New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and labor leaders announced during an event in Albany on Oct. 8 that the maximum weekly unemployment insurance (UI) benefit has increased for unemployed workers across the State.
Officials said that as part of the governor’s enacted budget for Fiscal Year 2026, the State invested nearly $7 billion to pay off the federal Unemployment Insurance (UI) Trust Fund loan, bring the fund to solvency, and increase the maximum weekly benefit from $504 to $869 starting Monday, Oct. 13. They said increases are also expected for many customers even if they are not currently receiving the highest rate.
They said the weekly benefit payment amount is determined by how much a worker earned during a specific base period and New Yorkers can use this tool to estimate their weekly unemployment insurance benefit amount. They said the increase in UI benefits comes at the same time as the Republican Party federal shutdown is impacting 115,000 federal employees in New York, leaving them without paychecks…