What is the max pay for unemployment in NY - need to know my benefit amount
I'm about to file for unemployment and trying to figure out what the maximum weekly benefit amount is in New York. I was making around $85,000 per year at my previous job and want to know if there's a cap on how much I can receive. Does anyone know what the current max pay for unemployment is? Also wondering if they calculate it based on my highest earning quarter or some other method. Really need to budget while I'm looking for work.
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Owen Devar
The maximum weekly benefit rate in NY for 2025 is $504 per week. This is calculated based on your highest earning quarter during your base period, which is typically the first four of the last five completed quarters before you filed. To get the max, you'd need to have earned at least $13,104 in your highest quarter. NYS Department of Labor uses a formula where your weekly benefit is roughly 1/26th of your highest quarter earnings, but capped at that $504 maximum.
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Brooklyn Knight
•Thanks! So with my salary I should qualify for the full $504 then. Do you know if that amount changes each year or stays the same?
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Daniel Rivera
yeah its $504 but good luck actually getting it lol. been waiting 3 weeks for my claim to get approved and cant get through to anyone at NYS Department of Labor
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Sophie Footman
•If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor by phone, I used a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual agent. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really saved me from sitting on hold for hours.
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Connor Rupert
Keep in mind that even if you qualify for the max $504, you still need to meet all the other requirements like doing job searches and filing your weekly claims on time. NYS Department of Labor is pretty strict about the work search requirements now - you need to do at least 3 job search activities per week and keep detailed records.
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Molly Hansen
•Wait what kind of job search activities count? I thought I just had to apply to jobs but sounds like there's more to it?
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Connor Rupert
•Job applications count but you can also do things like attend job fairs, networking events, career counseling sessions, or skills training. Just make sure you document everything because they can ask for your job search log during an audit.
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Brady Clean
The $504 is decent but honestly doesn't go very far these days especially in NYC. At least it's something though while you're looking for work.
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Liam Duke
•Totally agree - $504 barely covers rent in most of NYC, let alone other expenses. But like you said, it's better than nothing. @Brooklyn Knight since you mentioned budgeting, definitely plan for it to be tight even with the max benefit. Might want to look into other assistance programs too if you qualify.
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