{ "name": "Unemployment insurance: maximum weekly benefit and weeks of duration by US state", "description": "For each US state: the maximum (and minimum, where stated) weekly unemployment benefit amount, the maximum number of payable weeks, and \u2014 where the state uses one \u2014 the sliding-scale rule that ties duration to the state unemployment rate. Answers 'how much is unemployment in [state]', 'how many weeks of unemployment can I get in [state]', and 'what is the maximum unemployment benefit in [state]'. The claimant-side counterpart to the employer-side wage-base asset proposed 2026-08-17. The confident-wrong conditions are strong: Texas's cap moved from $591 to $605 in October 2025 (indexed annually, so any trained-in figure decays every October); several states no longer offer the 'standard' 26 weeks (NC and FL are at 12, tied to the unemployment rate by formula), and page one is entirely content mills (savingtoinvest, layoffcalc, remotelaws) \u2014 the DOL comparison of state UI laws is an annual PDF, not an agent-reachable page. One authority per record: the state workforce agency's own page or the state statute. Record the duration formula verbatim where one exists \u2014 the formula is the fact that generic answers flatten.", "url": "https://referencesource.org/ui-weekly-benefit-and-duration-by-state/", "licence": "unknown", "last_verified": "2026-08-18", "stale_after": "2027-02-14", "sources": [ "https://edd.ca.gov/en/unemployment/eligibility/", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0443/Sections/0443.111.html", "https://dol.georgia.gov/get-unemployment-assistance", "https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/268.07", "https://www.des.nc.gov/need-help/faqs/ui", "https://esd.wa.gov/unemployment/calculate-your-benefit" ], "records": [ { "state": "California", "max_weekly_benefit": "$450", "min_weekly_benefit": "$40", "id": "california", "url": "https://referencesource.org/ui-weekly-benefit-and-duration-by-state/california/", "source": "https://edd.ca.gov/en/unemployment/eligibility/", "source_quote": "If you qualify, your weekly benefit amount will be between $40 and $450.", "verified_fields": [ "max_weekly_benefit", "min_weekly_benefit" ], "derived_fields": [ "state" ] }, { "state": "Florida", "max_weekly_benefit": "$275", "min_weekly_benefit": "$32", "duration_rule": "the duration of benefits is limited to: 1.  Twelve weeks if this state\u2019s average unemployment rate is at or below 5 percent. 2.  An additional week in addition to the 12 weeks for each 0.5 percent increment in this state\u2019s average unemployment rate above 5 percent. 3.  Up to a maximum of 23 weeks if this state\u2019s average unemployment rate equals or exceeds 10.5 percent.", "benefit_formula": "one twenty-sixth of the total wages for insured work paid during that quarter of the base period in which the total wages paid were the highest", "id": "florida", "url": "https://referencesource.org/ui-weekly-benefit-and-duration-by-state/florida/", "source": "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0443/Sections/0443.111.html", "source_quote": "WEEKLY BENEFIT AMOUNT. — An individual\u2019s \u201cweekly benefit amount\u201d is an amount equal to one twenty-sixth of the total wages for insured work paid during that quarter of the base period in which the total wages paid were the highest, but not less than $32 or more than $275. The weekly benefit amount, if not a multiple of $1, is rounded downward to the nearest full dollar amount. The maximum weekly benefit amount in effect at the time the claimant establishes an individual weekly benefit amount is the maximum benefit amount applicable throughout the claimant\u2019s benefit year. (4)  WEEKLY BENEFIT FOR UNEMPLOYMENT. — (a)  Total. — Each eligible individual who is totally unemployed in any week is paid for the week a benefit equal to her or his weekly benefit amount. (b)  Partial. — Each eligible individual who is partially unemployed in any week is paid for the week a benefit equal to her or his weekly benefit less that part of the earned income, if any, payable to her or him for the week which is in excess of 8 times the federal hourly minimum wage. These benefits, if not a multiple of $1, are rounded downward to the nearest full dollar amount. (5)  DURATION OF BENEFITS. — (a)  As used in this section, the term \u201cFlorida average unemployment rate\u201d means the average of the 3 months for the most recent third calendar year quarter of the seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rates as published by the Department of Commerce. (b)  Each otherwise eligible individual is entitled during any benefit year to a total amount of benefits equal to 25 percent of the total wages in his or her base period, not to exceed $6,325 or the product arrived at by multiplying the weekly benefit amount with the number of weeks determined in paragraph (c), whichever is less. However, the total amount of benefits, if not a multiple of $1, is rounded downward to the nearest full dollar amount. These benefits are payable at a weekly rate no greater than the weekly benefit amount. (c)  For claims submitted during a calendar year, the duration of benefits is limited to: 1.  Twelve weeks if this state\u2019s average unemployment rate is at or below 5 percent. 2.  An additional week in addition to the 12 weeks for each 0.5 percent increment in this state\u2019s average unemployment rate above 5 percent. 3.  Up to a maximum of 23 weeks if this state\u2019s average unemployment rate equals or exceeds 10.5 percent.", "verified_fields": [ "benefit_formula", "duration_rule", "max_weekly_benefit", "min_weekly_benefit" ], "derived_fields": [ "state" ] }, { "state": "Georgia", "max_weeks": "from 14 to 26 weeks", "duration_rule": "an adjustable maximum number of weeks of regular UI eligibility to range from 14 to 26 weeks based upon a designated average statewide unemployment rate. The maximum number of weeks will change twice each calendar year dependent upon the average statewide unemployment rate published for April and October.", "id": "georgia", "url": "https://referencesource.org/ui-weekly-benefit-and-duration-by-state/georgia/", "source": "https://dol.georgia.gov/get-unemployment-assistance", "source_quote": "Georgia 2021 House Bill 1090 amended Code Section 34-8-193 of Georgia Employment Security Law to create an adjustable maximum number of weeks of regular UI eligibility to range from 14 to 26 weeks based upon a designated average statewide unemployment rate. The maximum number of weeks will change twice each calendar year dependent upon the average statewide unemployment rate published for April and October.", "verified_fields": [ "duration_rule", "max_weeks" ], "derived_fields": [ "state" ] }, { "state": "Minnesota", "max_weekly_benefit": "a maximum of 66-2/3 percent of the state's average weekly wage", "duration_rule": "The maximum amount of unemployment benefits available on any benefit account is the lower of: (1) 33-1/3 percent of the applicant's total wage credits; or (2) 26 times the applicant's weekly unemployment benefit amount.", "benefit_formula": "50 percent of the applicant's average weekly wage during the base period, to a maximum of 66-2/3 percent of the state's average weekly wage", "id": "minnesota", "url": "https://referencesource.org/ui-weekly-benefit-and-duration-by-state/minnesota/", "source": "https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/268.07", "source_quote": "the weekly unemployment benefit amount available during the applicant's benefit year is the higher of: (1) 50 percent of the applicant's average weekly wage during the base period, to a maximum of 66-2/3 percent of the state's average weekly wage; or (2) 50 percent of the applicant's average weekly wage during the high quarter, to a maximum of 43 percent of the state's average weekly wage. The applicant's average weekly wage under clause (1) is computed by dividing the total wage credits by 52. The applicant's average weekly wage under clause (2) is computed by dividing the high quarter wage credits by 13. (b) The state's maximum weekly benefit amount, computed in accordance with section 268.035, subdivision 23 , applies to a benefit account established effective on or after the last Sunday in October. Once established, an applicant's weekly unemployment benefit amount is not affected by the last Sunday in October change in the state's maximum weekly unemployment benefit amount. (c) The maximum amount of unemployment benefits available on any benefit account is the lower of: (1) 33-1/3 percent of the applicant's total wage credits; or (2) 26 times the applicant's weekly unemployment benefit amount.", "verified_fields": [ "benefit_formula", "duration_rule", "max_weekly_benefit" ], "derived_fields": [ "state" ] }, { "state": "North Carolina", "max_weekly_benefit": "$350", "max_weeks": "from 12 to 20 weeks", "duration_rule": "a duration of from 12 to 20 weeks based on the unemployment rate", "id": "north-carolina", "url": "https://referencesource.org/ui-weekly-benefit-and-duration-by-state/north-carolina/", "source": "https://www.des.nc.gov/need-help/faqs/ui", "source_quote": "In North Carolina, you may get up to $350 a week in unemployment benefits, for a duration of from 12 to 20 weeks based on the unemployment rate.", "verified_fields": [ "duration_rule", "max_weekly_benefit", "max_weeks" ], "derived_fields": [ "state" ] }, { "state": "Washington", "max_weekly_benefit": "$1,208", "duration_rule": "Find this by taking the smaller of either: 26 times your weekly benefit amount. 1/3 of the total gross (before tax) wages in all 4 quarters of your base year.", "benefit_formula": "We combine your gross wages from the 2 quarters in your base year when you earned the most. Then we divide by 2. We multiply this number by 0.0385.", "id": "washington", "url": "https://referencesource.org/ui-weekly-benefit-and-duration-by-state/washington/", "source": "https://esd.wa.gov/unemployment/calculate-your-benefit", "source_quote": "Once you know your weekly benefit amount, you can estimate the total amount of benefits we might pay you on your claim. Find this by taking the smaller of either: 26 times your weekly benefit amount. 1/3 of the total gross (before tax) wages in all 4 quarters of your base year. How we calculate your weekly benefit amount We use this formula when we calculate your weekly benefit amount. The formula is not based on financial need. We combine your gross wages from the 2 quarters in your base year when you earned the most. Then we divide by 2. We multiply this number by 0.0385. If the number is: More than Washington's official maximum weekly benefit amount of $1,208, you will get $1,208.", "verified_fields": [ "benefit_formula", "duration_rule", "max_weekly_benefit" ], "derived_fields": [ "state" ] } ] }