NYS Department of Labor - what is unemployment currently running at for weekly benefit amounts?
I'm trying to figure out what unemployment benefits are paying out these days in NY. Haven't filed since 2019 and I know things have changed. My friend said the weekly amounts went up but I can't find current info on the NYS Department of Labor site. What's the maximum weekly benefit amount now? Also wondering if they still calculate it the same way based on your previous earnings. Just got laid off from my warehouse job last week and need to know what to expect when I file my claim.
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Carmella Fromis
The maximum weekly benefit amount for 2025 is $504 per week in New York. The minimum is $104. It's still calculated based on your highest quarter earnings in your base period, which is usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. NYS Department of Labor takes 26 times your highest quarter earnings, divides by 52, then you get half of that amount (up to the maximum).
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Ryder Greene
•Thanks! So if I made $15,000 in my highest quarter last year, that would be about $288 per week? That's actually better than I thought.
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Theodore Nelson
yep the max went up from like $450 something to $504 this year. also the job search requirements are back to normal now - you have to do 3 job contacts per week and keep a log
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Ryder Greene
•Good to know about the job search thing. Do they actually check the log or is it just if they ask for it?
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AaliyahAli
One thing to keep in mind - if you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor on the phone to check your claim status or resolve any issues, I found this service called Claimyr that helped me connect. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Basically they call for you when the lines are busy. Check out claimyr.com if you run into phone issues.
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Ellie Simpson
•How much does something like that cost? Seems like they should just answer their phones better lol
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AaliyahAli
•I don't remember the exact cost but it was worth it when I was stuck in adjudication for weeks. Sometimes you just need to actually talk to someone at NYS Department of Labor.
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Arjun Kurti
The whole system is still a mess if you ask me. Sure they raised the benefit amounts but good luck actually getting them! I've been waiting 2 months for my adjudication to clear and still can't get anyone on the phone. The my.ny.gov portal crashes half the time too.
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Raúl Mora
•Same here! My claim has been pending forever and when I try to call it just hangs up on me after being on hold.
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Margot Quinn
Make sure you file your weekly claims even if your initial claim is still pending. That's something they don't tell you but you can lose weeks if you don't keep certifying.
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Klaus Schmidt
Just wanted to add that you should also check if you qualify for any extended benefits or special programs. When I filed last year after being laid off from manufacturing, I found out about some additional training programs through NYS Department of Labor that can extend your benefits while you're learning new skills. Also, make sure you have all your employment history ready - they'll want dates, employer info, and reason for separation for each job in the past 18 months. The online application can time out if you don't have everything prepared beforehand.
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Nia Thompson
•That's really helpful advice about having all the employment info ready! I didn't realize they'd ask about the last 18 months of work history. I've had a couple different jobs since 2019 so I better dig up those old pay stubs and dates. Do you know if they need exact start/end dates or just month and year? Also curious about those training programs - what kind of skills training do they offer?
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