What is maximum benefit amount unemployment NYS Department of Labor 2025?
I'm trying to figure out what the maximum weekly unemployment benefit amount is in New York for 2025. I've been working at a restaurant for the past two years making decent money and I'm worried about getting laid off during the slow season. I want to know what I might be eligible for if I need to file a claim with NYS Department of Labor. Does anyone know the current maximum weekly benefit amount? Also wondering if the calculation is still based on your highest quarter earnings or if they changed that recently.
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Dyllan Nantx
The maximum weekly benefit rate for regular unemployment insurance in New York is $504 per week as of 2025. This is calculated as 50% of your average weekly wage during your highest paid quarter, but it caps out at that $504 maximum. So even if 50% of your weekly wage would be higher than $504, you'll only get the maximum amount.
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Destiny Bryant
•Thanks! So if I was making like $1200 a week, I'd still only get the $504 max? That's a pretty big drop in income.
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TillyCombatwarrior
yep $504 is the max but you also gotta remember thats before taxes. they take out federal and state taxes unless you opt out of withholding
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Anna Xian
The $504 maximum applies to regular UI benefits. There's also the calculation method - they look at your base period which is usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. They take your highest earning quarter from that base period, divide by 26, and that's your weekly benefit rate up to the $504 maximum. You also need to have earned at least $2,700 in your base period to qualify.
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Jungleboo Soletrain
•Wait I'm confused about the base period thing. Does that mean if I file in January 2025, they look at my earnings from like October 2023 through September 2024? That seems like really old earnings to base it on.
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Anna Xian
•Not quite - if you file in January 2025, your base period would typically be October 2023 through September 2024, yes. But NYS Department of Labor also offers an alternate base period which uses the most recent four quarters if you don't qualify under the standard base period or if it would result in a higher benefit amount.
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Rajan Walker
I had such a nightmare trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor to ask about my benefit calculation last year. Spent hours on hold just to get disconnected. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to an agent who could explain my specific situation. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Was so much easier than trying to call myself.
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Nadia Zaldivar
•How much did that cost though? I hate paying for something that should be free government service.
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Rajan Walker
•I get that frustration but honestly it was worth it for me. The time I saved and stress I avoided trying to get through on my own made it worthwhile. Plus the agent was able to answer questions I couldn't find answers to online.
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Lukas Fitzgerald
Just want to add that the maximum can change each year so always check the current rates. Also restaurant workers sometimes have issues with the way tips are reported affecting their benefit calculation, so make sure all your tip income was properly reported to get the full benefit amount you're entitled to.
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