How to calculate unemployment weekly benefit amount - NYS Department of Labor formula explained
I'm trying to figure out exactly how to calculate unemployment benefits before I file my claim with NYS Department of Labor. I've been working for the past 18 months making about $52,000 annually but I'm not sure how they determine your weekly benefit amount. I know it's based on your earnings but I can't find a clear explanation of the actual calculation formula anywhere on the my.ny.gov website. Does anyone know the specific steps NYS Department of Labor uses to calculate your weekly UI benefit? I want to have realistic expectations before I submit my application.
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Samantha Howard
NYS Department of Labor uses your highest quarter earnings from your base period (first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file). They take that highest quarter amount, divide by 26, then that's your weekly benefit rate. Maximum is currently $504 per week. So if your highest quarter was $13,000, you'd get $500 weekly ($13,000 ÷ 26 = $500).
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Benjamin Kim
•Thank you! So they don't look at my total annual earnings, just the single highest quarter? That makes more sense now.
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Megan D'Acosta
wait i thought it was based on your total earnings over the whole base period? i've been unemployed twice and never really understood how they got my numbers
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Sarah Ali
The calculation is actually more specific than that. NYS Department of Labor looks at your base period wages (the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters). You need at least $2,600 in your highest quarter AND total base period wages of at least 1.5 times your highest quarter amount to qualify. Then your weekly benefit rate is your highest quarter divided by 26, capped at the maximum which is $504 for 2025.
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Benjamin Kim
•This is really helpful! So there's both a minimum qualification threshold AND the calculation formula. I think I meet both requirements based on my earnings.
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Ryan Vasquez
•Yeah the 1.5 times rule trips up a lot of people who had one really good quarter but not much other earnings. NYS Department of Labor wants to see consistent work history.
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Avery Saint
ugh this system is so confusing!!! why can't they just use your last year's W2 like normal people would think?? I spent hours trying to figure this out when I got laid off and the NYS Department of Labor website is absolutely useless for explaining anything clearly
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Taylor Chen
I had trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor to get my calculation explained when my benefit amount seemed wrong. Kept getting disconnected after waiting on hold forever. Finally used claimyr.com which got me through to an actual agent who walked through my calculation step by step. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration compared to calling the regular number.
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Benjamin Kim
•I might need to try that if I run into issues. The phone system sounds like a nightmare from what everyone says.
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Megan D'Acosta
•is that like a paid service or something? seems weird to pay someone to call for you
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Taylor Chen
•It's worth it when you can't get through any other way and need answers about your claim. Way less stressful than spending hours on hold.
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Keith Davidson
Just a heads up - if you worked in multiple states during your base period you might need to file an interstate claim which can affect the calculation. NYS Department of Labor will combine wages from other states but it gets more complicated.
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Ali Anderson
For someone making $52k annually, you're probably looking at around $400-500 per week if your earnings were spread evenly across quarters. The key thing to remember is that NYS Department of Labor uses calendar quarters, not rolling quarters. So if you're filing in May 2025, your base period would be Q1 2024 through Q4 2024. Make sure you have all your pay stubs or W-2s handy when you file because they'll verify your wages. The online application will walk you through it but having your earnings breakdown by quarter beforehand really helps speed up the process.
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