What's the most unemployment pays in NY - need to know maximum weekly benefit amount
I'm about to file for unemployment and trying to figure out my budget. What's the maximum weekly benefit amount NYS Department of Labor pays out? I was making around $75k before I got laid off from my marketing job last month. Want to know what's the most unemployment pays so I can plan accordingly. Also does anyone know if they calculate it based on your highest earning quarter or your total yearly income?
9 comments
Join the conversation
Khalil Urso
The maximum weekly benefit rate for 2025 is $504. NYS Department of Labor calculates your benefit based on your highest earning quarter in your base period, not your total yearly income. Your weekly benefit rate will be 1/26th of your highest quarter earnings, up to that $504 maximum.
0 coins
Nasira Ibanez
•Thanks! So if I made $19k in my highest quarter that would put me at the max? That's actually pretty close to what I was earning.
0 coins
Myles Regis
yeah $504 is the max but most people dont get that much. i think you need to make like $65k+ to hit the maximum weekly benefit
0 coins
Brian Downey
•Actually it's based on quarterly earnings not yearly. You need about $13,104 in your highest quarter to get the maximum $504 weekly benefit from NYS Department of Labor.
0 coins
Jacinda Yu
I was getting frustrated trying to reach NYS Department of Labor to ask about my benefit calculation and someone recommended claimyr.com - they actually got me through to a real person who explained exactly how my benefits were calculated. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.
0 coins
Landon Flounder
•How much does that service cost? I've been trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor for weeks about my claim status.
0 coins
Jacinda Yu
•It was worth it for me since I couldn't get through any other way. They focus on helping you reach the right department instead of dealing with the automated system.
0 coins
Callum Savage
The whole system is ridiculous. $504 maximum when rent alone costs more than that in most of the state. NYS Department of Labor hasn't increased benefits to keep up with cost of living AT ALL
0 coins
Ally Tailer
•totally agree, my rent is $1800 and $504 doesn't even cover a third of that
0 coins