New York Unemployment Calculator
Figure basis: Official U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment InsuranceThis calculator estimates your New York unemployment insurance (UI) weekly benefit for 2026. Enter your usual gross weekly pay to see an estimated weekly benefit, alongside the official New York minimum ($140) and maximum ($869) weekly benefit amounts and the 26 weeks of benefits payable. The weekly amount is an estimate: it uses about 50% wage replacement (which matches the common "one twenty-sixth of high-quarter wages" rule) and is capped at the state minimum and maximum. Your state agency sets the exact figure from your base-period wage history, and eligibility rules apply. The minimum, maximum, and number of weeks are the official 2026 figures, sourced from U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance.
In New York, the weekly unemployment benefit ranges from $140 to $869, payable for 26 weeks (up to $22,594 in total). On $1,000 a week, the estimated benefit is about $500.00 per week.
How New York unemployment benefits work
New York pays a weekly benefit amount (WBA) based on your earnings during the base period (usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters). The WBA is subject to a state minimum of $140 and a maximum of $869, and is payable for 26 weeks.
estimated weekly benefit = min(max(weekly wage x 50%, $140), $869)
estimated maximum total = estimated weekly benefit x 26 weeks
The 50% figure is an approximation of the common state formula; your state agency sets the exact WBA from your wage records.
New York unemployment figures (2026)
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum weekly benefit | $140 | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
| Maximum weekly benefit | $869 | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
| Weeks payable | 26 weeks | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
How New York's frozen $504 cap finally started climbing
New York's unemployment maximum tells a story of recent change. For most of the past decade the state froze its top weekly benefit at $504, one of the least generous ceilings relative to local wages in the country. A phased increase enacted in 2024 finally began lifting that cap toward half of the statewide average weekly wage, which is how the 2026 maximum reaches $869, well above the long-frozen figure many New Yorkers still remember. The minimum is $140, and benefits run for a uniform 26 weeks for every eligible claimant.
Because New York now indexes its maximum, this is a figure worth re-checking each year rather than assuming the old $504 number still applies. The calculator pays a uniform 26 weeks, so there is no sliding duration scale to model; the only real variable is the weekly amount. New York sets that amount from your highest base-period quarter (roughly one twenty-sixth of high-quarter wages), which the 50% wage-replacement estimate here approximates but does not reproduce exactly, especially for workers with concentrated or seasonal earnings. Treat the $140 minimum, the $869 maximum, and the 26-week duration as the sourced facts, and let the New York State Department of Labor assign your exact weekly benefit from your wage record.
New York unemployment: frequently asked questions
What is the maximum unemployment benefit in New York for 2026?
The maximum weekly benefit amount in New York is $869 for 2026. The minimum is $140. Over the maximum 26 weeks, that is up to $22,594 in total benefits.
How many weeks of unemployment can I get in New York?
New York pays benefits for a uniform 26 weeks.
How much unemployment will I get in New York?
Your weekly benefit is roughly half your usual gross weekly pay, subject to the New York minimum of $140 and maximum of $869. For example, on $1,000 a week the estimate is about $500.00. This is an estimate; New York sets your exact amount from your base-period wage history.
Is this the exact unemployment amount I will receive?
No. The minimum, maximum, and weeks shown are the official 2026 figures, but the weekly amount here is an estimate (about 50% wage replacement, which matches the common "one twenty-sixth of high-quarter wages" rule). Your state agency computes the exact figure from your reported wages, and eligibility rules apply.
Official sources
- New York unemployment weekly benefit and duration (tax year 2026): U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance, as at Jul 15, 2026.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 15 July 2026. See our methodology. General information, not legal or financial advice; file your claim with your state agency.