Rex says
Money math without the spreadsheet headache. Plug in your numbers and I'll show you exactly where the dollars land.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Estimated weekly benefit
$445
Benefit if working part-time
$445
Total weekly income (benefit + work)
$445
Max total benefit over base period
$11,570
Weeks of eligibility used
26
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How to use this
- 1Enter highest-earning quarter wages ($).
- 2Enter state divisor (weeks in formula).
- 3Enter state max weekly benefit ($).
- 4Enter state min weekly benefit ($).
- 5Enter maximum benefit weeks.
- 6Enter weekly part-time earnings (if any) ($).
- 7Read your estimated weekly benefit on the right — it updates as you type.
- 8Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
State unemployment insurance (UI) programs calculate your weekly benefit amount (WBA) from wages earned in a base period, usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters. Most states use a formula close to 1/26 of your highest quarter's wages, or roughly 47-50% of your average weekly wage, capped at a state maximum that varies enormously — from around $275 in Mississippi to over $1,000 in Massachusetts. This estimator applies a generic percentage-of-highest-quarter method used by many states, then caps the result against the maximum and minimum you enter. It also projects your total benefit for the standard 26-week base period before any pandemic-style extensions. This is a planning estimate only. Every state has its own statute, some use annual wages instead of quarterly, and eligibility depends on separately proving you lost work through no fault of your own and meet minimum earnings thresholds. Check your state workforce agency's calculator before making decisions.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Highest-earning quarter wages: 13000 $
- State divisor (weeks in formula): 26
- State max weekly benefit: 445 $
- State min weekly benefit: 40 $
- Maximum benefit weeks: 26
- Weekly part-time earnings (if any): 0 $
Results
- Estimated weekly benefit: $445
- Benefit if working part-time: $445
- Total weekly income (benefit + work): $445
- Max total benefit over base period: $11,570
- Weeks of eligibility used: 26
What each field means
Inputs
- Highest-earning quarter wages ($)
- The highest-earning quarter wages used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 13000 $ so you have a working example on load.
- State divisor (weeks in formula)
- The state divisor (weeks in formula) used in the calculation. Starts at 26 so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 20–52.
- State max weekly benefit ($)
- The state max weekly benefit used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 445 $ so you have a working example on load.
- State min weekly benefit ($)
- The state min weekly benefit used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 40 $ so you have a working example on load.
- Maximum benefit weeks
- The maximum benefit weeks used in the calculation. Starts at 26 so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 12–30.
- Weekly part-time earnings (if any) ($)
- The weekly part-time earnings (if any) used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 0 $ so you have a working example on load.
Results
- Estimated weekly benefit
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Benefit if working part-time
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Total weekly income (benefit + work)
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Max total benefit over base period
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Weeks of eligibility used
- Returned as a whole number. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
Why did my state's calculator give a different number?
Every state uses its own formula — some divide the highest quarter by 26, others average two quarters, others use annual wages times a percentage. This tool approximates the most common highest-quarter method; use it for ballpark planning and confirm with your state workforce agency's official estimator before budgeting around it.
Does part-time work while collecting UI reduce my check?
Yes, almost every state reduces your weekly benefit once part-time earnings exceed a disregard amount, often 20-33% of your WBA or a flat dollar figure. Above that threshold benefits typically reduce dollar-for-dollar or by a fraction, and you must still report all earnings weekly or risk overpayment penalties.
How long can I collect unemployment?
Most states offer 26 weeks of regular benefits, though a handful (like Florida and North Carolina) cap it lower, sometimes tied to the state's unemployment rate. Extended benefits triggered during high unemployment periods, or emergency federal programs during recessions, can add weeks but are not guaranteed.
What counts as the base period?
Typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim, which excludes very recent work. If you don't have enough wages in that window, some states offer an 'alternate base period' using more recent quarters instead.
Accuracy and limitations
- Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.
- Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.
- This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant.
Related tools
Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). Unemployment Weekly Benefit Estimator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/unemployment-benefit-estimate
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/unemployment-benefit-estimate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Unemployment Weekly Benefit Estimator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [Unemployment Weekly Benefit Estimator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/unemployment-benefit-estimate) (2026).