollar amounts so I can budget while job hunting.
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Tate Jensen
For veterans, NYS Department of Labor can use your military wages under the Unemployment Compensation for Ex-servicemembers (UCX) program. Your benefit amount is calculated the same way as civilian claims - roughly 50% of your average weekly wage up to the maximum. In 2025, the max weekly benefit is $504. You'll need your DD-214 and military wage statements (LES) from your last year of service to file.
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Marcelle Drum
•Thanks! So if I was making like $3200/month base pay plus allowances, what would that work out to weekly?
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Connor O'Neill
•@Tate Jensen That s'really helpful info! Quick follow-up question - do you know if there s'a waiting period before benefits start, or does the UCX program kick in right away once approved? Also wondering if the 26-week maximum applies the same way for veterans or if there are any extensions available.
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Connor Murphy
•@Marcelle Drum That would be about $738 per week gross $3200/month (= $738/week ,)so you d'get roughly $369 weekly in unemployment benefits 50% (of that .)But since NY caps it at $504 max, you d'probably get closer to that maximum amount depending on your total military compensation including allowances. Definitely include your BAH and BAS like Gabriel mentioned!
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Adaline Wong
i went through this same thing 2 years ago. the process was actually pretty smooth once i got all my paperwork together. you definitely want to file as soon as possible because there's sometimes delays with verifying military records
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Marcelle Drum
•How long did it take for your claim to get approved? I'm worried about the verification process taking forever.
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Gabriel Ruiz
One thing to watch out for - make sure you're reporting ALL your military income including BAH and BAS when they calculate your benefit amount. A lot of veterans miss this and end up with lower payments than they should get. Also, you might qualify for additional job training programs through the Veterans Administration that can extend your benefits.
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Misterclamation Skyblue
•Wait, they count housing allowance too? I thought it was just base pay
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Gabriel Ruiz
•Yes, for unemployment purposes they use your total military compensation. It's different from how taxes work.
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Peyton Clarke
I've been trying to reach someone at NYS Department of Labor for weeks about my veteran claim and keep getting disconnected. The automated system is useless and I can't get through to talk to a real person about my specific situation. This is so frustrating when you're trying to get benefits you earned.
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Vince Eh
•I had the same problem until someone told me about Claimyr. It's a service that helps you actually get through to NYS Department of Labor agents on the phone. I used it last week and finally talked to someone who could explain my veteran benefits calculation. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows exactly how it works. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.
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Peyton Clarke
•Never heard of that but at this point I'm willing to try anything. The regular phone system is broken.
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Sophia Gabriel
Just wanted to add that the job search requirements are the same for veterans as everyone else - you still need to do 3 work search activities per week and keep records. Some people think military service exempts you from that but it doesn't.
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Omar Zaki
Hey Marcelle! I went through this exact process about 6 months ago when I got out of the Marines. Just to add to what everyone else said - make sure you file your claim as soon as possible after your separation date. I waited a few weeks thinking I needed to find a job first, but that just delayed my benefits starting. Also, if you have any questions about the UCX program specifically, the Department of Veterans Affairs has counselors who can walk you through it. They were super helpful when I was confused about which forms to submit. Good luck with your job search!
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Lilah Brooks
•@Omar Zaki Thanks for sharing your experience! That s'really good advice about filing right away. I m'curious - when you filed, did you have any issues with the transition from active duty pay to unemployment benefits? Like was there any gap in income or did it flow pretty smoothly once approved? Also wondering if the VA counselors helped you navigate any other veteran-specific benefits while you were job hunting.
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Rhett Bowman
•@Omar Zaki That s'such valuable advice about filing immediately! I made the same mistake of waiting when I transitioned out of the Navy last year. Did you run into any complications with the DD-214 verification process? Mine took almost 3 weeks to get verified through the system, which delayed everything. Also, for anyone reading this - if you re'still active duty and getting close to separation, start gathering all your LES statements now. Having everything organized made the application so much smoother once I finally got around to filing.
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