What percentage do you get on unemployment benefits in NY - confused about calculation

In New York, unemployment benefits aren't calculated as a simple percentage of your wages. NYS Department of Labor uses your highest quarter earnings from your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed). They take that quarter and divide by 26 to get your weekly benefit rate. The maximum weekly benefit for 2025 is $504. So if your highest quarter was say $6,000, you'd get about $230 per week.

yeah its not like a percentage thing, they look at what you made in your best quarter. i was making decent money but only worked 6 months so my benefits were pretty low, like $180 a week

The formula is your highest quarter earnings divided by 26 weeks, but there's also a minimum of $104 per week and maximum of $504 per week in NY. You can actually log into your my.ny.gov account and see your exact benefit calculation once your claim is processed. They'll show you which quarter they used and how they calculated your weekly amount.

wait so if i only worked like 3 months does that mean ill get nothing?? this is so confusing

Just went through this myself. Got laid off from my warehouse job in December. My weekly benefit ended up being $287 which was way less than I expected but I guess that's just how the NYS Department of Labor formula works. At least it's something while I'm job hunting.

I was in a similar situation last year - worked retail for about 6 months before getting laid off. The NYS Department of Labor calculation can definitely be confusing at first! Like others mentioned, they don't use a percentage but rather look at your highest earning quarter. One thing that helped me was calling them directly (though it took many attempts to get through) to confirm my base period quarters and make sure they had all my wage information correct. Sometimes employers don't report wages on time which can affect your calculation. Also, don't forget you might be eligible for the federal tax exclusion on unemployment benefits depending on your total income for the year. Good luck with your job search!

I went through this exact same situation a few months ago! Working retail and getting confused by all the different information online about NY unemployment benefits. What really helped me was using the NYS Department of Labor's online benefit calculator tool on their website - it walks you through entering your quarterly wages and shows you exactly what your weekly benefit would be. Since you mentioned making $18/hour for 8 months, you should have a decent base period established. Just make sure to have your pay stubs handy when you apply because they'll want to verify your earnings. The whole process took about 2 weeks for me to get my first payment, but it was definitely worth figuring out the calculation beforehand so I could plan my budget accordingly.

Having gone through this process recently myself, I can confirm what others have said about the formula being based on your highest quarter rather than a percentage. One thing I'd add is that timing can really matter when you file - your base period is typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. So if you just got laid off last week and file now, they'll look at your wages from early 2024 through late 2024. Since you worked 8 months at $18/hour, you should definitely have enough wages to qualify. I'd recommend filing as soon as possible since there's usually a one-week waiting period before benefits start, and you can't get benefits for weeks before you actually file your claim. The online application on labor.ny.gov is pretty straightforward once you have your employment history and wage info ready.

I just went through this same process a couple months ago after getting laid off from my restaurant job. The NYS Department of Labor calculation definitely isn't straightforward at first! What really helped me understand it was looking at my actual quarterly wage statements - you can usually find these on your pay stubs or request them from HR. Since you worked 8 months at $18/hour, you likely have wages in at least 2-3 quarters which should meet the minimum requirements. One tip: when you file your claim, make sure all your employer information is exactly right (business name, address, etc.) because any errors can delay your processing. Also keep track of your job search activities from day one since you'll need to report them weekly to maintain eligibility. The waiting can be stressful but having that weekly benefit amount definitely helps bridge the gap while you're looking for your next opportunity.