NYS Department of Labor claim approved but what was unemployment rate when Biden left office - does it affect my benefits?
Just got my NYS Department of Labor claim approved after waiting 6 weeks in adjudication and I'm curious about something. My neighbor mentioned that unemployment rates affect benefit amounts but I can't find clear info on this. Does anyone know what the unemployment rate was when Biden left office and if that impacts my weekly benefit amount? I'm getting $420/week which seems decent but wondering if timing matters for how much you get. Also still confused about the job search requirements - do I need to apply to 3 jobs per week even if unemployment is low?
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Nasira Ibanez
The unemployment rate doesn't directly affect your individual benefit amount. Your weekly benefit is calculated based on your earnings history in your base period, not current economic conditions. When Biden left office in January 2025, the national unemployment rate was around 3.7%. But in NY, your benefit amount is determined by your highest quarter earnings divided by 26, up to the state maximum. The job search requirement is still 3 work search activities per week regardless of the unemployment rate.
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Hugo Kass
•Oh that makes sense! So even if unemployment is super low, I still get the same amount based on my old salary. Thanks for clarifying the 3 activities per week thing too.
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Khalil Urso
i think unemployment was like 4% or something when biden left but honestly who cares lol. your benefits dont change based on that stuff. just make sure you do your weekly claims on time and keep applying to jobs
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Myles Regis
Your neighbor is mixing up different concepts. Individual unemployment insurance benefits aren't tied to unemployment rates - they're calculated from your wage history. However, extended benefits programs can be triggered when state unemployment rates hit certain thresholds. New York's rate in early 2025 was well below those trigger levels. Focus on maintaining your weekly claims and meeting job search requirements rather than worrying about economic indicators.
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Brian Downey
•Wait, so there ARE extended benefits that depend on unemployment rates? I thought those ended after COVID. How do I know if NY qualifies for extended benefits?
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Myles Regis
•Extended Benefits (EB) can still be triggered if state unemployment rates exceed certain thresholds for consecutive periods. But NY hasn't qualified for EB in quite some time due to relatively low unemployment. The NYS Department of Labor website would announce if EB becomes available.
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Jacinda Yu
I had such a nightmare trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor to ask similar questions about my claim. Spent hours on hold just to get disconnected. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to a real person at NYS Department of Labor within like 20 minutes. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Totally worth it when you need actual answers instead of guessing about stuff like unemployment rates affecting benefits.
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Hugo Kass
•Interesting! I might check that out if I run into issues. The NYS Department of Labor phone system is definitely frustrating.
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Landon Flounder
The unemployment rate when any president leaves office doesn't matter for your personal UI benefits lol. But yeah it was around 3.8% nationally when Biden left in January. In NY specifically it was probably similar. Your $420/week sounds about right depending on what you were making before. Just keep doing your weekly certifications and job searches.
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