Unemployment claim denied: My earnings of $14,880 don't meet the 1.5x highest quarter requirement ($16,661) - why weren't July/August 2023 wages counted?

My unemployment claim got denied and I don't understand why. I worked from February to August 2023 and made about $21k total. They sent me a notice showing why I was denied, and I'm trying to understand the requirements better. According to their notice, I don't meet the requirements. The notice specifically states the reason I was denied is: "The total wages for your base period are less than 1 1/2 times the total wages for the highest quarter of earnings in your base period" The document shows: Highest Quarter Wages = $11,107.97 $11,107.97 X 1.5 = $16,661.95 (1 1/2 times my Highest Quarter Wages) It also states "If your highest calendar quarter is more than $11,088.00 total earnings in the other base period quarters must equal at least $5,544.00" They only counted wages until June 2023 and left out July-August. Here's how they broke down my wages: Basic Base QUARTER 04/01 - 06/30 2022: $0.00 Basic Base QUARTER 07/01 - 09/30 2022: $0.00 Basic Base QUARTER 10/01 - 12/31 2022: $0.00 Basic Base QUARTER 01/01 - 03/31 2023: $3,772.44 Basic Base QUARTER 04/01 - 06/30 2023: $11,107.97 TOTAL BASE PERIOD WAGES: $14,880.41 Alternate Base QUARTER shows the same information, with my total base period wages at $14,880.41. The notice also mentioned other requirements I didn't meet, with checkboxes: - You did not work and earn wages in at least two calendar quarters of your base period. - You were not paid at least $3100 in wages in one of the calendar quarters of your base period. Can anyone explain what I'm missing here? The math doesn't make sense to me. I earned about $21k total from February to August 2023, but they only counted $14,880.41. Why weren't July and August 2023 included? And why am I not meeting the 1.5x requirement when I worked for 7 months?

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17 comments

Miguel Diaz

Let me break this down for you in detail: NY unemployment uses either a Basic Base Period or Alternate Base Period. The Basic looks at the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters. The Alternate uses the last 4 completed quarters. To qualify you need: - Wages in at least 2 quarters - At least $3,100 in one quarter - Total wages must be 1.5x your highest quarter Looks like you're falling short on the 1.5x requirement. Your highest quarter is $11,107, so you need total wages of $16,661. Your total is only $14,880. Best options: 1. Wait till January to refile 2. Call them through claimyr.com to discuss alternatives 3. Request a review if you think wages are missing Hope this helps! 💯

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