Most US states pay unemployment insurance benefits based on roughly 50% of your highest-quarter average weekly wage, capped at a state-specific maximum and paid for up to 26 weeks. Our unemployment insurance calculator implements the standard formula and supports state-specific caps for the most populous states (California, New York, Texas, Florida, Massachusetts, Washington, New Jersey, Mississippi). It also handles dependent allowances where applicable and computes both your weekly benefit and your maximum total benefit over the full benefit period.
Leave blank to use weekly × 13
Input your typical gross weekly pay before the layoff.
If you know your highest base-period quarter wages, enter them for precision.
Choose your state to apply the correct cap and duration.
Enter dependents for states that pay an allowance.
See your weekly benefit, max weeks, and total potential payout.
States base UI on the 'base period' — typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters. Within that base period, your highest quarter sets the weekly benefit. Most states use a 50% replacement rate, capped at a state-specific maximum that varies enormously: California's max is $450/week while Massachusetts pays up to $1,033/week. High earners often hit the cap and get less than 50% replacement.
Weekly Benefit = min(Highest Qtr / 26 × 50%, State Cap) + Dependent Allowance
Most states base UI on your highest quarter in the 'base period' (first 4 of last 5 completed quarters)
California has the lowest cap among large states ($450/week) — high earners get poor replacement
Massachusetts has the highest cap ($1,033/week) and offers up to 30 weeks
Florida pays up to only $275/week for 12 weeks — among the worst in the US
You must actively look for work and report it weekly to keep receiving benefits
Severance pay can delay or reduce UI benefits in some states
1099 contractors are usually NOT eligible for state UI (federal pandemic programs were the exception)
Unemployment insurance (UI) is a joint federal-state program that provides temporary income replacement to workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. Benefit amounts vary significantly by state: weekly maximums range from $235 in Mississippi to $1,015 in Massachusetts (2025 figures), with most states replacing approximately 40-50% of prior weekly wages up to the state cap. Eligibility typically requires earning a minimum amount during a "base period" (usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters), being able and available to work, and actively seeking new employment. Standard benefit duration is 26 weeks in most states, though some states offer fewer (Florida and North Carolina provide only 12-16 weeks). During economic downturns, federal extended benefits programs have historically added 13-20 additional weeks. Benefits are funded through employer payroll taxes — the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) rate is 6.0% on the first $7,000 of wages, with a 5.4% credit for timely state tax payments. Understanding your state's specific formula — whether it uses the highest quarter method, base period average, or a percentage table — is essential for estimating your potential weekly benefit and planning finances during a job transition.
US unemployment insurance is administered by each state, and the variation in generosity is enormous.
The differences reflect each state's funding model and political choices, not the cost of living or wage levels.
If you're a high earner planning across states, this can be a real financial planning factor.
UI is designed to provide partial wage replacement, not full income. The 50% replacement rate combined with state caps means most workers experience a steep income drop.
Lower-wage workers often get the highest replacement (50%+ if under the cap), while higher-wage workers can drop to 20-30% replacement quickly.
This is intentional — it preserves incentives to find new work — but it means an emergency fund covering 3-6 months of expenses is essential alongside UI.
State unemployment insurance (UI) benefits are based on your recent earnings during a 'base period' — typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters. Most states compute your weekly benefit from your highest-earning quarter in that period.
Per the US Department of Labor, formulas vary:
This calculator applies your state's method to your wage inputs to estimate the weekly benefit.
A common formula sets the weekly benefit amount (WBA) at roughly 1/26 of your high-quarter wages, approximating half of your former weekly pay, up to a state maximum.
For example, $13,000 in your highest quarter yields about $500 per week before the state cap.
Because the replacement rate targets about 40-50% of prior wages, higher earners hit the maximum and receive a smaller share. The calculator shows your estimated WBA against the state ceiling.
Both the maximum weekly benefit and how many weeks you can collect vary dramatically by state.
According to the Department of Labor, maximum weekly benefits range from around $250 in some states to over $1,000 in others, and standard duration is typically up to 26 weeks (fewer in several states, more in a few).
Where you worked, not where you live, generally determines your benefit, which is why the same job loss pays very differently across state lines.
To qualify, you generally must:
States verify job-search activity and may require weekly certification. Quitting or being fired for cause usually disqualifies you.
CareerOneStop and your state workforce agency list the exact monetary and non-monetary eligibility rules that apply to your claim.
Yes — the IRS treats unemployment compensation as taxable income at the federal level, reported to you on Form 1099-G.
You can elect to have 10% withheld for federal tax, or pay estimated taxes, to avoid a bill at filing. Some states also tax UI benefits while others exempt them.
Many claimants are surprised by a tax liability because withholding is optional and off by default; electing withholding when you file for benefits prevents that shock.
You may still collect reduced benefits while working part-time. States apply an earnings disregard — a portion of part-time wages you can earn before benefits are reduced — then subtract the rest from your weekly benefit.
Rules vary, but working part-time usually nets more total income than benefits alone and keeps you attached to the workforce.
Report all earnings each week; failing to report part-time wages is a common cause of overpayment penalties.
File with the state where you worked, as soon as you become unemployed, online or by phone through the state workforce agency.
Have ready:
After approval you typically certify weekly or biweekly that you remain unemployed and are seeking work. There is often a one-week unpaid waiting period.
Filing promptly matters because benefits generally start from the claim date, not the job-loss date.
Beyond standard state benefits, Extended Benefits (EB) can add weeks during periods of high state unemployment, jointly funded by the state and federal government.
In major downturns, Congress has created temporary federal programs (such as pandemic-era expansions) that raise amounts or extend duration.
These are not always available, so plan around the standard state duration and check your state agency for any active extensions before assuming extra weeks.
Frequent mistakes include:
Others file in the wrong state or let a disqualification go unappealed.
Certify on time every week, report all income, keep records of your job search, and appeal denials promptly — many initial denials are reversed on appeal with proper documentation.
Data sourced from trusted institutions
All formulas verified against official standards.