NYS Department of Labor unemployment benefit calculation with minimal earnings - how much will I get?
I'm trying to figure out my potential unemployment benefits but my situation is really weird. I've been working gig jobs and freelance stuff for the past year and some quarters I barely made anything - like literally $1 in one quarter because I only did one tiny task. I know NYS Department of Labor looks at your earnings history but what happens when you have almost no earnings in your base period? Will I even qualify for any benefits at all? I'm really confused about how the benefit calculation works when your earnings are this low.
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Saanvi Krishnaswami
The NYS Department of Labor uses a specific formula based on your highest quarter of earnings in your base period. If you only earned $1 in your highest quarter, you unfortunately won't meet the minimum earnings requirement to qualify for unemployment benefits. You need at least $2,700 in one quarter and total base period earnings of at least 1.5 times your high quarter wages to be eligible.
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Reina Salazar
•Oh no, that's what I was afraid of. So basically if I didn't make enough money to begin with, I can't get unemployment? That seems backwards...
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Demi Lagos
wait i thought there was some minimum amount you get even if you dont make much? maybe im thinking of something else
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Saanvi Krishnaswami
•No, there's a minimum weekly benefit amount ($104) but only if you qualify first. You still need to meet the base earnings requirements to be eligible at all.
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Mason Lopez
I had a similar issue with inconsistent gig work. The NYS Department of Labor is really strict about the earnings requirements. However, you might want to look into the alternate base period - they can use more recent quarters if your standard base period doesn't qualify you. Sometimes that helps if your recent earnings were higher.
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Reina Salazar
•That's a good point! My recent earnings have been better. How do I request the alternate base period when I apply?
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Mason Lopez
•When you file your initial claim online, there should be an option to request alternate base period consideration if you don't qualify under the standard calculation. The system usually checks automatically now.
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Vera Visnjic
This whole system is SO frustrating! I've been trying to get through to someone at NYS Department of Labor for weeks about my earnings calculation and their phone lines are always busy. The website doesn't give clear answers about these edge cases either.
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Jake Sinclair
•I totally get the phone frustration! I actually found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to NYS Department of Labor agents. They have this video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call myself when I had questions about my benefit calculation.
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Brielle Johnson
just apply anyway and see what happens lol, worst they can say is no
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Saanvi Krishnaswami
Actually, that's not bad advice. Filing the claim is free and if you don't qualify under the standard base period, the system will automatically check your alternate base period. Plus you'll get a determination letter that explains exactly why you do or don't qualify, which is more specific than trying to calculate it yourself.
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