In New York, the minimum benefit is $124 per week, and the maximum benefit is $504 per week.
Pandemic Unemployment Benefits Have Expired
Although additional money -- $300 extra per week -- was available under the federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program, that program expired on September 6, 2021. For weeks of unemployment starting on September 6 or later, these extra benefits will no longer be paid.
A different federal program -- Pandemic Unemployment Assistance -- made benefits available temporarily to workers who were not eligible for traditional unemployment benefits, including freelancers, gig workers, and other contractors. That program also expired on September 6, 2021.
How New York Determines Benefit Amounts
Each state determines how much it will pay in unemployment benefits. Generally, the weekly benefit amount is some fraction or percentage of your earnings in the base period or your highest paid quarter of the base period.
In New York, your weekly benefit amount depends on whether you were paid wages in all four quarters of the base period.
If you were paid wages in all four quarters, you will receive:
- one twenty-sixth of your earnings in the highest paid quarter or $143, whichever is higher, if you earned more than $3,575 in the highest paid quarter, or
- one twenty-fifth of your earnings in the highest paid quarter or $124, whichever is higher, if you earned $3,575 or less in the highest paid quarter.
If you earned wages in only two or three quarters of the base period, your weekly benefit is calculated as follows:
- If you earned more than $4,000 in the highest paid quarter of the base period, you will receive one twenty-sixth of your average quarterly earnings during the two highest paid quarters of the base period or $143, whichever is higher.
- If you earned between $3,576 and $4,000 in the highest paid quarter, you will receive one twenty-sixth of your earnings during the highest paid quarter of the base period or $143, whichever is higher.
- If you earned $3,575 or less during the highest paid quarter, you will receive one twenty-fourth of your earnings during the highest paid quarter or $124, whichever is higher.
To make sure these amounts are still current when you apply for benefits, contact the New York Department of Labor: Unemployment Division.