How to get more money from unemployment - NYS Department of Labor benefit increase options?
My weekly benefit amount is only $182 and I'm barely covering rent. I know they calculate it based on your earnings but is there any way to get more money from unemployment? I heard some people mention dependents allowance or something? My sister in another state gets way more than me. Are there any programs or adjustments I can apply for through NYS Department of Labor to increase my weekly amount? Really struggling here.
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Sofia Rodriguez
Your weekly benefit amount is calculated as 50% of your average weekly wage during your base period, up to the maximum of $504 per week in 2025. If you're only getting $182, that suggests your reported earnings during the base period were relatively low. Unfortunately, you can't change the calculation method, but you should verify NYS Department of Labor used all your wages correctly in their determination.
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NightOwl42
•How do I check if they calculated it right? I worked two jobs during part of last year but only one shows up on my monetary determination.
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Dmitry Ivanov
Check if you're eligible for the Dependency Benefit! If you have dependents under 18, NYS Department of Labor can add extra money to your weekly claim. It's not automatic - you have to apply for it separately. Also make sure all your employers from the base period are included in your wage calculation.
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Ava Thompson
•How much extra do you get for dependents? And do stepkids count?
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Dmitry Ivanov
•It varies but can be significant. Yes stepkids count if you're supporting them. You'll need to submit proof of dependency to NYS Department of Labor.
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Miguel Herrera
THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED!! They give you pennies while politicians get rich. I've been fighting for a decent benefit amount for months and they just keep giving me the runaround. NYS Department of Labor doesn't care if we can't pay our bills!
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Zainab Ali
•I feel you but getting angry won't change the calculation formula. Focus on making sure your wages were reported correctly first.
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Connor Murphy
If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor to verify your wage calculation, I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me through to a real person. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Was way easier than spending hours on hold trying to get through myself. They helped me get my missing wages added which increased my weekly amount by $67.
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NightOwl42
•That sounds too good to be true. How much does it cost?
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Connor Murphy
•Just focuses on getting you connected to the right department quickly. Worth checking out their site for the details. Saved me weeks of frustration trying to reach someone about my wage discrepancy.
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Ava Thompson
wait can you work part time and still get benefits?? maybe that would help boost your income
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Sofia Rodriguez
•Yes, you can work part-time while collecting UI. NYS Department of Labor uses a formula - if you earn less than your weekly benefit amount, you'll still get partial benefits. But you must report all earnings on your weekly claim.
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Yara Nassar
I'm in the same boat... $194 per week doesn't even cover groceries for my family. This is so stressful, what if I calculated something wrong when I applied? Can they reduce it even more if they find an error? I keep checking my account obsessively.
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Dmitry Ivanov
•Don't panic! If there was an error in your favor, they'd send an overpayment notice. Focus on verifying your base period wages are correct and look into the dependency benefit if you have kids.
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