NY unemployment benefit calculation - what salary gets the full $600 weekly amount?

The maximum weekly benefit amount for NY unemployment in 2025 is $600, and you generally need to have earned approximately $78,000 or more in your base period to qualify for the maximum. The base period is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim. Since you earned $52,000 annually (but only worked 8 months), you'd likely receive less than the maximum. NY calculates your weekly benefit as 1/26 of your highest quarter wages in the base period, up to the $600 maximum. You can estimate your benefit by taking your highest quarter earnings and dividing by 26. If you earned roughly $34,667 in 8 months ($52,000 ÷ 12 × 8), your highest quarter might be around $17,333, which divided by 26 gives about $667 - but that would be capped at the $600 maximum. However, since you weren't at the job for a full year, and depending on which quarters they count, you might receive less.

ppl saying $600 probably talking bout the old covid extra money that ended years ago lol. regular UI max is $600 now in 2025 but u need to make good money to get that

I got approved for benefits last month and I was making $82K at my job. My weekly payment is the full $600. My friend who made around $56K gets $504 per week. Hope that helps give you a real example.

The formula actually looks at your base period wages (first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before filing). If your highest quarter in that period is $15,600 or more, you'll get the maximum $600 weekly benefit. So with your $52K annual salary, if you worked all 3 months in your highest quarter, you earned roughly $13K that quarter (52K ÷ 4), which would give you about $500 weekly benefit (13K ÷ 26). However, if your earnings weren't evenly distributed and you had a quarter with overtime or bonuses pushing you over $15,600, you could potentially get the maximum. They'll look at all employers during the base period, not just your most recent one.

When I applied for NY unemployment in January, I couldn't get ANYONE on the phone to explain how they calculated my benefit amount. I knew I should qualify for the maximum but they gave me $524 instead of $600. Tried calling for THREE WEEKS with no luck getting through. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got connected to an agent in under 2 hours. They found the problem - they were missing wages from one employer. Got it fixed and backpaid the difference. Check out their demo video if you're struggling to reach someone: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

@unemployedinNY Yes, it's completely legitimate. They basically call NYSDOL for you and when they reach an agent, they connect you. Saved me weeks of frustration. They don't handle your claim or anything - just get you past the phone system nightmare.

Just to clarify something important - NYSDOL looks at ALL your covered employment during the base period, not just your most recent job. So if you had another job before the 8-month position, those wages might count too if they fall within your base period. Also, for 2025, you need about $15,600 in your highest quarter to qualify for the maximum $600 weekly benefit (because $15,600 ÷ 26 = $600).

NONE of this matters anyway because by the time they actually process your claim and make a determination youll be BROKE anyway!!! I filed in February and still nothing but "pending" for 6 weeks now while my bills pile up!!! The whole system is designed to make people give up!!

Update: I just got my monetary determination letter today! They calculated my weekly benefit at $578, which is pretty close to the maximum. Looks like my December bonus did help push up my highest quarter earnings. Thanks everyone for your help explaining how this works!