I was paid much less than my salary when I was unemployed. I made more per week from the salary than I did per month on unemployment. I assume you mean more than someone else you know who had UI. The benefit amount depends on your salary. UI is insurance paid by the company that fired you - in essence the company that fired you pays your unemployment (by paying for the insurance for their employees). The more people the lay off or fire w/o cause, the more their insurance premium. In addition, there was an extra benefit paid by the federal government due to the pandemic (unemployment is usually a state benefit).

So the way to both stick it to the asshole ex-employer and make extra cash, is to double-dip. Get paid unemployment, while getting other income. If you own a company, you don't have to be employed by your company - you can just be an owner - like when you buy Apple stock. You can then pay yourself dividends instead of salary, and bam - you're still unemployed, while getting the same amount as your salary, and unemployment. You do have to keep looking for work, daily though. Which I did do. So, think of it as a legal loophole to screw the guy who fired you and make money off him.