What is the average unemployment payment from NYS Department of Labor?
I'm getting ready to file for unemployment after being laid off from my job at a manufacturing plant upstate. I was making about $52,000 a year before taxes. Can anyone tell me what the average unemployment payment is in New York? I'm trying to figure out my budget while I look for work. Also wondering if there are any differences based on where you live in the state or what industry you worked in before?
13 comments
Join the conversation
Amina Sy
The NYS Department of Labor calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your earnings from your highest-paid quarter in the base period. Maximum weekly benefit is $504 as of 2025, but most people get between $200-400 per week. Your benefit rate is roughly 50% of your average weekly wage, but it depends on your specific earnings history. You can use the benefit calculator on the ny.gov website to get a better estimate.
0 coins
QuantumQuest
•Thanks! I'll check out that calculator. Do you know if the $504 max has been the same for a while or did it go up recently?
0 coins
Oliver Fischer
been getting unemployment for 8 weeks now and mine is $387 per week. was making around $48k before i got let go from retail management. the amount stays the same each week as long as you keep filing your weekly claims and meet the job search requirements
0 coins
QuantumQuest
•That gives me a good idea of what to expect. How many job contacts do you have to make each week for the job search requirement?
0 coins
Oliver Fischer
•you need to make 3 job contacts per week and keep a log of them. make sure you save everything because they can ask for proof
0 coins
Natasha Petrova
I've been helping people with unemployment claims for years and the average payment really varies a lot. Someone making minimum wage might only get $150-200 per week, while higher earners can get closer to that $504 maximum. The key thing to remember is that NYS Department of Labor looks at your earnings over a 12-month base period, not just your most recent job. If you had gaps in employment or lower-paying jobs during that period, it could affect your benefit amount.
0 coins
Javier Morales
•This is really helpful information. I had a period where I was only working part-time last year - will that hurt my benefit calculation?
0 coins
Natasha Petrova
•It might lower your benefit amount since they use your total earnings during the base period. The good news is NYS Department of Labor automatically calculates using whichever base period gives you the higher benefit amount.
0 coins
Emma Davis
Just went through this whole process myself after getting laid off in December. I was struggling to get through to NYS Department of Labor on the phone for weeks trying to check my claim status and get questions answered about my benefit amount. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an agent in like 10 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration trying to call on my own!
0 coins
GalaxyGlider
•How much does something like that cost? Seems like you shouldn't have to pay extra just to talk to someone about your own benefits.
0 coins
Emma Davis
•I get the frustration but honestly it was worth it for me. The regular phone lines were impossible and I needed answers about my claim. At least with this I got through to an actual NYS Department of Labor agent who could access my account.
0 coins
Malik Robinson
ugh the whole unemployment system is such a mess. took me FOREVER to even get my first payment and then when i called to ask about the amount they gave me the runaround for hours. the average payment doesnt matter if you cant even get approved in the first place!!
0 coins
GalaxyGlider
Based on what I've seen from friends and family, most people I know get somewhere between $250-350 per week. Really depends on what you were making before though.
0 coins