Which NYS Department of Labor unemployment benefit option pays highest amount?
I just got laid off from my job at a tech company in Albany and I'm trying to figure out which type of unemployment benefits would give me the most money. I was making $75k annually so I want to make sure I'm applying for the right program. I've heard there are different types of unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor but I'm confused about which one would pay the highest weekly amount. Does anyone know if regular UI pays more than other programs? I really need to maximize what I can get since I have a mortgage and two kids.
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Nia Thompson
Regular unemployment insurance (UI) through NYS Department of Labor is probably your best bet. The maximum weekly benefit amount for 2025 is $504 per week, but your actual amount depends on your earnings history. Since you were making $75k, you should qualify for close to the maximum. There aren't really different 'types' that pay more - it's mostly just regular UI unless you have special circumstances like being on standby status.
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Luca Esposito
•Thanks! So there's no special high-earner program or anything like that? I was hoping there might be something that covers more of my previous salary.
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Mateo Rodriguez
Wait I thought there were different unemployment programs? Like what about if you're in a union or something? My friend said she got more money because she was in some special program but maybe I misunderstood.
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Aisha Abdullah
•Your friend might have been talking about standby status, which is for union members who are temporarily laid off but expect to return to the same employer. The benefit amount is the same as regular UI though - it's just a different application process. NYS Department of Labor doesn't have programs that pay higher amounts based on union membership.
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Ethan Wilson
I had such a hard time getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask questions about my benefit amount. Spent hours on hold and kept getting disconnected. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to a real person at NYS Department of Labor within minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration when I needed to verify my weekly benefit amount.
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Luca Esposito
•Interesting, I might need something like that if I can't get through to confirm my benefit calculation.
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NeonNova
The NYS unemployment system is so confusing!! I've been trying to figure out the same thing and everyone gives different answers. Some people told me there are federal programs that pay more but I can't find any info about that on the my.ny.gov website.
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Nia Thompson
•Those federal programs ended in 2021. Right now it's just regular state unemployment insurance through NYS Department of Labor. The benefit formula is pretty straightforward - they look at your highest quarter of earnings in your base period and calculate from there. At $75k annually, the original poster should get a good benefit amount.
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Yuki Tanaka
Just to add - make sure you apply as soon as possible! Your benefit amount is locked in based on when you file, and there's no going back to get a higher rate later even if you find out you qualified for more. I learned this the hard way.
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