What do you make on unemployment benefits from NYS Department of Labor?
I'm trying to figure out if it's worth filing for unemployment or if I should just look for any job ASAP. I was making $52k a year at my last position before getting laid off last week. Does anyone know roughly what do you make on unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor? I know it's based on your previous wages but I can't find clear info on the actual calculation. My bills are around $2800/month so I need to know if UI will even cover the basics while I job hunt.
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Noah huntAce420
The NYS Department of Labor calculates your weekly benefit rate using your highest earning quarter from the base period. Maximum weekly benefit is $504 right now for 2025. Generally you get about 50% of your average weekly wage up to that max. With your salary of $52k that's about $1000 per week, so you'd likely get close to the maximum $504 weekly. That's roughly $2016 per month before taxes.
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Dananyl Lear
•Thanks! So around $2000/month would help a lot even though it's not quite enough to cover everything. Do you know how long the benefits last?
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Ana Rusula
just got approved for mine last month and I'm getting $487/week. was making about $48k before. the amount sounds right based on what the other person said. definitely file asap though because there's usually a waiting period
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Dananyl Lear
•Good to know! How long did it take for your claim to get approved? I'm worried about the waiting time.
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Fidel Carson
You should absolutely file even if you're job hunting aggressively. The NYS Department of Labor benefit calculation is complex but basically takes your earnings from the last 4 completed quarters and divides by 26 to get your weekly rate. Keep in mind you'll need to do weekly claims and meet job search requirements - currently 3 work search activities per week. The money helps bridge the gap while you find something that matches your skills rather than taking the first minimum wage job out of desperation.
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Isaiah Sanders
Whatever you do, don't wait to file! I made that mistake and lost out on benefits because I thought I'd find work quickly. Been 2 months now and still searching. The job market is brutal right now especially for decent paying positions.
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Xan Dae
•This is so true. I waited 3 weeks thinking I'd get hired somewhere fast and basically threw away money. File immediately even if you think you'll find work soon.
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Fiona Gallagher
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask questions about your benefit amount, I found this service called Claimyr that helps you actually reach a real person at the unemployment office. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. I was stuck trying to get answers about my weekly benefit calculation for weeks before using them.
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Dananyl Lear
•Interesting, I might need that if I run into issues. The NYS Department of Labor phone system seems impossible to navigate.
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Thais Soares
The system is so confusing!! I filed 2 weeks ago and still don't know exactly what I'll get. My account just says pending and there's no clear info about the benefit amount calculation anywhere on their website.
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Noah huntAce420
•Check your monetary determination notice - it should show your quarterly wages and calculated weekly benefit rate. If you haven't received it yet, it usually comes within 7-10 days of filing.
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