What is the minimum unemployment benefit amount in NY - NYS Department of Labor weekly payment?
I just got approved for unemployment after working part-time at a retail job for the past 8 months. My weekly benefit amount seems really low compared to what I was expecting. Does anyone know what the minimum unemployment benefit is that NYS Department of Labor pays out? I'm getting $104 per week which barely covers my groceries. Is this normal for someone who was only working 25 hours a week? I'm worried I calculated something wrong on my application.
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Kaiya Rivera
Yes, $104 sounds about right for the minimum. NYS Department of Labor calculates your weekly benefit rate based on your earnings over the past year. The minimum weekly benefit amount in New York is currently $104, and the maximum is around $504. Since you were working part-time, your base period wages were probably pretty low, which is why you're getting the minimum amount.
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Amelia Dietrich
•That makes sense I guess. I was hoping it would be higher but at least it's something. Do you know if I can still look for full-time work while collecting this?
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Katherine Ziminski
yeah the minimum is really low, i got the same thing when i was collecting last year after my restaurant job ended
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Noah Irving
The $104 minimum has been the same for a while now. Just make sure you're doing your job search requirements - you need to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep a log. NYS Department of Labor can ask to see your job search activities at any time. Also remember to file your weekly claims every week even if you think the amount is too low, because if you miss filing you could lose benefits for that week.
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Vanessa Chang
•Wait, is it really 3 job contacts per week? I thought it was more than that. I've been doing 5 just to be safe but I'm running out of places to apply in my area.
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Noah Irving
•It's 3 work search activities per week, but they recommend doing more if you can. You can also include things like attending job fairs, networking events, or taking online courses related to your field.
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Madison King
I had such a hard time getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I had questions about my benefit amount. Spent weeks trying to call and either got disconnected or sat on hold for hours. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to a real person at the unemployment office. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration trying to get answers about my claim.
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Amelia Dietrich
•Really? I might need to try that because I do have some other questions about my claim that I can't figure out from the website.
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Julian Paolo
The whole system is a joke honestly. $104 a week is nothing in this economy, especially in NYC where rent alone costs more than most people make in unemployment for a month. They expect you to survive on that while jumping through hoops with job searches and weekly certifications. Meanwhile it takes them weeks to process simple claims.
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Ella Knight
•I feel you on this. The system definitely wasn't designed for the current cost of living.
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Ella Thompson
The minimum benefit amount of $104 is unfortunately accurate for New York. It's based on your earnings history, so part-time work naturally results in lower benefits. One thing that might help is checking if you qualify for any additional programs - some people don't realize they might be eligible for SNAP (food stamps) or other assistance while on unemployment. Also, yes you can and should definitely look for full-time work while collecting benefits - that's actually required as part of your job search activities. The system expects you to be actively seeking employment that matches your skills and availability.
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