How much unemployment will I get if I make $3,000 a week - NYS Department of Labor calculation help?

NYS Department of Labor uses your highest quarter earnings from the past 5 quarters to calculate your weekly benefit rate. With your income level, you'll likely hit the maximum weekly benefit amount which is currently $504 per week in New York. The formula is roughly 50% of your average weekly wage, but there's a cap. Your high salary actually works against you here since you'll max out quickly.

yeah the max benefit in NY is pretty low compared to other states especially for high earners. i was making around $2800/week before i got laid off last year and getting $504 was a huge adjustment. you'll also need to actively search for work and report it weekly or they'll cut you off

Since you're making $156k annually, you'll definitely qualify for the maximum benefit rate. But here's what many people don't realize - you can only collect for 26 weeks maximum in New York (unless there are federal extensions). At $504/week, that's about $13,100 total. Also, if you have any severance pay, that might delay when your benefits start. Make sure to file immediately when you're laid off even if you think you might not qualify.

I had similar income and went through this nightmare trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor when I had questions about my claim calculation. The phone system is absolutely terrible - you'll get disconnected constantly. I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually gets you connected to a real person at NYS Department of Labor. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustration and I got my questions answered in one call.

the whole system is designed to screw over people who actually paid into it for years. making 156k means you paid the max into unemployment taxes but you only get back peanuts. meanwhile people who barely worked get almost as much. its totally backwards

Just want to add that you should start tracking your job search activities now even before you get laid off. NYS Department of Labor wants detailed records and it's easier to stay organized from the beginning. Also, if you're in finance, consider whether you might qualify for Trade Adjustment Assistance if your job loss is related to international trade - that can extend benefits and provide retraining funds.

One thing to keep in mind is that your benefits might be subject to federal income tax, so that $504/week could be even less take-home depending on your tax situation. You can choose to have 10% withheld for federal taxes when you file your weekly certifications. Also, since you're in finance, you might want to look into whether your company offers any outplacement services - many larger firms do, and that can help with your job search requirements while you're collecting benefits.

Another thing to consider is timing if you do get laid off in January - that's actually a good time to file because your benefit year will run through the end of December, so you'll have the full 26 weeks available if needed. Also, start documenting everything now about your work history and wages. NYS Department of Labor sometimes has issues with their wage records, especially for high earners, so having your own pay stubs and tax documents ready can speed up the process. And don't forget - even though $504 is way less than your current income, it's still something, and every week you delay filing after becoming unemployed is money left on the table since you can't backdate claims.