NYS Department of Labor weekly unemployment benefit amounts - what should I expect?
I just lost my job at a manufacturing plant after 8 years and I'm trying to figure out what my unemployment benefits will be through NYS Department of Labor. I was making about $52,000 a year but I have no idea how they calculate the weekly amount. Does anyone know the current rates for 2025? I need to plan my budget while I'm looking for work. Also wondering if there's a maximum amount they pay out regardless of your previous salary?
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AstroAdventurer
NYS Department of Labor calculates your weekly benefit rate based on your highest quarter earnings in your base period. For 2025, the maximum weekly benefit is $504, but most people get between $100-400 depending on their work history. They take your highest quarter earnings, divide by 26, then that's roughly your weekly amount. Since you made $52k annually, you're probably looking at around $350-400 per week if you worked consistently.
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Jamal Carter
•That's actually better than I expected! Do they factor in overtime or just base salary? I worked a lot of overtime last year.
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Mei Liu
they count ALL wages including overtime bonuses everything from your W2. just make sure when you file your claim you report all your employers from the last 18 months even part time work
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Liam O'Sullivan
The benefit calculation can be confusing but it's worth understanding. NYS Department of Labor looks at your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters) and uses your highest quarter. If you're having trouble getting through to check your benefit amount, I actually used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual NYS Department of Labor agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Made it so much easier than sitting on hold for hours.
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Amara Chukwu
•How long did it take to get through with that service? I've been trying to call NYS Department of Labor for a week about my benefit calculation.
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Giovanni Conti
Whatever you do, don't count on getting the maximum amount. The system is designed to lowball everyone. I made $65k and only got $380/week. It's better than nothing but definitely not enough to maintain your lifestyle while job hunting.
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Fatima Al-Hashimi
Just to add - you can collect for up to 26 weeks in NY, but you have to meet the work search requirements every week. Keep good records of your job applications because they do audit those sometimes.
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Jamal Carter
•Good point about the job search requirements. How many applications do they require per week?
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AstroAdventurer
•It's 3 work search activities per week, but they can be job applications, networking events, or even online training courses. Just document everything.
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