What is the rate of unemployment benefits in NYS - confused about weekly payment amounts
I'm trying to figure out what the current rate of unemployment benefits is in New York State. I just filed my claim last week and I'm seeing different numbers everywhere. The NYS Department of Labor website mentions something about a weekly benefit rate but it's not clear to me how they calculate it. Does anyone know what the actual payment rate is for 2025? I worked in retail making about $18/hour before I got laid off and I'm trying to budget for the next few months while I look for work.
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Anastasia Kozlov
Your weekly benefit rate is calculated based on your earnings during your base period, which is typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed. In NY, the maximum weekly benefit rate for 2025 is $504, but most people get less than that. The NYS Department of Labor uses a formula where your weekly rate is roughly half of your average weekly wage during your base period, up to the maximum.
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Diego Flores
•Thanks! So if I was making around $720 a week gross, I'd get about $360 weekly from unemployment? That's actually better than I thought it would be.
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Sean Flanagan
yeah the rate depends on what you made before. i got like $320 a week when i was on unemployment last year but my friend who worked at a bank got way more
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Zara Mirza
You should be able to see your exact weekly benefit rate in your my.ny.gov account once your claim is processed. The NYS Department of Labor will send you a monetary determination letter that breaks down exactly how they calculated your rate. Don't rely on estimates - wait for the official calculation because it can vary based on your specific work history and when you worked.
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NebulaNinja
•How long does it usually take to get that determination letter? I filed three days ago and haven't heard anything yet.
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Zara Mirza
•Usually takes about a week to 10 days if there are no issues with your claim. If you haven't gotten it by then, you might want to check if your claim is stuck in adjudication.
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Luca Russo
I had such a hard time getting through to anyone at NYS Department of Labor when I had questions about my benefit rate calculation. Spent hours on hold just to get disconnected. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual agent in like 15 minutes. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Made everything so much easier than trying to call myself.
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Diego Flores
•Interesting, never heard of that before. Did they charge you for it?
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Luca Russo
•Yeah there's a fee but honestly it was worth it to actually talk to someone instead of wasting whole days trying to get through on my own.
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Nia Wilson
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS A JOKE!!! They make you jump through hoops just to find out what you're entitled to. I've been waiting 2 WEEKS just to get my monetary determination and when I call they say my claim is under review. Under review for WHAT?? This is exactly why people lose faith in government programs.
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Mateo Sanchez
•I feel you, the wait times are brutal right now
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Sean Flanagan
also remember you gotta do the weekly claims to actually get paid even after your rate is determined. dont forget about that part or you'll miss payments
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