How much money from unemployment benefits can I expect in NY?
I just lost my job after working as a retail manager for 3 years making about $52,000 annually. I'm trying to figure out how much money from unemployment I'll actually get each week so I can budget for my bills. I know NYS Department of Labor calculates it based on your wages but I can't find a clear answer anywhere. Does anyone know the formula or have experience with similar salary ranges? I need to know if this will even cover my rent.
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Zoe Stavros
NYS Department of Labor calculates your weekly benefit rate using your highest quarter earnings from your base period. For someone making $52k annually, you're probably looking at around $400-450 per week maximum. The formula takes your highest quarter wages, divides by 26, then applies the benefit formula. You can get up to 26 weeks of benefits typically.
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Andre Moreau
•That's more than I expected actually! Do you know if that amount gets taxed or do I receive the full $400-450?
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Jamal Harris
I was making about the same as you and got $438 per week when I filed last year. Just remember you have to file weekly claims every week and do your job search requirements or they'll cut you off. The money usually hits your account 2-3 days after you certify if there are no issues with your claim.
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Mei Chen
•How many job contacts do you need to do each week? I keep hearing different numbers.
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Jamal Harris
•It's 3 job search activities per week minimum. Can be applications, interviews, networking events, etc. Keep good records because they do audit sometimes.
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Liam Sullivan
ugh the whole system is so confusing! I've been trying to get through to someone at NYS Department of Labor for two weeks to ask about my benefit amount but their phone lines are always busy. I just want to talk to a real person who can explain this stuff clearly instead of trying to decode their website.
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Amara Okafor
•I had the same problem until someone told me about Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to NYS Department of Labor agents - you can check it out at 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 hung up on.
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CosmicCommander
The maximum weekly benefit rate in NY is $504 as of 2025 but most people don't qualify for the max unless they were making really good money. Your amount depends on your earnings history in the base period which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed.
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Giovanni Colombo
same boat here, lost my restaurant job and trying to figure out if unemployment will even be worth it with all the hoops they make you jump through
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QuantumQuest
•It's definitely worth filing! Even if the process seems complicated, you've been paying into the system through your paychecks so you've earned those benefits. The weekly filing and job search requirements become routine after a few weeks. Don't let the bureaucracy discourage you from getting the financial support you need while job hunting.
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Melissa Lin
Just went through this process myself after getting laid off from my office job. One thing to keep in mind is that your weekly benefit amount is roughly 50% of your average weekly wage, but capped at the maximum. With your $52k salary, you were making about $1,000 per week, so you'd likely qualify for around $430-450 weekly like others mentioned. Also heads up - you can choose to have taxes withheld (10% federal) when you set up your claim, which I'd recommend so you don't get hit with a big tax bill later. The money definitely helps cover basics while job searching!
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