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Unemployment calculator  →  New York

New York Unemployment Calculator (2026)

New York pays between $140 and $869 per week in unemployment benefits, and everyone who qualifies gets the same 26 weeks. The $869 maximum took effect October 6, 2025 and will adjust upward again in October 2026. Your amount is based on your highest-earning calendar quarter.

Data verified 2026-07-04Source: US DOL + state statuteEffective 2026-01-01
Weekly benefit range
$140 – $869
Duration
26 weeks
Formula
highest quarter ÷ 25–26 (table)
Apply with
New York DOL official
The actual rule

How New York calculates it

New York divides your highest-earning base period quarter by 26 if that quarter is over $3,575 (with a floor of $143 on that branch), or by 25 if it's $3,575 or less. Earn $13,000 in your best quarter and you get $500 a week. The result always lands between $140 and $869.

There's one twist: if you have wages in only two or three base period quarters and your top quarter is over $4,000, New York averages your two highest quarters and divides that by 26 instead. This keeps one unusually good quarter from overstating your normal pay. The state's own example: quarters of $4,500 and $4,288 produce a $169 weekly benefit.

Duration is simple here: 26 weeks for everyone who qualifies — no sliding scale like most states. The $869 cap is tied to the state average weekly wage and resets on the first Monday of each October, so claims filed after early October 2026 may see a higher maximum.

highest quarter ÷ 25–26 (table), clamped to $140 – $869
Source: US DOL “Significant Provisions of State UI Laws” (Jan 2026) + state statute · verified 2026-07-04

Timing note: Max $869 effective 2025-10-06; will index again (state AWW-linked) on the first Monday of October 2026 — re-verify then.

Qualifying

Do you qualify in New York?

You need at least $3,500 in your highest quarter, wages in at least two base period quarters, and total base period wages of at least 1.5 times your highest quarter. One exception: if your highest quarter is $19,118 or more, your other three quarters only need to add up to $9,559 or more.

You also must be out of work through no fault of your own, ready and able to work, and actively job searching. The New York State Department of Labor decides every claim.

Maximum total benefit: N/A (uniform duration).

Common questions

New York unemployment, in plain language

How much unemployment will I get in New York? +
Between $140 and $869 per week. For most people it's your highest base period quarter divided by 26 — for example, a $13,000 top quarter pays $500 a week. The $869 maximum has applied since October 6, 2025.
How long does unemployment last in New York? +
26 weeks for everyone who qualifies. New York is one of the states with a uniform duration — your wage history changes your weekly amount, not how many weeks you can collect.
How is the New York weekly benefit calculated? +
Your highest-earning quarter divided by 26 (or by 25 if that quarter is $3,575 or less), capped between $140 and $869. If you only have wages in two or three quarters and your top quarter is over $4,000, the state averages your two highest quarters and divides by 26 instead.
Can I work part-time while on unemployment in New York? +
Yes — and New York is unusual: partial benefits depend on hours, not dollars. Work 10 or fewer hours in a week and you keep your full benefit; 11–16 hours pays 75%; 17–21 hours pays 50%; 22–30 hours pays 25%. Over 30 hours, or gross weekly earnings above the $869 maximum, pays nothing for that week.
What do I need to qualify for unemployment in New York? +
At least $3,500 in your highest quarter, wages in two or more quarters, and total base period wages of at least 1.5 times your highest quarter (relaxed if your top quarter is $19,118 or more). Plus the standard rules: laid off through no fault of your own, able to work, and actively looking.
Is New York unemployment taxable? +
Yes, on your federal return. You can request 10% federal withholding with Form W-4V. State tax treatment varies — check current New York rules or ask a tax professional.
Will New York's maximum benefit go up? +
Yes. The maximum is now linked to the state average weekly wage and adjusts on the first Monday of each October. The current $869 took effect October 6, 2025; the next adjustment lands in early October 2026.
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