How much of your pay do you get on unemployment - NYS Department of Labor benefits amount?
Just got laid off from my warehouse job after 2 years and trying to figure out what to expect from unemployment. I was making about $22/hour working full time. Does anyone know how much of your regular pay you actually get from NYS Department of Labor benefits? I heard it's not the full amount but I'm not sure what percentage or if there's a cap. Really need to know so I can budget for rent and bills while I'm looking for another job.
18 comments
Join the conversation
Charlotte White
In New York, your weekly benefit amount is calculated at roughly 50% of your average weekly wage, but there are minimum and maximum limits. For 2025, the maximum weekly benefit is $504, and there's a minimum of about $104. So if you were making $22/hour at 40 hours per week, that's $880 weekly gross pay. Your unemployment would be around $440 per week if you qualify for the maximum, but it depends on your earnings history over the past 18 months that NYS Department of Labor looks at.
0 coins
Anthony Young
•Thanks! So it's basically half my regular pay if I qualify for the max? That's actually better than I thought it would be.
0 coins
Admin_Masters
yeah its about half but dont forget you still gotta pay taxes on it too, they dont automatically take it out unless you request it when you file your weekly claims
0 coins
Anthony Young
•Oh wow I didn't think about taxes. Should I have them take it out automatically or just deal with it at tax time?
0 coins
Charlotte White
•I'd recommend having the 10% federal tax withheld automatically. You can choose this option when you file your initial claim or change it later through your my.ny.gov account. It's easier than getting hit with a big tax bill next year.
0 coins
Matthew Sanchez
The actual calculation is more complex than just 50%. NYS Department of Labor looks at your highest earning quarter from your base period and divides by 26. Then they take 50% of your average weekly wage during that quarter. But yeah, most people end up somewhere around half their regular pay if they were working steady hours.
0 coins
Ella Thompson
•ugh the base period thing is so confusing, they should just make it simple and use your last few months of work
0 coins
JacksonHarris
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to check your exact benefit amount, I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Way better than sitting on hold for hours trying to get through myself.
0 coins
Anthony Young
•How much does something like that cost? I'm trying to save money right now obviously.
0 coins
JacksonHarris
•I found it worth it just to get actual answers about my claim status instead of guessing. The regular NYS Department of Labor phone lines are basically impossible to get through on.
0 coins
Jeremiah Brown
Keep in mind you also have to meet the job search requirements to keep getting benefits. You need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of them. NYS Department of Labor can ask to see your job search record at any time.
0 coins
Anthony Young
•What counts as a job search contact? Like applying online or do I need to actually talk to someone?
0 coins
Jeremiah Brown
•Online applications count, but you need to keep detailed records - company name, position, date, method of contact. Phone calls, in-person visits, networking events all count too. Just make sure you can prove you actually did it if they audit you.
0 coins
Eve Freeman
•@Jeremiah Brown Thanks for the tip about keeping detailed records! I didn t'realize they could audit your job search activities. Better to be prepared than get my benefits cut off for not having proper documentation.
0 coins
Owen Devar
Just want to add that you should apply for benefits as soon as possible after being laid off - there's a one week waiting period before you can start collecting, and benefits are calculated from when you first file, not when you lost your job. Also, make sure you have all your employment info ready (dates, employer details, reason for separation) because the NYS Department of Labor will need to verify everything with your former employer before approving your claim.
0 coins
Eli Wang
•@Owen Devar This is really helpful info! I actually haven t'filed yet because I just got laid off yesterday. Should I file today or wait until Monday since it s'the weekend? Also, when you say they verify with your former employer, does that mean my old boss could potentially block my claim somehow?
0 coins
Yuki Yamamoto
•@Eli Wang You can file online anytime, even weekends - the NYS Department of Labor website processes applications 24/7. Don t'wait until Monday, every day counts! As for your employer, they can t'really block "your" claim, but they can contest it if they think you were fired for misconduct rather than laid off. If you were genuinely laid off due to lack of work or company downsizing, you should be fine. The employer verification is mostly just confirming your work dates and wages.
0 coins
Anita George
One thing to keep in mind is that the $504 maximum weekly benefit amount gets adjusted annually, so make sure you're looking at the current year's rates. Also, if you worked part-time or had variable hours during your base period, your benefit calculation might be lower than expected. The NYS Department of Labor uses your earnings from the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim, so recent pay changes might not be reflected in your benefit amount. It's worth checking your benefit estimate on the ny.gov website once you file - they'll give you a pretty accurate breakdown of what to expect.
0 coins