What pays the highest unemployment benefits in NYS - trying to understand my options
I'm trying to figure out which type of unemployment benefits would give me the highest weekly payment amount through NYS Department of Labor. I was making $75,000 annually before getting laid off last month from my tech job in Manhattan. When I calculate my base period wages, it looks like I might qualify for different benefit amounts depending on how they process my claim. Has anyone dealt with maximizing their weekly benefit rate? I heard there might be differences between regular UI and other programs but I'm not sure what applies to my situation.
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Kingston Bellamy
Your weekly benefit rate is calculated using your highest quarter earnings during the base period, which is typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed. With a $75k salary, you're probably looking at close to the maximum weekly benefit rate which is $504 per week in 2025. NYS Department of Labor uses a formula where your weekly rate is 1/26th of your highest quarter earnings, up to the state maximum.
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Morita Montoya
•That's helpful! So it doesn't matter what type of unemployment I file for - it's all based on my earnings history?
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Joy Olmedo
Actually there's only really one main type of regular unemployment insurance through NYS Department of Labor now. The pandemic programs like PUA are long gone. Your benefit amount is strictly based on your wage history in the base period. If you made $75k consistently, you should hit or come very close to the maximum weekly rate of $504.
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Isaiah Cross
•Wait I thought there was still extended benefits or something? I'm so confused by all these different programs
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Joy Olmedo
•Extended benefits only kick in during high unemployment periods and just extend the duration, not the weekly amount. Right now we're just dealing with regular UI which maxes at $504/week for 26 weeks typically.
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Kiara Greene
I was in a similar situation last year making around $80k and got the full $504 weekly. The key is making sure NYS Department of Labor has all your wage information correct. Sometimes employers don't report wages properly and you end up with a lower benefit calculation. Double check your wage history on the my.ny.gov portal before your determination comes through.
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Evelyn Kelly
ugh the whole system is so confusing!! why can't they just tell you upfront what you'll get instead of making us wait weeks for adjudication and then maybe getting the wrong amount anyway
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Paloma Clark
•If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to check on your benefit calculation, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Was way easier than trying to call myself and getting hung up on constantly.
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Heather Tyson
Just to confirm what others said - $504 is definitely the max weekly in NY right now. I got laid off from finance making $95k and that's exactly what I receive. There's no special high earner program or anything like that.
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