How to Calculate Unemployment in New York

When I lost my job, it took me awhile to figure out how to calculate my unemployment benefits. You will need to calculate it 1) to double-check the work of the Department of Labor, and 2) to know whether you will request that they use an "alternate base period." (Explanation of this is in the article) You only have 10 days to file for the alternate base period so it's a good idea to calculate your wages beforehand.

Instructions

1. Find your pay stubs from the last FIVE quarters. These are the quarters of the year:
   1st quarter: January 1 through March 31
   2nd quarter: April 1 through June 30
   3rd quarter: July 1 through September 30
   4th quarter: October 1 through December 31

   Five calendar quarters means you will need your pay stubs from about a year and three months ago.

   The quarters need to be completed. FOR EXAMPLE: if you lost your job on October 9th, 2009 then the 4th quarter doesn't count. Your last completed quarter was the 3rd quarter which ended on September 30th. The last five quarters would be:

   2008
   3rd quarter: July 1 through September 30
   4th quarter: October 1 through December 31

   2009
   1st quarter: January 1 through March 31
   2nd quarter: April 1 through June 30
   3rd quarter: July 1 through September 30

2. IDENTIFY YOUR "BASE PERIOD." Your base period is the FIRST 4 months of the last 5 completed calendar quarters.

   So in this example it would be:

   2008
   3rd quarter: July 1 through September 30
   4th quarter: October 1 through December 31

   2009
   1st quarter: January 1 through March 31
   2nd quarter: April 1 through June 30

   IDENTIFY THE "ALTERNATE BASE PERIOD." The Alternate Base Period is the LAST 4 completed calendar quarters. That would be:

   2008
   4th quarter: October 1 through December 31

   2009
   1st quarter: January 1 through March 31
   2nd quarter: April 1 through June 30
   3rd quarter: July 1 through September 30

   You only need the alternate base period if you find it would increase your weekly benefit rate.

3. ADD UP YOUR WAGES IN EACH OF THE QUARTERS. If you had a steady paycheck this is pretty easy. However if you had a sales job or were paid on commission then you need to really look at each paycheck. Don't worry it doesn't take as long as you think it will.

   When looking at the dates, make sure you do it by the date PAID and not by the date worked. For example if you were paid on July 2 then it belongs in the 3rd quarter (even though the work was done in the second quarter)

4. Hang in there- the worst is over! IDENTIFY WHICH QUARTER YOU GOT THE HIGHEST PAY. By this time, you have your paystubs organized chronologically and into quarters and have everything added up. So what's the highest number? These are your "high calendar quarter wages."

5. DIVIDE BY 26. This is your weekly benefit rate.

Tips & Warnings

• If you notice that your last completed quarter has the highest wages, then you will want to apply to use your "alternate base period."

• The maximum benefit is $405.

• If your highest quarter is $3,575 or less, your weekly benefit is one twenty-fifth (1/25) of your high quarter wages.