Unemployment benefits calculator
Unemployment pays about half of your usual weekly pay in most states, up to a weekly maximum that runs from $235 in Mississippi to $1,208 in Washington, for 12 to 30 weeks.
Pick your state and enter your pay. You will see if you may qualify, your weekly benefit, how many weeks you can get and the total, using your state's own formula. We don't save what you type.
Estimate your unemployment benefits
Estimated benefit in California
$400 a week
- Weeksup to 26 weeks
- Total$10,400
How we worked it out
- We used your pay from Jul 2025 to Jun 2026.
- Your best quarter was $10,400. California's benefit table gives $400 for that, which is about 1/26 of it for most workers and a bit more for low pay.
- You can get up to 26 weeks: 26 times $400 is $10,400.
Pay from October to December 2026 ($6,933) is too recent to count yet. If you file after the quarter ends, it may count.
This is an estimate from your state's published formula. California Employment Development Department makes the final decision, including whether the reason you lost your job qualifies. Most people wait one unpaid week first.
If you work part-time while on unemployment
You can usually keep some benefits in a week when you work a little. Enter what you would earn that week, before tax.
Unemployment benefits by state
The most you can get each week and the most weeks for a claim filed now. Pick a state for its rules and a calculator set up for it.
- Alabama$275 a week · 14 weeks *
- Alaska$370 a week, $442 with dependents · 26 weeks
- Arizona$320 a week · 24 weeks *
- Arkansas$451 a week · 12 weeks
- California$450 a week · 26 weeks
- Colorado$884 a week · 26 weeks
- Connecticut$721 a week, $796 with dependents · 26 weeks
- Delaware$450 a week · 26 weeks
- District of Columbia$444 a week · 26 weeks
- Florida$275 a week · 12 weeks
- Georgia$365 a week · 14 weeks *
- Hawaii$868 a week · 26 weeks
- Idaho$624 a week · 21 weeks *
- Illinois$628 a week, $859 with dependents · 26 weeks
- Indiana$390 a week · 26 weeks
- Iowa$644 a week, $790 with dependents · 16 weeks
- Kansas$663 a week · 16 weeks *
- Kentucky$746 a week · 16 weeks
- Louisiana$282 a week · 12 weeks
- Maine$649 a week, $1,135 with dependents · 26 weeks
- Maryland$430 a week · 26 weeks
- Massachusetts$1,154 a week * · 30 weeks
- Michigan$530 a week · 26 weeks
- Minnesota$983 a week · 26 weeks
- Mississippi$235 a week · 26 weeks
- Missouri$320 a week · 20 weeks
- Montana$805 a week * · 24 weeks
- Nebraska$582 a week · 26 weeks
- Nevada$657 a week · 26 weeks
- New Hampshire$427 a week · 26 weeks
- New Jersey$905 a week · 26 weeks
- New Mexico$624 a week *, $674 with dependents · 26 weeks
- New York$869 a week * · 26 weeks
- North Carolina$350 a week · 12 weeks
- North Dakota$800 a week · 26 weeks
- Ohio$624 a week, $842 with dependents · 26 weeks
- Oklahoma$649 a week · 16 weeks
- Oregon$902 a week · 26 weeks
- Pennsylvania$585 a week, $593 with dependents after cut · 26 weeks
- Rhode Island$777 a week *, $971 with dependents · 26 weeks
- South Carolina$350 a week · 20 weeks
- South Dakota$575 a week · 26 weeks
- Tennessee$325 a week · 12 weeks
- Texas$619 a week * · 26 weeks
- Utah$806 a week · 26 weeks
- Vermont$751 a week * · 26 weeks
- Virginia$478 a week · 26 weeks
- Washington$1,208 a week · 26 weeks
- West Virginia$662 a week · 26 weeks
- Wisconsin$370 a week · 26 weeks
- Wyoming$671 a week · 26 weeks
* Not yet confirmed by the state. Its page explains why. Pennsylvania's amounts are after the 3.2% cut it makes to every payment.
Maximum benefit by state, ranked Weeks of unemployment by state How to apply in every state
How unemployment benefits work
- Your base period. States look at a year of your pay, usually the first four of the last five full calendar quarters before you file. Pay from the last few months may be too recent to count yet. Many states then try the last four full quarters if you do not qualify.
- Your weekly benefit. Most states pay about half of what you earned in a usual week, up to a maximum. They work it out from your best quarter, your two best quarters or your whole year of pay.
- How many weeks. Up to 26 weeks in most states. Some states pay fewer weeks when unemployment is low, and some give more weeks for steadier work.
- Why you left. You must have lost your job through no fault of your own, like a layoff or a job ending. If you quit or were fired, your state decides whether you still qualify. This calculator cannot check that.
- Each week. You file a weekly claim, say you are able and available to work, look for work, and report any pay you earned.
Common questions
How much does unemployment pay?
Most states pay about half of your usual weekly pay, up to a state maximum. In claims filed now, the maximum runs from $235 a week in Mississippi to $1,208 in Washington.
How long does unemployment last?
Up to 26 weeks in most states. Some pay fewer weeks when unemployment is low: claims filed now get up to 12 weeks in Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, North Carolina and Tennessee.
How do I qualify for unemployment?
You need enough pay in your base period, usually the first four of the last five full calendar quarters, and you must have lost your job through no fault of your own. You must be able to work, available and looking for work each week.
What is a base period?
The year of pay your state looks at. It is usually the first four of the last five full calendar quarters before you file. Many states also have an alternative base period, the last four full quarters, if you do not qualify with the first.
Is there a waiting week?
In most states, yes. The first week you are eligible is not paid. A few states, like Georgia and Maryland, have none, and a few pay it back later.
Can I work part-time and still get unemployment?
Yes, in every state, as long as you earn less than your weekly benefit (or a bit more, in some states). Each state lets you keep a small amount of pay and takes the rest off your benefit. Report all your pay each week.
Are unemployment benefits taxed?
Yes. Unemployment counts as income for federal tax. You can ask your state to hold back 10% of each payment for federal tax with Form W-4V. Most states tax it too.
When should I apply?
Apply in the first week after your job ends. Benefits usually start from the week you file, not the week you lost your job.
Sources
Every state's figures are checked against its own agency or law and the US Department of Labor. Each state page lists its sources with their dates.
- US Department of Labor, Significant Provisions of State UI Laws, effective July 2026, dated July 1, 2026
- US Department of Labor, Comparison of State Unemployment Insurance Laws 2023, chapter 3, dated January 1, 2023
- US Department of Labor, CareerOneStop: unemployment benefits finder, checked November 15, 2026
- IRS, Topic 418: Unemployment compensation, checked November 15, 2026