How much unemployment will I get if I make $2000 a week - NYS Department of Labor calculation help?
I just got laid off from my construction job where I was making about $2000 per week for the past year and a half. I've never filed for unemployment before and I'm trying to figure out what my weekly benefit amount would be through NYS Department of Labor. I know it's based on your earnings but I can't find a clear calculator anywhere. My HR said to file ASAP but I want to know what to expect. Has anyone here made similar wages and can tell me roughly what NYS Department of Labor pays out? I'm really stressed about covering my mortgage and bills.
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Ethan Brown
NYS Department of Labor calculates your weekly benefit amount using your highest quarter earnings from your base period. With $2000/week you were making around $104k annually, so you'd likely qualify for close to the maximum weekly benefit amount which is $504 in 2025. The exact formula is 1/26th of your high quarter wages, but it caps at $504. You should file immediately since there's a waiting week and benefits are backdated to when you file, not when you're approved.
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CosmicCrusader
•Thanks! So even though I was making $2000 a week, the max I can get is $504? That's a huge drop but better than nothing I guess.
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Yuki Yamamoto
yeah i was making good money too and the unemployment is nowhere near what you actually made. its like 25% of what i was earning but at least it helps with some bills
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Carmen Ortiz
The key thing is to file your claim right away through the NYS Department of Labor website. Don't wait around trying to calculate exact amounts - just get the process started. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the last 18 months. If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone to ask questions, I had success using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me reach an actual agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works.
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Andre Rousseau
•Never heard of that service before. Is it legit or one of those scam things? I've been trying to call NYS Department of Labor for weeks about my adjudication.
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Carmen Ortiz
•It's legitimate - they just help you get through the phone queue faster. I was skeptical too but it actually worked when I needed to talk to someone about my claim status.
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Zoe Papadakis
UGH the whole system is so frustrating!! I made decent money too and now I'm getting PENNIES compared to what I need. NYS Department of Labor acts like $504 is supposed to cover a $3000 mortgage payment. The whole thing is a joke and they make you jump through hoops every week just to get that measly amount!
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Jamal Carter
•I feel your pain but at least it's something while you look for work. Could be worse I guess.
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AstroAdventurer
Wait I'm confused about the calculation. Is it based on your last job's wages or all your jobs? I had two part-time jobs before getting laid off and I don't know which wages they use for the NYS Department of Labor calculation.
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Ethan Brown
•NYS Department of Labor uses ALL covered employment from your base period, not just your last job. They look at the four quarters before you filed and use your highest quarter earnings to calculate your weekly benefit amount.
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Logan Stewart
I went through this exact situation last year when I got laid off from my electrical work making around $1900/week. Like others said, you'll probably hit the max benefit of $504/week which is rough when you're used to much higher income. The important thing is to file immediately - don't wait! I made the mistake of waiting a few days thinking I might get called back, and you can't backdate benefits before your filing date. Also make sure you have all your pay stubs ready because NYS Department of Labor will ask for documentation. The whole process takes a few weeks to get your first payment, so the sooner you start the better. Good luck man, I know it's stressful but it does help bridge the gap while you're job hunting.
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Zara Ahmed
•Thanks for sharing your experience Logan! That's really helpful to hear from someone who went through the same thing. I definitely won't wait - going to file today. Did you have any issues with the documentation process or was it pretty straightforward once you had your pay stubs ready?
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