How much unemployment will I get if I make $800 a week - NYS Department of Labor calculation help
I've been working at my current job for about 18 months making $800 per week ($41,600 annually). My hours just got cut to basically nothing and I'm thinking about filing for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor. Does anyone know how they calculate the weekly benefit amount? I'm trying to figure out if it's worth it or if I should just look for another job immediately. I've never filed for UI before so I have no idea what to expect.
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Heather Tyson
NYS Department of Labor calculates your weekly benefit rate based on your highest quarter of earnings in your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters). They take that quarter and divide by 26. With $800/week consistently, you're looking at roughly $10,400 per quarter, so your weekly benefit would be around $400. The maximum weekly benefit in NY is $504 for 2025, so you'd likely get the full calculated amount.
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Paloma Clark
•That's actually higher than I expected! So I'd get about half my regular pay? That might be worth filing for while I look for something else.
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Raul Neal
just to add - you also have to meet the job search requirements. NYS Department of Labor requires you to apply for jobs and log your search activities. its not just free money you still gotta be actively looking
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Jenna Sloan
•The job search requirement is 3 work search activities per week, and you have to keep a log. You can do this through the NYS Department of Labor website or keep your own records. Activities include applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, etc.
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Christian Burns
I make similar money and got around $380/week when I was laid off last year. The calculation can vary depending on your exact earnings history though. You should definitely file - even if you find a job quickly, having the claim open gives you a safety net.
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Sasha Reese
Wait I'm confused about the quarters thing... what if I just started this job 18 months ago? Do they look at my previous jobs too? I had a different job before this one that paid way less.
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Heather Tyson
•Yes, they look at ALL your covered employment during the base period, not just your current job. So if you had lower-paying work in some of those quarters, it could affect your benefit calculation. The system automatically pulls your wage records from all employers who reported to NYS Department of Labor.
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Muhammad Hobbs
The hardest part honestly isn't the money calculation, it's actually getting through to someone at NYS Department of Labor when you have questions. I spent weeks trying to call them about my claim status. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration dealing with the phone system.
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Paloma Clark
•I was dreading having to call them if I run into issues. How does that service work exactly? Do they charge a lot?
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Muhammad Hobbs
•They basically handle the calling for you and get you connected to an actual NYS Department of Labor representative. Way easier than sitting on hold for hours or getting hung up on. Check out their demo video, it explains everything.
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Noland Curtis
honestly just file and see what happens. the worst they can say is no and youll know for sure instead of guessing
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StarSailor
I went through this exact situation last year! With your $800/week income, you should definitely file. The process is actually pretty straightforward - you can do it all online through the NYS Department of Labor website. Just make sure you have your Social Security number, employment history for the past 18 months, and your most recent pay stub ready. One tip: file on Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday if possible - those are typically less busy days and the system runs smoother. Also, even if your hours are just cut (not completely eliminated), you might still qualify for partial benefits if your reduced earnings are below your weekly benefit amount.
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Oliver Weber
•This is really helpful advice! I didn't know about filing on specific days to avoid system issues. Quick question - when you say "partial benefits" for reduced hours, does that mean I could potentially get some unemployment even if I'm still technically employed but just working way fewer hours? That would be a game changer since my hours got cut to almost nothing but I'm technically still on the payroll.
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