What is the max unemployment benefit amount in NY - confused about weekly payment limits
I'm trying to figure out what the maximum weekly unemployment benefit is in New York right now. I've been working for 8 years making decent money and want to know if there's a cap on how much I can get per week. I looked on the NYS Department of Labor website but it's confusing with all the different charts and calculations. Can someone explain what the actual maximum weekly benefit amount is for 2025? Also wondering if this changes based on how much I made or if everyone gets the same max amount.
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Sofia Morales
The maximum weekly benefit rate (WBR) in New York for 2025 is $504 per week. This is calculated as 50% of the average weekly wage in NY, but it's capped at that $504 limit. So even if 50% of your highest quarter wages would give you more than $504, you'll still only get the maximum of $504 per week. Your actual amount depends on your base period earnings - NYS Department of Labor uses your highest quarter earnings to determine your weekly benefit rate.
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Dylan Mitchell
•Thanks! So if I was making $70k a year, I'd definitely hit that maximum? And how many weeks can I collect at that rate?
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Dmitry Popov
Yeah the max is $504 but you also get up to 26 weeks of benefits typically. To get the full $504 you need to have earned at least $10,075 in your highest quarter during your base period. The NYS Department of Labor calculates this automatically when you file your claim. If you made $70k annually you should definitely qualify for the maximum weekly amount.
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Ava Garcia
•wait so the max total you can get is like $13,000? that seems low for someone who was making good money
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Dmitry Popov
•It's 26 weeks x $504 = $13,104 maximum total. Remember unemployment is meant to be temporary assistance, not full salary replacement. Most people find jobs before exhausting all 26 weeks.
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StarSailor}
I've been dealing with this exact question! Had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to verify my benefit amount calculation. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual agent who explained everything. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Much easier than trying to call the regular number and getting hung up on constantly.
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Dylan Mitchell
•Did they confirm the $504 max? I'm still waiting for my monetary determination letter and getting anxious about the amount.
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Miguel Silva
just to add - the $504 is if you qualify for regular UI benefits. if you're on partial unemployment or have other complications it might be different. but yeah $504 is the standard maximum weekly benefit rate for full unemployment in NY
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Chloe Harris
Just wanted to confirm what others have said - the $504 maximum is correct for 2025. I went through this process last year and can tell you that your actual weekly benefit amount is calculated as 50% of your average weekly wage in your highest earning quarter, but it's capped at that $504 limit. So if you made $70k annually, you'll likely hit the maximum. The key thing to remember is that you need to have worked and earned wages in at least 2 quarters during your base period to qualify. Also, don't forget that unemployment benefits are taxable income, so you might want to consider having taxes withheld from your weekly payments to avoid a big bill at tax time.
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Roger Romero
•That's really helpful about the tax withholding - I hadn't thought about that! Do you know what percentage they typically withhold if you choose that option? And when you say "base period," is that just the last 4 quarters before filing or is there a specific timeframe they use?
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