New York Unemployment Calculator (2021)
If you are getting ready to apply for New York Unemployment Benefits or you have been approved for benefits and would like to know how much you are likely to receive, we can help. In this post, we will walk you through how to use the New York Unemployment Calculator to estimate your benefit payment amount.
This post will cover:
- New York Unemployment Calculator
- FAQs about New York Unemployment Benefits
New York Unemployment Calculator
Before you apply for Unemployment Benefits in New York, you can estimate your potential benefit amount.
You can do this using the New York Unemployment Benefits Calculator (Estimator).
The estimator cannot tell you whether you are qualified to receive benefits or not.
Here’s how to estimate your benefits:
Step 1 – Visit the DOL’s Unemployment Benefits Estimator Site
The first step in the process is to visit the New Unemployment Benefits Estimator website.
Note that the estimator will require you to enter wages for five different pay periods, one of which is an “Alternate” quarter, as shown in the image below.
Also, when you visit the website, you will be required to enter the date you plan to file for benefits.
Step 2 – Enter the Requested Information
The first step in the process is to enter the date you plan to file for unemployment benefits in New York.
You will have to enter the date in the “mm/dd/yyyy” format.
Once you enter the date, it will display your base quarters.
Next, enter the wage information into the estimate calculator.
Enter your gross earnings for each of the calendar quarters.
Note that gross earnings are your wages before taxes and other deductions.
The wage information requested is by quarter (3 months), therefore you have to multiply your monthly wage by 3.
In the example used below, the wage for the first quarter is $2,000 a month and $6,000 per quarter.
For the next 4 quarters, the wage used is $2,500 a month, and $7,500 per quarter.
Once you have provided the information requested, click on the “Calculate” link to view your estimate (as shown in the example below).
If you make a mistake while entering the information, refresh the page to clear the information entered so that you can start over.
Step 3 – View Your Estimated Unemployment Benefits
Once you click the “Calculate” button, you will be taken to a page that will display your estimated New York unemployment benefit amount as shown in the example below.
The results will show you the Estimated Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA) using your Basic Base Rate and your Alternate Base Rate.
Using the example above, the estimated unemployment benefit is the same for both the basic and alternate base rates, as shown in the image below.
It will also display the current Minimum and Maximum weekly benefit amount for the state so that you can compare that with your estimated amount.
Your weekly benefit amount is the amount you receive for weeks you are eligible for unemployment benefits.
Your maximum benefit amount (MBA) is the total amount you can receive during your benefit year.
How to calculate unemployment benefits in New York
To calculate your WBA, divide your base period quarter with the highest wages by 25 and round to the nearest dollar.
Your MBA is 26 times your weekly benefit amount or 27 percent of all your wages in the base period, whichever is less.
New York Unemployment FAQs
Here are the most frequently asked questions about New York Unemployment:
How much is unemployment in New York right now?
In New York, the current maximum weekly benefit rate is $504.
However, how much you will get in benefits depends on your past wages.
Can I work part-time and collect unemployment in New York?
Yes, you can work part-time and still collect NY unemployment.
However, how much you will receive depends on how many hours you are working.
The New York State DOL’s new partial unemployment system uses an “hours-based” approach.
Under the new approach, claimants can claim partial unemployment for a week if they work 30 hours or fewer and earn $504 or less in gross pay excluding earnings from self-employment.
With this change, claimants’ benefits will not be reduced for each day they engage in part-time work and will be reduced in increments based on total hours of work for the week.
Partial benefits are available as follows:
- 0 – 10 hours of work (equivalent to 0 days worked): 100% of weekly benefit rate
- 11 – 16 hours of work (equivalent to 1 day worked): 75% of weekly benefit rate
- 17 – 21 hours of work (equivalent to 2 days worked): 50% of weekly benefit rate
- 22 – 30 hours of work (equivalent to 3 days worked): 25% of weekly benefit rate
- 31+ hours of work (equivalent to 4 days worked): 0% of weekly benefit rate
Note that if you earn over more than $504 in any week, no matter how many hours you worked, you cannot receive benefits for that week.
How long does it take to get approved for unemployment in New York?
It takes three to six weeks from the time you file your claim to when you receive your first unemployment benefit payment in New York.
Why does it take so long?
That is because the New York State DOL has to review and process your application for benefits.
If you are found eligible for unemployment, any back weeks owed will be paid to you as part of your first payment.
However, while the DOL processes your application or unemployment, here’s what you need to do:
First, complete and return any questionnaires and return any phone calls you receive from the Department of Labor right away.
Second, continue to claim weekly benefits as long as you are unemployed and meet the eligibility requirements.
What is the max for unemployment in New York?
The current maximum weekly unemployment benefit rate in New York state is $504.
However, how much you will get in benefits depends on your past wages.
How long Can You Collect Unemployment Benefits in New York?
Under New York law, you can receive unemployment benefits for 26 weeks.
In addition, there are Extended Benefits (EB) available.
Extended Benefits went into effect the week ending July 5, 2020.
As of August 2021, you can get up to 13 weeks of additional benefits through the Extended Benefits program for a total of 39 weeks.
The number of available weeks of EB depends upon New York’s unemployment rate and is therefore subject to change.
EB expires the benefit week ending September 5, 2021.
For updates on COVID-19 pandemic-related unemployment benefits, see the image below.
Is New York getting the $300 unemployment in 2021?
No. On September 5, 2021, several federal unemployment benefit programs will expire across the country, per federal law.
The federal benefit programs that will expire are:
- Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)
- Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)
- Extended Benefits (EB)
- $300 Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)
- $100 Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation (MEUC)
As you can see from the list above, the programs that have expired include the $300 FPUC benefit.
Therefore, you will no longer be eligible for this additional unemployment benefit payment.
Why does my unemployment claim say Zero Effective Days
You will continue getting your weekly payment even though it shows zero effective days remaining.
The New York Department of Labor’s system does not update the Effective Days Remaining after 26 weeks have been exhausted.
Therefore, if you qualify for extended benefits, this number will remain at “0” while you continue getting Unemployment payments.
Does New York unemployment pay weekly or biweekly?
In New York, you must submit weekly certifications for unemployment benefits.
Benefit requests (and payments) are made weekly for as long as you are eligible.
How do I Contact New York Unemployment?
Here’s how to contact New York Unemployment:
Phone
Call the Telephone Claims Center (TCC) toll-free at (888) 209-8124 during the hours of operation: Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM.
Weekly Benefits:
It’s best to claim weekly benefits or obtain benefit payment information is online with your NY.Gov ID.
Click here to visit the website and process your weekly certification online.
Alternatively, you can call 1-888-581-5812 to certify by phone.
If you use TTY/TDD, call a relay operator first at (800) 662-1220, and ask the operator to call the Telephone Claims Center at (888) 783- 1370.
You may claim your weekly benefits Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM until midnight and from 12:01 AM Saturday until midnight on Sunday.
NY Unemployment Debit Card Questions
If you have questions about your NY Unemployment debit card, call the number below:
Call KeyBank Customer Service at (866) 295- 2955.
Other Ways to Contact New York Unemployment
Here are additional ways to contact the NY Unemployment Office:
You can also write to the NY DOL at:
New York State Department of Labor
P.O. Box 15130
Albany, NY 12212-5130
Be sure that your Social Security number appears at the top of the right-hand corner on all pages.
Fax
Additionally, you can send a fax to the number below:
(518) 457-9378
Be sure that your Social Security number appears at the top of the right-hand corner on all pages.
Also, make sure you save your fax confirmation sheet as the DOL does not confirm the receipt of a fax or written correspondence.
Request a Hearing
If your unemployment benefits claim has been denied, you can request a hearing with the NY State Department of Labor.
Here’s how:
To request a hearing, your written request must be received within 30 days of the determination (the date your claim was denied).
Be sure that your Social Security number appears at the top right-hand corner on all pages.
Mail your request to:
New York State Department of Labor
P.O. Box 15131
Albany, NY 12212-5131
Will my employer know if I file for Unemployment?
When an employee files for unemployment, the employer will receive a notification from the state unemployment commission.
The notification will be based on information provided by the employee supporting his or her application for benefits.
Once the employer receives the claim notice they need to take action.
The action the employer takes depends on whether they want to contest the claim or not.
Why does my application status in the DOL system say I am ineligible?
There are many reasons you may be deemed ineligible for New York Unemployment benefits
This includes incomplete or inaccurate information.
If you have incomplete or inaccurate information, the DOL will reach out to assist you in completing your application.
Here are the most common reasons you may be denied unemployment benefits by the New York Department of Labor.
-
- Work-related misconduct
- Voluntary Resignation
- Not looking for work
- Being unable to work
- Refusal to Accept Suitable Work
- Not Meeting Earnings Requirements
- Immigration Status
- Attending School or Training
- Committing Unemployment Fraud
- Failure to File Appeal on Time
- Receiving severance pay
- Problems With the New York Unemployment System
New York Unemployment Calculator Summary
We hope this post on New York Unemployment Calculator was helpful.
Still Have Questions?
To go to the main New York Unemployment page, click here: New York Unemployment.
For help accessing your NY Unemployment Benefits online account, click here: New York Unemployment Login.
For the New York Unemployment Handbook, click here: New York Unemployment Benefits Handbook.
If you have further questions about New York Unemployment Benefits or Unemployment Debit Card, you can fill out the comment form below and we will answer your question ASAP.
Be sure to check out our other articles on Unemployment Benefits, including:
Whether Unemployment Benefits are Taxable
List of States Extending Unemployment Benefits
Massachusetts DUA Unemployment Debit Card
How to file for Unemployment (in all 50 States)
Unemployment office Phone Number (All 50 States)