What do you get from unemployment benefits in NY - weekly payment amounts and duration?
I'm trying to figure out exactly what do you get from unemployment if I file a claim in New York. My job ended last month and I'm confused about how much money I'd actually receive each week and for how long. I worked full-time making $52,000 a year for the past two years. Does anyone know what the weekly benefit amount would be and how many weeks I can collect? Also wondering about the job search requirements - do I have to apply for a certain number of jobs each week to keep getting benefits?
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CosmicCaptain
Your weekly benefit amount is calculated based on your highest quarter of earnings in your base period. For someone making $52k annually, you're probably looking at around $400-450 per week maximum. The current maximum weekly benefit in NY is $504. You can collect for up to 26 weeks of regular unemployment insurance. For job search requirements, you need to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep a detailed log that NYS Department of Labor can request at any time.
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Amara Oluwaseyi
•That's helpful, thank you! Do I need to report these job contacts somewhere or just keep my own records?
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Giovanni Rossi
i think its 50% of your average weekly wage but theres a cap. when i was on UI last year i got like $420 a week and i was making about $55k before i got laid off
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Fatima Al-Maktoum
•Actually it's not quite 50% - NYS uses a more complex formula. They look at your two highest quarters in your base period and calculate from there. The effective replacement rate is usually closer to 40-45% of your previous wages.
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Dylan Mitchell
The job search thing is no joke - you have to document everything. Company name, contact person, date, method of contact, position applied for. I got selected for a random audit and had to submit all my records. If you can't prove you did the required searches, they'll make you pay back benefits. Also make sure you're applying for suitable work - can't just apply for anything to meet the quota.
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Amara Oluwaseyi
•Wow, that sounds pretty strict. How do they define 'suitable work'? Can I only apply for jobs that pay exactly what I made before?
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Dylan Mitchell
•Suitable work generally means jobs that match your skills and experience level, and initially they expect you to look for positions that pay at least 80% of your previous wage. After a certain number of weeks (I think it's 10-13 weeks), the wage requirements get more flexible.
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Sofia Gutierrez
Just went through this whole process myself. The NYS Department of Labor website has a benefit calculator but honestly it's not super accurate. When I called to ask questions about my weekly amount, I spent HOURS trying to get through to someone. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you actually reach a live agent at NYS Department of Labor. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows exactly how it works. Saved me so much frustration trying to get answers about my claim.
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Dmitry Petrov
•How much does something like that cost? Seems like we should be able to reach our own state agency without paying extra.
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Sofia Gutierrez
•I totally get that frustration, but honestly after wasting days trying to call myself, it was worth it just to get real answers about my benefits instead of guessing. The regular phone lines are just impossible to get through on.
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StarSurfer
Don't forget you'll owe taxes on unemployment benefits! They don't automatically withhold federal taxes unless you request it. I learned this the hard way and owed like $800 when I filed my return. You can have them withhold 10% for federal taxes when you certify each week.
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Amara Oluwaseyi
•Oh wow, I didn't even think about taxes. Thanks for mentioning that - definitely don't want a surprise tax bill next year!
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Giovanni Rossi
also make sure you file your weekly claims every week even if you work part time. you can still get partial benefits if you work less than 4 days and earn under a certain amount. just report all your earnings honestly
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Maya Lewis
One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you apply as soon as possible after your job ends! There's a one-week waiting period before you can start receiving benefits, so the sooner you file, the sooner that clock starts ticking. Also, your benefit amount is based on wages from your "base period" which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. Since you worked full-time for 2 years at $52k, you should have a solid earnings history. I'd estimate you'll probably get somewhere in the $380-420 range per week based on what others have shared about similar salary levels.
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Isabella Silva
•That's really good advice about applying quickly! I actually just lost my job two weeks ago and have been putting off filing because I thought I might find something right away. Sounds like I should go ahead and get the process started even if I'm still actively job hunting. The waiting period thing makes sense - better to get that clock started. Thanks for the salary estimate too, that range seems consistent with what others are saying.
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