NYS Department of Labor unemployment benefit amounts - how much do they give for unemployment?
I'm trying to figure out what to expect if I file for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor. My job at a retail company just ended and I need to know how much they actually give for unemployment payments. I made about $45,000 last year but I have no idea how they calculate the weekly benefit amount. Does anyone know what the current maximum is and how they determine your payment? I've heard different numbers from people and want to know what's realistic before I start the application process.
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Kendrick Webb
NYS Department of Labor calculates your weekly benefit rate based on your highest quarter earnings in your base period. The maximum weekly benefit for 2025 is $504, but most people get less than that. They take your highest quarter wages, divide by 26, then multiply by 50%. So if your highest quarter was $12,000, you'd get about $230 per week. You can get an estimate on the my.ny.gov website before you file.
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Norman Fraser
•Thanks! That's really helpful. So with my $45k salary, my highest quarter was probably around $11,250. That would put me at around $216 per week if I'm doing the math right?
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Hattie Carson
yeah the amounts vary a lot depending on what you made. i got $287 a week when i was laid off from my warehouse job last spring. took about 3 weeks to get my first payment after filing but once it started it was pretty regular
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Destiny Bryant
The benefit calculator on the NYS Department of Labor website is pretty accurate for estimating your weekly amount. Just remember you also need to meet the job search requirements and file your weekly claims on time. Missing a weekly claim can delay your payments. Also, benefits are taxable income so you might want to have taxes withheld if you don't want a surprise at tax time.
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Dyllan Nantx
•Wait, they take taxes out? I didn't know that! How much do they typically withhold?
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Destiny Bryant
•Federal tax withholding is 10% if you elect it, but it's optional. You can choose to have it withheld when you file your weekly claims or just pay at tax time.
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TillyCombatwarrior
I had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone when I needed to check on my benefit amount calculation. Kept getting busy signals and when I did get through, I'd get disconnected. Someone on here mentioned claimyr.com which helped me actually reach an agent to verify my weekly benefit rate. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Made it so much easier to get my questions answered about the payment calculation.
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Anna Xian
•Interesting, never heard of that service. Did they charge you anything for helping you get through?
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TillyCombatwarrior
•They focus on getting you connected rather than the cost aspect. For me it was worth it since I wasted hours trying to call on my own and never got through to verify my benefit amount.
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Jungleboo Soletrain
The whole system is so confusing with all the different calculations and requirements! I filed last month and I'm still not 100% sure I understood everything correctly about my benefit amount. At least the weekly claims are straightforward once you get started.
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