If I get laid off how much can I collect unemployment - NYS Department of Labor benefit calculations?

NYS Department of Labor calculates your weekly benefit rate based on your highest paid quarter in your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters). At $62k annually, you'd probably qualify for somewhere around $400-450 per week, but the exact amount depends on your quarterly earnings distribution. Maximum weekly benefit in NY is currently $504. Benefits typically last 26 weeks.

There's no waiting week in NY anymore, so you can start collecting right away if approved. Make sure to file your claim the week you become unemployed, not before. You'll need to do weekly claims every week to keep getting paid. Also you have to actively search for work - they require 3 work search activities per week.

I got laid off last year and had such a hard time getting through to someone at NYS Department of Labor when my claim got stuck in adjudication for weeks! The phone lines are always busy and the callback system never worked for me. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that gets you 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 trying to check on my claim status.

just be prepared for the system to be a nightmare. took me 6 weeks to get my first payment even though everything was supposedly fine with my claim. the my.ny.gov website crashes constantly and good luck ever talking to a human being

Don't forget you'll owe taxes on unemployment benefits! They don't automatically withhold federal taxes unless you request it. I learned this the hard way and owed a bunch at tax time. You can have them withhold 10% when you file your weekly claims.