Which 5 quarters does NY unemployment look at for base period calculation?

New York unemployment looks at what's called your "base period" to calculate benefits. There are actually two possible methods: 1) Standard Base Period: The first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim. So they skip the most recent completed quarter. 2) Alternate Base Period: The 4 most recent completed calendar quarters before you filed. The NYSDOL will automatically use whichever calculation gives you the higher benefit rate. If you just started working within the past 18 months, the Alternate Base Period might be better for you. So for example, if you file in May 2025, your Standard Base Period would be January 2024 through December 2024 (skipping January-March 2025). Your Alternate Base Period would be April 2024 through March 2025.

they look at ur last 5 quarters but drop the most recent one. dont know why but thats how they do it. they want to see if u made at least $2,600 in one of those quarters to qualify

The reason NY Unemployment looks at 5 quarters but only uses 4 is to give you the most favorable calculation. There are two methods: 1. Standard Base Period: Uses the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you filed 2. Alternate Base Period: Uses the 4 most recent completed calendar quarters To give you a concrete example, if you file today (April 2025): - The last completed quarter was January-March 2025 - Standard Base Period would use: January 2024 through December 2024 - Alternate Base Period would use: April 2024 through March 2025 They look at BOTH calculations and give you whichever results in the higher weekly benefit rate. For many people who had higher earnings recently, the Alternate Base Period works better. You need to have earned at least $2,900 in one of your base period quarters to qualify in 2025, and have some work in at least two quarters.

ok but what counts as a 'quarter'? is that jan-mar, apr-jun, etc or is it based on when you file?

I just went through this nightmare process last month!!! The quarters thing is SO confusing and their website explains it terribly! I kept trying to call to ask questions but could NOT get through to a real person for DAYS. I was literally calling 50+ times a day and just getting disconnected or stuck on hold forever. I finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual unemployment rep in about 20 minutes. They have this system that basically calls for you and holds your place in line, then calls you when they reach an agent. The rep explained my base period calculation and fixed an issue with my claim that would have caused major delays. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE SO much better than trying to get through on your own. I wish I'd known about it sooner instead of wasting days trying to call myself!

Wait i thought they DONT look at your most recent quarter? Im confused now

Don't they also have some special rule for people who don't qualify under either base period? I think there's something called an extended base period if you were out on disability or something similar during the regular base period. Just mentioning in case that applies to the OP or someone else reading.

Thanks everyone for the helpful information. I understand the quarters system much better now. One last question - how exactly do they calculate the weekly benefit amount once they decide which 4 quarters to use?

Just wanted to add that you can actually see which base period they used for your calculation by logging into your NY.gov account after you file your claim. They'll show you the specific quarters and earnings they used in your determination letter. Also, if you worked for multiple employers during your base period (which sounds like your situation), make sure all your employers are listed correctly when you file. Sometimes wages from smaller employers or short-term jobs don't show up immediately in their system, and you might need to provide pay stubs or W-2s to get credit for all your earnings. The online application will walk you through entering your employment history, but double-check everything because missing wages could mean a lower benefit calculation!

This is really helpful information! I just want to make sure I understand the timeline correctly. If I file my claim today (late April 2025), the most recent completed quarter would be Q1 2025 (January-March), right? So my Standard Base Period would be Q1 2024 through Q4 2024, and my Alternate Base Period would be Q2 2024 through Q1 2025. Do I have that right? I'm asking because I had a significant pay increase in my current job that started in Q4 2024, so I'm hoping the Alternate Base Period calculation will work in my favor since it would include those higher earnings from Q4 2024 and Q1 2025.

Just to add some practical advice - when you file your claim online, make sure you have all your employment information ready including exact dates, employer addresses, and your gross earnings for each job. The system will ask you to list all employers from the past 18 months. If you worked multiple jobs like you mentioned, pay close attention to the wage verification process. Sometimes it takes a few weeks for all your wages to show up in their system, especially if you worked for smaller companies or had recent employment. You can upload pay stubs or W-2s through your online account to speed up the process. Also, don't worry too much about calculating which base period is better - the system really does automatically pick whichever gives you the higher benefit. You'll see the breakdown in your determination letter once it's processed. Good luck with your claim!

One thing I learned when I filed for unemployment in NY last year is that it's worth checking your earnings history on the NY.gov website even before you file your claim. You can access your quarterly wage reports under "View Benefit Year Earnings" to see exactly what wages each employer reported for each quarter. This helped me catch an error where one of my previous employers had reported my wages to the wrong quarter, which would have affected my base period calculation. I was able to contact the employer to get it corrected before filing, which saved me weeks of back-and-forth with the unemployment office. Also, if you're unsure about your benefit amount, NY has an online benefit calculator tool that can give you an estimate based on your earnings. It's not perfect but gives you a ballpark figure so you're not going in completely blind. Just search for "NY unemployment benefit calculator" on the DOL website.

As someone who recently went through the NY unemployment filing process, I want to emphasize how important it is to understand that NY automatically calculates BOTH base periods for you - you don't have to choose or request a specific one. When I filed my claim, I was initially worried because I thought they only used the Standard Base Period (which skips your most recent quarter). But after my determination letter arrived, I could see they had actually used the Alternate Base Period because my recent earnings were higher. The key thing to remember is: - Standard Base Period = first 4 of your last 5 completed quarters (skips most recent) - Alternate Base Period = your 4 most recent completed quarters - NY uses whichever gives you the higher weekly benefit For your situation with varying pay over the past year and a half, this automatic calculation feature should work in your favor. Just make sure when you file that you list ALL your employers accurately, even short-term ones, because missing wages could hurt your benefit calculation. The online system will guide you through everything step by step. Good luck with your claim!