How Much Will I Collect in Unemployment Benefits in New York?

 

Learn the formula New York uses to calculate your unemployment benefits, as well as the minimum and maximum amounts you can collect.

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In New York, you can earn up to $504 per week in unemployment benefits under state law. 

Although additional money ($300 extra per week) was available under the temporary Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program, that program expired on September 6, 2021 (or earlier, in states that cut off these benefits before the program ended). For weeks of unemployment starting on September 6, you will not receive these additional benefits. 

Every state has its own rules for calculating unemployment benefits. Typically, the amount you receive each week is based on your earnings when you were employed. After all, unemployment benefits are intended to replace some of the income you lost along with your job, and tide you over until you find new work.

Calculating Your Benefit Amount

Your weekly unemployment benefit amount depends on your earnings during 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. 

 

Currently, the most you can receive under New York law each week is $504 per week; the minimum amount you can receive is $124 per week. These limits are adjusted from time to time for inflation. 

If You Earn Money While Collecting Unemployment Benefits

Once you get a new job that pays more than you are receiving in unemployment, you will no longer be eligible to receive benefits. But what if you are only able to pick up odd jobs and small amounts of work here and there? As long as you don’t earn too much from occasional work, you will still be eligible for unemployment benefits.

In most states, as long as you earn less than your weekly benefit amount (or a bit more, in some states), you can still collect unemployment benefits. However, your benefits will be reduced by what you earn. A certain amount of what you earn will be disregarded: You will be able to keep it, and it won’t be subtracted from your benefit amount. Although this amount is generally small, this set-aside is intended to create an incentive for people to work, rather than just collecting unemployment benefits.

The amount that is disregarded when calculating your partial unemployment benefit is either a set dollar amount or a percentage of your usual weekly benefit. Contact the New York Department of Labor: Unemployment Division to find out how much you can earn without jeopardizing your benefits.

Benefits Are Taxable

Believe it or not, unemployment benefits usually count as taxable income, at least under federal law. You will have to declare the full amount you receive and, if your total income is high enough, pay taxes on your benefits.

The American Rescue Plan (which became law on March 11, 2021) waives federal income tax on the first $10,200 in unemployment benefits received in 2020. (Married couples filing jointly don't have to pay tax on the first $20,400 in unemployment benefits.) However, this law currently applies only to the 2020 tax year. 

If you wish, you can ask New York to withhold 10% of your weekly check for federal income tax. To make this request, file Form W4-V, Voluntary Withholding Request.

Although some states don’t tax unemployment benefits, most do. 


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Jurisdictional relevance: ST

There are versions of this article for each State.