What is unemployment pay rate for NYS Department of Labor benefits in 2025?
I'm trying to figure out what the current unemployment pay rate is through NYS Department of Labor. I lost my job two weeks ago and need to understand how much I can expect to receive if I qualify for benefits. My last job paid $52,000 annually but I'm not sure how they calculate the weekly benefit amount. Does anyone know the current rates and how they determine what you get?
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Andre Moreau
NYS Department of Labor calculates your weekly benefit rate based on your highest quarter of earnings in your base period. The maximum weekly benefit for 2025 is $504, but most people get between $100-$400 depending on their work history. They take your highest quarter earnings, divide by 26, then you get half of that amount as your weekly rate.
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QuantumQuester
•Thanks! So with my salary that would put me somewhere in the middle range. Do you know if there's a minimum amount too?
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Zoe Stavros
yeah the minimum is like $104 per week i think but dont quote me on that lol. when i filed last year i was getting $287 weekly which wasnt terrible but definitely not enough to cover all my bills
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Jamal Harris
The exact formula is a bit more complex than just dividing by 26. NYS Department of Labor looks at your base period which is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. They find your highest earning quarter in that period, then your weekly benefit rate is 1/26th of that amount, up to the maximum. You can use the benefit calculator on the ny.gov website to get an estimate before you file your claim.
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Mei Chen
•I tried using that calculator but it's confusing with all the quarter stuff. Is there an easier way to estimate what I'd get?
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Liam Sullivan
•If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask questions about benefit rates, I used claimyr.com recently to connect with an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals when I needed to verify my benefit calculation.
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Amara Okafor
The whole system is designed to give you as little as possible anyway. Even if you qualify for the maximum $504, that's barely enough to survive in NY with rent and everything else. And they make you jump through hoops with job searches and all that bureaucratic nonsense just to get what you're entitled to.
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Zoe Stavros
•true but its still better than nothing when you lose your job unexpectedly
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CosmicCommander
Just as a heads up, your benefit amount stays the same for the entire benefit year once it's determined, even if you get a part-time job during that time. But if you work part-time while collecting, they'll reduce your weekly payment based on how much you earn. The good news is you can still collect partial benefits as long as you earn less than your weekly benefit rate plus $50.
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