NYS Department of Labor unemployment benefits compared to other states - which has the best?
I'm curious about how NYS Department of Labor unemployment benefits stack up against other states. I've been unemployed for 2 months now and getting $504 per week through regular UI benefits. My brother lives in Massachusetts and he says their benefits are way better, but I'm not sure if that's actually true. Does anyone know which state actually has the best unemployment benefits in terms of weekly amounts and duration? I'm considering relocating for work opportunities anyway, so this could factor into my decision.
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Katherine Hunter
New York actually has pretty decent unemployment benefits compared to most states. The maximum weekly benefit amount is $504, and you can collect for up to 26 weeks. Some states like Massachusetts do have higher maximums (around $855), but they also have much higher costs of living. States like Florida and North Carolina have much lower benefits - some as low as $275 per week maximum. The duration varies too - some states only offer 12-14 weeks while others go up to 30 weeks.
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Emma Morales
•Wow, I had no idea Florida was that low! $275 doesn't seem like it would cover much of anything. Thanks for the breakdown on the different states.
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Lucas Parker
honestly the benefits dont matter if you cant actually GET them... ive been waiting 6 weeks for my NYS Department of Labor claim to get approved and still stuck in adjudication. at least in new york we have benefits on paper but good luck actually receiving them
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Donna Cline
•Have you tried calling the NYS Department of Labor? I know the phone lines are usually swamped, but sometimes you can get through early in the morning. There's also a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps people get through to unemployment agents faster. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Might be worth checking out if you're stuck in adjudication that long.
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Harper Collins
I looked this up a while back when I was job hunting. Hawaii actually has some of the highest benefits but good luck affording to live there! Washington state is pretty good too. But honestly, you also have to factor in things like how easy it is to actually file claims, job search requirements, and how quickly they process everything. Some states with good benefits make you jump through tons of hoops.
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Kelsey Hawkins
•What are the job search requirements like in New York? I just started collecting and I'm confused about how many jobs I need to apply to each week.
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Katherine Hunter
•In New York, you need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of your activities. You can do this through the NYS Department of Labor job search website or other approved methods. Make sure you're documenting everything properly in case they audit your claim.
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Dylan Fisher
My cousin moved from Texas to New York partly because of the better unemployment safety net. Texas caps out at like $535 but has way more restrictions. Plus New York has better worker protections overall, not just unemployment.
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Edwards Hugo
The 'best' really depends on what you value. Some states have higher weekly amounts but shorter durations. Others have extended benefits during recessions. California has high benefits but also really strict eligibility requirements. And don't even get me started on how backed up their system gets...
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Emma Morales
•Good point about the trade-offs. I guess I should focus more on finding a good job opportunity rather than chasing slightly higher unemployment benefits that I hopefully won't need for long anyway.
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Vera Visnjic
I've been researching this too since I'm potentially looking at relocating. From what I've found, Massachusetts actually does have higher maximum benefits (around $855/week) like your brother mentioned, but the cost of living adjustment makes it less impressive. Washington state is another good one - they have high benefits and no state income tax. New Jersey is solid too with benefits up to $713/week. But honestly, @Emma Morales makes a good point - the real value is in landing a good job quickly rather than optimizing for unemployment benefits you hopefully won't need long-term. Have you considered looking at job markets in different states as your primary factor?
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Paige Cantoni
•That's really helpful research, thanks! I hadn't considered Washington state - no state income tax is definitely a bonus. You're absolutely right that I should prioritize job market strength over unemployment benefits. I've been so focused on the safety net that I forgot the goal is to not need it! Have you found any good resources for comparing job markets across states? I'm in marketing/communications if that helps narrow it down.
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Rajiv Kumar
I've been through unemployment in both NY and California, and honestly NY's system is much more manageable. While CA has higher maximum benefits (around $450-$850 depending on your previous earnings), their EDD system is notoriously difficult to navigate and has massive delays. NY's $504 max isn't the highest, but the processing is generally more reliable. If you're thinking about relocating, I'd recommend looking at states like Washington (great benefits, no state income tax, strong job market) or Minnesota (good benefits duration and solid worker protections). But honestly, focus your energy on networking and job applications rather than benefit shopping - the best unemployment benefit is the one you don't have to use for long!
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