Use the calculator to estimate your New York weekly benefit rate for unemployment insurance. The calculator was last updated in March 2020.
You can also learn more about what you will need to file for unemployment in New York.
Calculator
Instructions and details are included below the calculator. The calculator will auto-update as you enter information.
The calculator is for informational purposes only and cannot file any claim for benefits on your behalf. Furthermore, this calculator is not endorsed by any government agency and cannot guarantee eligibility or benefits.
New York Weekly Benefit Rate Calculator: Instructions and Explanations
Date Claim Filed
Enter the date that you filed your claim (or will file your claim) for unemployment. The calendar defaults to today’s date.
New York will usually consider your claim effective as of Sunday of the same week that you file. This affects which quarterly earnings are considered as your base period (see below) when calculating your weekly benefit rate.
Base Period: Calendar Quarters | Wages Earned
Enter your total wage earnings for each of the five calendar quarters listed. Either the first four consecutive quarters (“basic”) or the last four consecutive quarters (“alternate”) are your “base period.”
The quarter with the highest earnings will then be used to calculate your weekly benefit rate. In addition, the quarter with the second highest earnings will be used if you have less than four quarters with wages.
The calculator automatically determines the relevant quarters for your relevant base period when you enter the date your claim was filed.
New York Weekly Benefit Rate Calculator: Results
Estimated Weekly Benefit Rate
The calculator returns your estimated weekly benefit rate based on your highest quarterly earnings (and second highest quarterly earnings, if applicable) during the base period.
The maximum weekly benefit rate is $504 for highest quarterly earnings of $13,104+. The minimum weekly benefit rate is $100 ($104 starting January 1, 2020), provided you meet eligibility requirements.
You must have at least two calendar quarters with earnings within four consecutive calendar quarters in order to be eligible for a weekly benefit rate.
In addition, you must also have been paid at least $2,400 for at least one calendar quarter ($2,600 starting January 1, 2020).
Your total wages over the base period must be at least 1.5x your highest quarterly earnings, unless your highest quarterly earnings were at least $11,088. If your highest quarterly earnings were at least $11,088, you must have earned at least $5,544 during the other three quarters of your base period (50% of $11,088).
The calculator will return an estimated weekly benefit rate of $0, if it appears you do not meet the eligibility requirements described above.
Your weekly benefit rate may be reduced by other compensation that you receive and certain mandated payments such as delinquent child support payments.
Base Period Used: Basic or Alternate
The calculator indicates whether it used a basic base period (the first four of the five most recent completed calendar quarters) or an alternate base period (the four most recent completed calendar quarters). The calculator automatically uses the base period which generates the highest estimated weekly benefit rate, based on your quarterly earnings.
Maximum # Weeks
You can receive your weekly benefit rate up to a maximum of 26 weeks.
Although the calculator does not take this into account, your maximum number of eligible weeks may be reduced by previous weekly benefit rate payments received and other factors.
File a Claim in New York
The following link will let you start the online process to file a claim for benefits with the New York State Department of Labor, the state government agency that helps New York job seekers and workers.
- New York: Unemployment Insurance
- Find out what key documents and information you’ll need to file your unemployment claim for benefits.
