NYS Department of Labor unemployment benefit amounts - how much was unemployment during covid compared to now?
I'm trying to figure out what my weekly benefit amount should be for my new claim. I remember hearing people got way more money during the pandemic but I'm not sure what the regular amounts are supposed to be now. My friend said she was getting like $600+ per week back then but that seems really high? I just filed my initial claim last week and I'm wondering what to expect. Does anyone know what the current maximum weekly benefit is in NY and how they calculate it? Also curious what people were actually getting during covid vs now.
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Natasha Volkova
The maximum weekly benefit amount in NY for 2025 is $504. During COVID there was an additional $600 federal supplement (FPUC) that ended in 2021, which is why your friend was getting so much more. Your actual benefit amount depends on your earnings history - they take your highest quarter earnings from your base period and divide by 26. So if you made $13,000 in your highest quarter, you'd get the max $504/week.
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Oliver Zimmermann
•Thanks! That makes sense about the extra $600. I think my highest quarter was around $11,000 so I probably won't get the full amount but still should be decent.
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Javier Torres
yeah i was getting like $800 a week during covid it was crazy, now im back to my regular $320 or whatever. the extra money was nice while it lasted but it was temporary federal thing
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Emma Davis
•Wait so there's no extra money anymore at all? I thought there might still be some kind of supplement available?
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Natasha Volkova
•No, all the pandemic-era supplements ended years ago. What you get now is just your regular state unemployment benefit based on your work history.
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CosmicCaptain
I've been trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor for weeks to ask about my benefit calculation because something seems wrong with my amount. The phone lines are always busy and I can't get a real person to explain how they came up with my weekly benefit. It's so frustrating when you need answers about your claim!
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Malik Johnson
•I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to actual NYS Department of Labor agents. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. It was a lifesaver when I needed to resolve my benefit calculation issue.
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Isabella Ferreira
just to add some context - during covid there were multiple programs. regular UI got the $600 boost, plus there was PUA for gig workers and PEUC for extended benefits. some people were getting unemployment for like 18+ months which never happens normally. now its back to the standard 26 weeks maximum and just your regular benefit amount
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Oliver Zimmermann
•Good to know, thanks! I was wondering about the time limits too. So now it's just the regular 26 weeks and whatever my calculated benefit amount is.
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