Unemployment Benefits By State – How Much Can You Receive from Unemployment Insurance Benefits?

Each state runs its own unemployment insurance benefits program. Because each state is unique, we created this table of unemployment benefits by state so you can quickly determine how much money you will earn if you claim unemployment benefits, whether or not you will receive additional income if you have dependents, how long you can receive unemployment benefits, and quickly find your state employment office where you can learn more about claiming unemployment benefits.

Table of Contents

1. Expanded Unemployment Benefits Under the CARES Act
1. Other Unemployment Insurance Provisions Under the CARES Act:
2. Unemployment Benefits By State
3. Unemployment Benefits Eligibility
1. No-fault Loss of Employment
2. You Must Be Willing and Able to Work
4. How to Apply for Unemployment Insurance Benefits
5. Unemployment Benefits Are Taxable

Expanded Unemployment Benefits Under the CARES Act

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act included a section that expanded unemployment benefits by an additional $600 per week on top of states’ benefits. This provision is being rolled out on a state-by-state basis. However, the benefit is retroactive to April 5, 2020.

The additional $600 weekly benefit brings the state and federal unemployment benefits up to an average of the median weekly wage in the United States. However, because the expanded benefits are being offered to everyone on

Other Unemployment Insurance Provisions Under the CARES Act:

The CARES Act improved unemployment benefits in the following ways:

• It provides an additional $600 per week in benefits and payments through July 31, 2020.
• It adds an additional 13 weeks of benefits through December 31, 2020. Most states currently offer 26 weeks of unemployment benefits (see the unemployment benefits by state section below).
• it expands benefits for part-time, seasonal, self-employed, and contract workers (such as those in the gig economy).
• Offers to reimburse the cost for states that waive the one-week waiting period before paying benefits.

Unemployment Benefits By State

A note about this table: The information in this table is up to date at the time of publication. We regularly review this information for accuracy. However, each state maintains its unemployment insurance program, and details change from time to time. We link to each state’s employment bureau, where you can find the most up-to-date information.

Additionally, this table lists the maximum unemployment insurance benefits you can receive. Not all workers will receive the maximum benefit. Benefits are often based on your previous salary, if or when you previously claimed unemployment compensation, and how long you have worked. Each state may also have additional rules regarding whether or not you are out of work through no fault of your own, whether or not you receive any additional income from employment or side gigs, or whether or not you receive additional income from a pension or retirement benefits.

State	Max Benefits	Employment Agency	Phone Number
Alabama	26 weeks $275/wk max	Alabama Department of Labor	334-242-8025
Alaska	26 weeks $370/wk max	Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development	907-269-4700
Arizona	26 weeks $240/wk max	Arizona Department of Economic Security	1-877-600-2722
Arkansas	26 weeks $451/wk max	Arkansas Department of Workforce Services	501-682-2121
California	26 weeks $450/wk max	California Employment Development Department	1-800-300-5616
Colorado	26 weeks $618/wk max	Colorado Department of Labor and Employment	303-318-9000
Connecticut	26 weeks $649/wk max $749 with dependents	Connecticut Department of Labor	860-263-6000
Delaware	26 weeks $400/wk max	Delaware Department of Labor	New Castle County: 302-761-6576 Other Areas: 1-800-794-3032
District of Columbia	26 weeks $444/wk max	District of Columbia Department of Employment Services	202-724-7000
Florida	12 weeks $275/wk max	Florida Department of Economic Opportunity	1-800-204-2418
Georgia	16 weeks $365/wk max	Georgia Department of Labor	1-877-709-8185
Hawaii	26 weeks $648/wk max	Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations	Oahu: 808-586-8970 Hilo: 808-974-4086 Kona: 808-322-4822 Maui: 808-984-8400 Kauai: 808-274-3043
Idaho	20 weeks $448/wk max	Idaho Department of Labor	208-332-8942
Illinois	26 weeks $484/wk max $667 with dependents	Illinois Department of Employment Security	1-800-244-5631
Indiana	26 weeks $390/wk max	Indiana Department of Workforce Development	1-800-891-6499
Iowa	26 weeks $447/wk max	Iowa Workforce Development	1-866-239-0843
Kansas	16 weeks $488/wk max	Kansas Department of Labor	1-800-292-6333
Kentucky	26 weeks $552/wk max	Kentucky Career Center Office of Unemployment Insurance	502-564-2900
Louisiana	26 weeks $247/wk max	Louisiana Workforce Commission	1-866-783-5567
Maine	26 weeks $445/wk max	Maine Department of Labor	1-800-593-7660
Maryland	26 weeks $430/wk max	Maryland Department of Labor	410-949-0022
Massachusetts	26 weeks $823/wk max $1,234 with dependents	Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance	617-626-6338
Michigan	20 weeks $362/wk max	Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity	1-866-500-0017
Minnesota	26 weeks $740/wk max	Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development	Twin Cities Area: 651-296-3644 Greater Minnesota: 1-877-898-9090
Mississippi	26 weeks $235/wk max	Mississippi Department of Employment Security	1-888-844-3577
Missouri	20 weeks $320/wk max	Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations	1-800-320-2519
Montana	26 weeks $552/wk max	Montana Department of Labor and Industry	406-444-2545
Nebraska	26 weeks $440/wk max	Nebraska Department of Labor	1-855-995-8863
Nevada	26 weeks $469/wk max	Nevada Department of Employment Training and Rehabilitation	Northern Nevada: 775-684-0350 Southern Nevada: 702-486-0350 Rural Areas and Out of State Callers: 1-888-890-8211
New Hampshire	26 weeks $427/wk max	New Hampshire Department of Employment Security	1-800-852-3400
New Jersey	26 weeks $713/wk max	New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development	North New Jersey: 201-601-4100 Central New Jersey: 732-761-2020 South New Jersey: 856-507-2340 Out-of-state claims: 1-888-795-6672
New Mexico	26 weeks $511/wk max	New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions	1-877-664-6984
New York	26 weeks $504/wk max	New York Department of Labor	1-888-209-8124
North Carolina	12 weeks $350/wk max	North Carolina Department of Commerce	1-888-737-0259
North Dakota	26 weeks $633/wk max	North Dakota Job Service	701-328-4995
Ohio	26 weeks $480/wk max $647 with dependents	Ohio Department of Job and Family Services	1-877-644-6562
Oklahoma	26 weeks $539/wk max	Oklahoma Employment Security Commission	1-800-555-1554
Oregon	26 weeks $648/wk max	Oregon Employment Department	1-877-345-3484
Pennsylvania	26 weeks $572/wk max $580 with dependents.	Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry	1-888-313-7284
Puerto Rico	26 weeks $190/wk max	Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources	787-625-7900
Rhode Island	26 weeks $586/wk max $867 with dependents.	Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training	401-243-9100
South Carolina	20 weeks $326/wk max	South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce	1-866-831-1724
South Dakota	26 weeks $414/wk max	South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation	605-626-3179
Tennessee	26 weeks $275/wk max	Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development	1-877-813-0950
Texas	26 weeks $521/wk max	Texas Workforce Commission	1-800-939-6631
U.S. Virgin Islands	26 weeks $552/wk max	U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Labor	340-773-1994
Utah	26 weeks $580/wk max	Utah Department of Workforce Services	Salt Lake and South Davis Counties: 801-526-4400 Weber and North Davis Counties: 801-612-0877 Utah County: 801-375-4067 Other Counties and Out of State: 1-888-848-0688
Vermont	26 weeks $513/wk max	Vermont Department of Labor	1-888-807-7072
Virginia	26 weeks $378/wk max	Virginia Employment Commission	1-866-832-2363
Washington	26 weeks $790/wk max	Washington Employment Security Department	1-800-318-6022
West Virginia	26 weeks $424/wk max	Workforce West Virginia	1-800-379-1032
Wisconsin	26 weeks $370/wk max	Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development	1-844-910-3661
Wyoming	26 weeks $508/wk max	Wyoming Department of Workforce Services	307-473-3789

Unemployment Benefits Eligibility

Again, each state has its own rules governing unemployment compensation benefits. The following are general rules that apply to most states. Visit your state’s employment office for more specific information.

No-fault Loss of Employment

Most states require unemployment insurance benefits recipients to be out of work through no fault of their own. There are some exceptions for certain contract workers whose contract has come to an end, or military veterans who have recently left the military. However, some military retirees may be ineligible in some states if they receive a military pension.

Examples of no-fault loss of employment include being laid off, forced business closures such as those we are seeing during the current environment, temporary layoffs or unpaid furloughs, and in some cases, seasonal work.

Some states do not offer unemployment benefits for gig workers, freelancers, self-employed individuals, or in some cases, seasonal workers.

You Must Be Willing and Able to Work

Most states require workers who are receiving unemployment compensation to be willing and able to work as well as actively seeking suitable employment. In this case, most states define suitable employment as comparable if the wages, hours, and/or working conditions are similar to your previous employment levels. The employment should also align with your prior training, education, and experience.

If you are not physically able to work, then you may consider applying for disability benefits instead of unemployment benefits.

How to Apply for Unemployment Insurance Benefits

You should apply for unemployment compensation as soon as you are unemployed. Most states will make you wait for one week before you are able to apply for unemployment benefits. However, this is currently waived due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Start by starting your personal information, such as your Social Security Number, previous two years of employment history (employer name, location, the position held, etc.), the last date you worked, your wage history, and if applicable, information for your union. You may need additional information, such as your education level, military service history, or other information.

Try Applying online first. Most states allow you to apply online, in-person, or over the phone. However, states are currently overburdened with applications and many are not accepting in-person applications. So your best bet is to try online first. Be patient, as many states are running antiquated systems that are not designed to handle the flood of applications they are receiving.

Once approved, you may be required to meet with an employment counselor at some point. You will also have to certify your attempts to continue your job search. Most states require this on a weekly basis.

Unemployment Benefits Are Taxable

Be aware that unemployment insurance benefits are considered taxable income. However, most states do not automatically withhold any taxes from your unemployment benefits. You may opt to do so, saving you from a large tax bill down the road.

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