What is the maximum unemployment benefit 2025 in New York - confused about weekly amounts
Hey everyone, I'm trying to figure out what the maximum unemployment benefit amount is for 2025 in New York state. I've been searching online but I keep finding different numbers and I'm getting really confused. Some sites say one thing, others say something else. I just got laid off from my job at a manufacturing plant where I was making about $75k a year and I want to know what to expect when I file my claim with NYS Department of Labor. Does anyone know what the current maximum weekly benefit is? Also wondering if there are any other factors that could affect how much I get. Thanks in advance!
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Emma Wilson
The maximum weekly benefit rate (WBR) for 2025 in NY is $504. This is based on your base period wages, which they calculate using your highest quarter earnings. Since you were making $75k, you'll likely qualify for close to the maximum amount depending on how your earnings were distributed throughout your base period quarters. The NYS Department of Labor uses a formula where your WBR is 1/26th of your highest quarter wages, up to that $504 maximum.
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Javier Gomez
•Thank you! That's really helpful. Do you know how they determine which quarters count as the base period? I'm worried because I had a few months where my hours were reduced earlier this year.
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Malik Thomas
just went through this myself last month. got the max amount of $504 per week. the base period is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file. so if you file now in early 2025 it would probably be Q1 2024 through Q4 2024. reduced hours shouldn't hurt you as long as your highest quarter wages were still decent
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Javier Gomez
•That makes sense, thanks for explaining it that way. My highest quarter was definitely Q2 2024 when I had some overtime, so hopefully that helps.
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Isabella Oliveira
Keep in mind you also have to meet the job search requirements to keep getting benefits. You need to do 3 work search activities per week and keep a detailed log. Also, if you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone to check on your claim status or ask questions, I recently discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you actually reach a real agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Really saved me hours of trying to call myself.
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Ravi Kapoor
•Never heard of that service before but honestly anything that helps get through to an actual person at NYS Department of Labor sounds worth checking out. The phone system is impossible.
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Freya Larsen
WAIT is the $504 before taxes or after?? I thought unemployment benefits were taxable now. This is so confusing, why can't they just make this information easier to find on the my.ny.gov website?
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Emma Wilson
•The $504 is the gross amount before any taxes. Yes, unemployment benefits are subject to federal income tax and you can choose to have taxes withheld or pay them when you file your return. You can set up tax withholding through your online account.
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GalacticGladiator
I've been on unemployment for 6 months now and honestly the whole system is a mess. Good luck getting consistent answers from different NYS Department of Labor reps about anything. My neighbor got approved for benefits immediately while my claim sat in adjudication for weeks with no explanation.
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Omar Zaki
Just remember that even if you qualify for the maximum $504, you still need to file your weekly claims on time every week and meet all the requirements. Missing a weekly claim can really mess things up and cause delays in your payments.
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