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Unemployment Benefits by State 2026

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What a lost job pays depends entirely on the state: the same wages are worth $275 a week in Florida and $543 in Washington, $450 at most in California and $1,154 in Massachusetts. Every state's formula, floor, ceiling and duration — from the states and the USDOL, not from blogs.

The national pattern: most states replace roughly half your average weekly wage, capped hard — 26 weeks is the modal duration, Florida pays as few as 12–23 weeks depending on its unemployment rate, and Massachusetts alone reaches 30. Asterisked durations vary with earnings or the state jobless rate.

All 51 jurisdictions — weekly range and maximum duration

StateMin / weekMax / weekWeeks
Washington$383$1,20826*
Massachusetts$60$1,15430*
Minnesota$37$94826*
New Jersey$186$90526*
Oregon$211$90226*
Colorado$25$88426*
New York$140$86926
Hawaii$5$86826
North Dakota$43$81526*
Utah$47$80626*
Rhode Island$82$77726*
Montana$227$76724*
Vermont$96$75126*
Kentucky$39$74624*
Connecticut$44$72126
Wyoming$48$67126*
Kansas$165$66326*
West Virginia$24$66226
Nevada$16$65726*
Maine$113$64926*
Oklahoma$16$64916
Iowa$96$64416*
Illinois$51$62826
Idaho$72$62426*
New Mexico$116$62426*
Ohio$176$62426*
Pennsylvania$68$60526*
Texas$75$60526*
Nebraska$70$58226*
South Dakota$28$57526*
Michigan$218$53026*
Virginia$160$47826*
Arkansas$81$45112*
California$40$45026*
Delaware$20$45026*
District of Columbia$50$44426
Maryland$50$43026
New Hampshire$32$42726
Indiana$37$39026
Alaska$56$37026*
Wisconsin$54$37026*
Georgia$55$36526*
North Carolina$15$35020*
South Carolina$42$35020*
Tennessee$55$32520*
Arizona$236$32026*
Missouri$35$32020*
Louisiana$35$28220*
Alabama$45$27520*
Florida$32$27523*
Mississippi$30$23526*

Frequently asked questions

Which state pays the most?

Washington has the highest ceiling ($1,208/week in 2026), then Massachusetts ($1,154, and 30 weeks). The lowest ceilings are Mississippi ($235) and Arizona/Florida ($275–$320 range at the cap).

Do benefits depend on why I lost the job?

Eligibility does (layoffs qualify; quitting or misconduct usually doesn't); the amount depends only on wages. These calculators estimate the amount, not eligibility.

Sources & verification. State workforce agencies and the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration — Significant Provisions of State UI Laws (July 2026 edition). Verified 4 November 2026. An estimator: eligibility, waiting weeks, partial-earnings offsets and dependents’ allowances follow your claim.

Unemployment benefits by state for 2026 from state agencies and the USDOL: weekly benefits from $450 max in California to $1,208 in Washington, durations from 12 to 30 weeks — every state’s formula explained and computed.

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UNDERSTAND YOUR RESULTS

Unemployment Benefits by State — the 2026 Hub guide

The hub of the benefits family: what each state pays per week and for how long in 2026, from state agencies and the USDOL Significant Provisions.

How to use this tool

  1. Compare your state’s ceiling and duration in the table.
  2. Open your state’s calculator.
  3. Enter your base-period wages by quarter.
  4. Read the weekly amount and the maximum total.

A worked example

Washington’s $1,208 ceiling is more than five times Mississippi’s $235 — the state you worked in decides the safety net.

What you can do with this tool

How it works

Most states pay for up to 26 weeks; Massachusetts reaches 30, Florida as few as 12–23.

Frequently asked questions

Which state pays the most?

Washington ($1,208/week), then Massachusetts ($1,154 and 30 weeks).

Are benefits taxed?

Yes, federally; most states tax them too.

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