NY unemployment benefit calculation - how much do I need to earn for max $600 weekly benefit?

Your benefit amount is based on your High Quarter wages during your base period (the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before filing). You need to have earned around $23,200+ in your highest quarter to qualify for the max $600 weekly benefit. Working only 7 months at that salary level probably didn't give you enough in a single quarter to hit the maximum. They'll look at your previous work history too if it falls in the base period.

After weeks of calling and getting nowhere with ny unemployment, I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual person! Finally got all my benefit questions answered and fixed my payment issues. Best thing I've done - talking to a real agent got my benefits sorted in one call instead of waiting for emails that never come. Check out their youtube too https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

I had to earn about $76K annually to get the max $600. Its all about what you earned in your highest quarter - and they only look at the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you applied. So if you filed in February 2023, they're looking at Oct 2021-Sep 2022. Not the most recent months.

The formula is your highest quarter wages divided by 26. So to get the max $600, you need to have made at least $15,600 in your highest quarter. BUT they also cap it at 1/2 your average weekly wage from your high quarter. So basicly you need around $23,200+ in a single quarter to hit the max. I think that works out to around $92K annual if its consistent income.

Not sure about the exact salary but just wanted to say that $486 is actually pretty good. I was making $45k and only got $380 per week. At least your getting something decent!

Here's the full breakdown for how NY unemployment calculates benefits: - They look at your base period (first 4 of last 5 completed calendar quarters) - Find your highest quarter earnings - Divide that by 26 to get your weekly benefit rate - But it can't exceed 50% of the state's average weekly wage - And it's capped at $600 maximum To get the full $600, you need to have earned at least $15,600 in your highest quarter of the base period, which typically means an annual salary of $93,600+ if your income is steady throughout the year. If you're having trouble reaching someone to answer questions, I highly recommend using claimyr.com - it's a calling service that gets you connected to an actual NY unemployment agent. I wasted 2 weeks trying to call myself before using them and got through same day. 100% worth it when you have complicated questions that only a rep can answer.

The whole system is designed to be confusing af 🤬 I spent hours trying to figure this out when I got laid off. Got different answers from diffrent people too. Most reliable source was the handbook they mail out.

have you checked your determination letter? should show how they calculated it. mine showed the quarters they used and the exact formula.

I work in HR and help employees with this stuff all the time. For 2023, to get the maximum $600 weekly benefit, you need to have earned at least $15,600 in your highest quarter during the base period. For most people, thats around $93,600 annual salary assuming your pay is consistent throughout the year. With your $58,000 salary and only 7 months at that job, you probably didnt hit the threshold in any single quarter. The $486 sounds accurate based on what you described.

Ughhh ny unemployment is such a nightmare to deal with. Took me 5 weeks to even get my first payment and then had to deal with all kinds of calculation issues. If you need to talk to a person (which you probly do), good luck. I finally used claimyr.com after seeing it mentioned here, and it actually worked. Got me through to someone who fixed my benefit amount that same day.

$486 actually sounds about right for your salary. I was making around $62k and got $510 weekly. From what I understand you need to make over $90k to get the full $600.

Don't obsess over the maximum tbh. At least you're getting something! I got laid off from my $42k job and am only getting $340/week which barely covers my rent. Consider yourself lucky with the $486