Each state has its own formula for determining your weekly benefit amount: how much money you will receive each week as your unemployment benefit. Typically, your weekly benefit amount is some percentage of your earnings during the entire base period or the quarter of the base period in which you were paid the most.
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.