Estimate your potential unemployment benefits based on your state and previous earnings.
Your average weekly earnings before losing your job
Estimated Weekly Benefit
$400
50% of your wage
26 weeks
Total Potential Benefits
$10,400
Captures your state's base period rule (typically the highest-earning quarter of the last 4-5 quarters), the state's weekly benefit cap, and the maximum benefit duration (typically 26 weeks). Returns weekly amount + total payout window in one screen.
Right after a layoff, when planning a financial bridge between jobs, or when comparing benefit windows across states before relocating.
Most states cap regular unemployment at 26 weeks. A handful (Florida, North Carolina, Missouri) cap at fewer; Massachusetts goes up to 30. Federal extensions (PEUC, EB) are rare outside recessions.
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Partially — if you're working reduced hours, enter your part-time weekly wages in the deductions field and the calculator subtracts the state-allowed disregard, then reduces your benefit accordingly. Each state's disregard formula differs; consult your state's labor agency for an exact figure.
Yes — unemployment is federally taxable income. Many states also tax it. You can elect to have 10% withheld federally on Form W-4V; otherwise you'll owe at tax time.
Most states use a base period from your wages reported in that state only. If you've worked in multiple states recently, you may be eligible to combine wages — file in the state where you most recently worked and request a Combined Wage Claim.
Most states have a one-week unpaid waiting period plus a 2-3 week processing time, so the first check typically arrives 3-4 weeks after filing. Continue filing weekly certifications during processing so you don't lose retroactive eligibility.
No — it estimates only. To file, visit your state's labor agency website. Each state has its own portal with its own ID-verification flow; the link sits in the result block of this page once you select a state.
Decide between options when money is involved.
