How is my unemployment benefit calculated?

Calculating your unemployment benefit

Your weekly benefit payment is based on how much you have been earning and whether any else depends on your wages, such as children. Please read the following for details.

Number of weeks that benefits are paid

Benefits are usually paid for up to 26 weeks. If you collect partial unemployment benefits or are receiving a pension, you may receive your maximum benefit amount over a longer period of time.

Benefit year

The benefit year is the 52 weeks in which you may be eligible to collect your maximum benefits (see below). It begins on the Sunday of the week you file your claim. If your maximum benefits are completely paid to you before your benefit year ends, you cannot file a new claim until the benefit year has ended. During this one-year period, your maximum benefits can only be changed if you correct information or there is a change in your dependency allowance. 

Earnings

We use an average of your highest gross wages (before taxes) that you were paid during your base period. If you have wages in only one quarter, those wages will be averaged with the second highest quarter, which will be zero. If your gross wages were less than $600 in your base period, we may use a different base period.

Most employers report your gross wages quarterly to the Department of Labor, but we need to request your wages if you worked for a federal agency, the U.S. military, or certain other organizations. This delays the process. If wages were earned and payable, but were improperly withheld, they may be counted.

Weekly benefit rate

This is the basic amount that will be paid to an eligible applicant. Here’s how it’s typically computed:

((Highest quarter of earnings + second highest quarter of earnings) ÷ 2) ÷ 26 weeks

Example: If your highest gross wages paid for one quarter is $4,000 and your second highest is $3,908, then the average is $3,954. Divided by 26 = $152.08. This is rounded down to $152 by law.

Weekly benefit amount

This is the amount you will receive each week. It equals the weekly benefit rate plus any dependency allowance.

Weekly benefit rate for construction workers

Because construction wages can fluctuate so much, we use a slightly different approach for individuals who are identified as “construction workers” by their employer. Their weekly benefit rate is 1/26 of the total wages paid during their highest quarter of wages in the base period.

Example: If your highest quarter of earnings = $4,000, then your weekly benefit rate = $4,000 ÷ 26, which equals $153.85. This is rounded down to $153 by law.

Dependency allowance

You may be eligible for a dependency allowance of $15 weekly for each dependent you support. It’s paid when you are the whole or main support for:

• Children under 18 years of age, or
• Children under 21 years of age who are full-time students, or
• Mentally or physically handicapped children of any age, or
• A spouse who is unemployed and lives in the same household with you and
  • Has not worked during the past three months, or
  • Is pregnant, or
  • Has a mental or physical disability expected to last for a long time

Here are four things to keep in mind:

• If both you and your spouse receive benefits for the same week, only one of you may claim an allowance for a dependent child or children.
• You cannot claim a dependent spouse for a week he or she does not live with you.
• Tell us if you add a new dependent.
• You can claim no more than 5 dependents.

Maximum benefits

The maximum amount of benefits that can be paid equals the weekly benefit rate multiplied by 26 plus any dependency allowance. Using the $151 weekly benefit rate in the earlier example, the maximum benefits for that person would be $3,926 (because $151 x 26 = $3,926).

Check our numbers!

We will send you a letter showing you how much you will receive each week. Review it carefully. It is your responsibility to tell the Department of Labor if you feel that any information is wrong or missing. If you find an error, please go to your local American Job Center or file an appeal. We may examine whether your wages were properly reported by your employer or if we made a mistake calculating your benefit payment.

Not Monetarily Eligible

Some people receive “monetary determination” letters stating they aren’t eligible for benefits. This is usually because they didn’t earn enough money during their base period or we don’t have a record of wages for them. If this happens to you, check your letter carefully. Is the Social Security Number correct? Are the amounts correct? Also check your own records, such as pay stubs and W2 forms.

If you feel that any of the information is wrong or missing, you can go to your local American Job Center or file an appeal.