How much unemployment will I get if I make $700 a week in New York?
I've been working at my current job for about 8 months making $700 per week and I'm worried I might get laid off soon. I want to prepare myself financially and understand what my weekly unemployment benefit would be if I have to file a claim with NYS Department of Labor. Does anyone know how they calculate the weekly benefit amount? I tried looking on the my.ny.gov website but it's confusing with all the base period stuff. Any help would be appreciated!
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Diego Chavez
The NYS Department of Labor calculates your weekly benefit rate based on your highest paid quarter during your base period, not just your current weekly pay. Your base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. So if you file in January 2025, they'd look at your wages from July 2023 through September 2024. The formula is roughly 1/26th of your highest quarter wages, with a maximum of $504 per week in 2025.
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AstroAlpha
•That's helpful but I'm still confused about the quarters. If I've only been working 8 months, does that mean I won't qualify for the full amount?
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Diego Chavez
•Exactly right - you need wages in at least two quarters of your base period to qualify, and the more quarters with wages, the higher your potential benefit. With only 8 months of work, you might get a lower weekly amount than someone who worked the full base period.
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Anastasia Smirnova
i think its like half your weekly pay but theres a max amount. i got like $350 when i was making around $600 so maybe you'd get more??
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Sean O'Brien
•It's not quite half your weekly pay - that's a common misconception. The NYS Department of Labor uses a more complex calculation based on your quarterly earnings during the base period, not your current weekly wages.
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Zara Shah
I was in a similar situation last year and had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to get my exact benefit amount calculated. The phone lines are always busy and the online calculator wasn't working right. I ended up using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get connected to an actual agent who could look up my specific case. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call myself and I got my questions answered in like 20 minutes.
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AstroAlpha
•Thanks for the suggestion! How much did that service cost? I'm trying to save money since I might be out of work soon.
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Zara Shah
•They focus on getting you connected quickly rather than costing a lot. Definitely worth it when you need real answers about your specific situation and can't get through the regular way.
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Luca Bianchi
The whole NYS Department of Labor system is so confusing! They make you jump through hoops just to find out basic information about your own benefits. Why can't they just have a simple calculator that actually works?
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GalacticGuardian
•I agree it's frustrating but there are good reasons why it's complicated. Everyone's work history is different and they have to verify everything to prevent fraud. Still annoying though when you just want a quick estimate.
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Nia Harris
Based on $700 weekly for 8 months, you're probably looking at somewhere between $250-350 per week, but that's just a rough guess. The actual amount depends on exactly when you worked, what quarters those wages fall into, and whether you had any other jobs during your base period. You really need to file the claim to get the exact calculation.
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Carmen Ruiz
•That estimate sounds about right from what I've seen with friends who filed recently. One thing to keep in mind is that if you do get laid off, file your claim right away even if you're not sure about the exact amount. There's usually a waiting week before benefits start, so the sooner you file, the sooner you can start receiving payments. Also make sure to keep good records of your work history and pay stubs - it'll make the process smoother.
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Yara Khoury
•This is really helpful information everyone! I'm also dealing with potential job instability and had no idea about the base period calculation. @AstroAlpha, another thing you might want to consider is setting up your NY.gov account now if you haven't already - I've heard it can take a while to verify your identity online, and having that ready ahead of time could save you stress later. Also, does anyone know if there are any job search requirements you have to meet while collecting benefits? I want to make sure I understand all the obligations before I potentially need to file.
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Matthew Sanchez
•@Yara Khoury Yes, there are job search requirements! In NY you generally need to make at least 3 work search contacts per week and keep records of your job search activities. You ll'need to log into the NY.gov system weekly to certify that you re'actively looking for work. The good news is that online applications, networking events, and even some job training programs can count toward your search requirements. They re'pretty flexible about what counts as a valid work search activity, but you do need to document everything. Setting up that NY.gov account early is definitely smart advice!
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Hailey O'Leary
•Wow, this has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea unemployment benefits were calculated this way. I've been stressing about potentially losing my job and had completely wrong assumptions about how much I'd get. The base period calculation makes so much more sense now than the "half your weekly pay" rule I kept hearing. I'm definitely going to start gathering all my pay stubs and set up that NY.gov account like everyone suggested. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to explain this - it's given me a much clearer picture of what to expect and how to prepare. This community is amazing for practical advice like this!
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