New York Assembly Bill A10048

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/30/26
• Refer: 1/30/26

Caption

Increases the unemployment insurance minimum weekly benefit amount

Summary

This bill amends the New York Labor Law provisions governing unemployment insurance weekly benefit calculations. It raises the minimum weekly benefit amount for eligible claimants so that, beginning on the bill’s effective date, the weekly benefit may not be less than the greater of $250 or 15% of the state average weekly wage. The bill applies this floor across the existing benefit formulas used for claimants with different earnings histories, including those with wages in four quarters, two or three quarters, and those whose high quarter wages fall below specified thresholds. The bill also updates the long-term minimum benefit structure for future years. Under the amended language, the weekly benefit amount on and after the first Monday of October 2026 and each year thereafter may not be less than the greater of $250 or 15% of the state average weekly wage, while the maximum benefit remains capped at 50% of the average weekly wage and cannot be reduced from the prior year. The measure takes effect immediately and would directly affect unemployment insurance claimants, employers contributing to the system, and the state agency administering benefits.

Impact

The bill would change Labor Law section 590 by increasing the statutory floor for unemployment insurance weekly benefits and tying that floor to the state average weekly wage. It would supersede lower minimum benefit amounts currently embedded in the formula, thereby increasing benefits for many unemployed workers with low or moderate prior earnings. The measure would also preserve the existing maximum-benefit framework while ensuring the cap does not decline year to year, which could affect unemployment insurance fund outlays and employer contribution pressures over time.

Sentiment

The available context shows no recorded committee transcript or vote history, so there is no documented debate or roll-call sentiment to assess. Based on the bill’s caption and text, the measure appears to be a worker-benefit expansion intended to improve unemployment insurance adequacy, which typically draws support from labor advocates and benefit recipients. No opposing arguments are captured in the provided materials.

Contention

No specific points of contention are documented in the provided committee materials or votes. The main policy issue inherent in the bill is the tradeoff between higher unemployment benefits for claimants and the potential fiscal impact on the unemployment insurance system and contributing employers. Any disagreement would likely center on whether the proposed $250-or-15%-of-state-average-weekly-wage floor is appropriate and sustainable, but no named stakeholders or objections are included in the record provided.