Bill > A10304

This bill amends New York's labor law to change how weekly unemployment insurance benefits are calculated. Previously, the benefit amount was primarily based on a claimant's highest-earning quarter during their base period, with some adjustments for those who worked in all four quarters or had lower high-quarter earnings. This bill introduces a new method where a claimant's *average weekly wage* (calculated differently than before, using either the highest quarter or the average of the two highest quarters, divided by 13 weeks instead of 26) is compared to the *state average weekly wage* (the average wage for all covered employment in the state). Based on this comparison, the weekly benefit will be a percentage of the claimant's average weekly wage: 85% if their average weekly wage is up to 50% of the state average, 70% if it's between 51% and 100% of the state average, and 50% if it's over 100% of the state average. The bill also updates various existing maximum and minimum benefit amounts and their adjustment dates.

Labor and Employment

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A10304