Estimate your weekly and monthly unemployment insurance benefits based on your previous wage, state, and number of dependents.
Auto-updated · Verified daily against IRS, Fed & Treasury sources
Enter your numbers below
Spouse, children under 18 (varies by state)
A Chicago-area couple, combined income $98,000, are stress-testing a financial decision — whether to pay off a $14,000 car loan early or redirect that cash into a 401(k) match they're currently leaving on the table.
Takeaway: Run this with your specific loan rate and employer match. The crossover point shifts when the loan rate exceeds ~8% or the match is partial. Use the calculator above with your own inputs.
Most investment calculators default to 6-8% annual returns based on historical S&P 500 averages. Actual returns vary significantly by decade — the 2000s delivered near-zero real returns for 10 years. Run scenarios at 4% and 10% to bound your estimate.
A calculator showing you'll have $1.2M in 30 years is in nominal dollars. At 3% inflation, that's worth ~$495K in today's purchasing power. Look for a "real return" or "inflation-adjusted" option, or subtract 2-3% from the assumed growth rate manually.
If your investment account is taxable (not IRA/401k), dividends and capital gains distributions reduce compounding each year. After-tax returns in a taxable account typically run 0.5-1.5% below pre-tax figures depending on turnover and your bracket.
A 1% annual fund fee on a 30-year $500/month investment compounding at 7% costs roughly $170,000 in foregone growth vs. a 0.05% index fund. Always input your actual expense ratio — not zero.
Some calculators only model federal tax rates. Nine states have no income tax; others tax retirement distributions, Social Security, or capital gains differently than federal rules. The state-level difference can swing after-tax results by 3-9% of gross.
State Tax CalculatorBased on your inputs
| Weekly Benefit (base) | $600 |
|---|---|
| Weekly Benefit (with dependents) | $600 |
| Monthly Benefit (est.) | $2,598 |
| Standard Duration | 26 weeks |
| Total Potential Benefits | $15,600 |
About Your Estimate
Money Score: Analyze 3 calcs across rent, debt, and savings to unlock.
Analyze 3 calcs to unlock
0 of 3 analyzed
Analyze 3+ calcs to unlock your Financial Picture dashboard (cross-analysis of all your numbers).
Unemployment insurance (UI) is a joint federal-state program that provides temporary income support to workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. The program is funded entirely by employer payroll taxes (the federal unemployment tax, FUTA, and state unemployment insurance taxes, SUTA). Workers do not pay into UI directly. The goal is to replace lost wages while you search for a new job, typically providing 50-67% of your prior income.
To qualify for unemployment benefits, you may want to: (1) Have lost your job through no fault of your own (layoffs, business closure, position elimination qualify; resignation, termination for misconduct do not). (2) Have worked in your state for a minimum amount of time, usually 2 consecutive quarters. (3) Have earned a minimum amount during your"base year" (typically $1,500–$3,000, varies by state). (4) Be actively searching for work and available to work. (5) Report your income and hours if you are working part-time.
Unemployment benefits are calculated using a formula: Weekly Benefit = Prior Weekly Wage × Replacement Rate (50-67%, varies by state), capped at the state's maximum weekly benefit. For example, if you earned $1,200/week and your state's replacement rate is 60% with a max of $900/week, your benefit = $1,200 × 0.60 = $720/week. If your state's max is $650, you receive $650/week instead. The replacement rate and maximum vary significantly by state. California uses 60% replacement, capped at $1,299/week. Mississippi uses 60% replacement, capped at just $235/week. Louisiana uses 50.5% replacement, capped at $337/week.
Many states provide additional weekly benefits for dependents. A dependent is typically a spouse or unmarried child under 18 (sometimes up to 19 if in high school). Dependent allowance amounts range from $10–$30/week per dependent, increasing your total benefit by 10-25%. For example, if your weekly benefit is $600 and you have 2 dependents entitled to $20 each, your adjusted benefit could be $640/week. Not all states offer dependent allowances; check your specific state's rules.
Standard unemployment benefits in most states last 26 weeks (6 months). During periods of high unemployment (recession), the federal government may fund extended benefits (13 additional weeks, sometimes 20). During the 2008-2009 recession, benefits were extended to 99 weeks in some states. Pandemic-era extensions (which temporarily increased maximum duration to 39 weeks) ended in 2021. Your individual state may offer longer or shorter durations for specific worker categories (such as older workers or those in declining industries).
Unemployment benefits are fully taxable income at both federal and state levels. You can opt to have taxes withheld from your benefit check. Some states offer work incentives: if you earn income while collecting UI, you may be allowed to"set off" or reduce your benefit by a percentage of earnings (e.g., set-off is 0.5, meaning for every dollar earned, your benefit reduces by 50 cents). This incentivizes part-time work while job searching. Gross income from self-employment generally does not qualify for UI.
To file for UI, contact your state's unemployment insurance agency (usually through their website). You typically need: your Social Security number, driver's license, employment history for the past 18 months, and reason for job separation. Most states now allow online filing, which is faster. Consider file immediately after job loss; UI is not retroactive beyond a short waiting period (1-2 weeks in most states). After filing, you'll receive a"determination" (decision on your eligibility). You can appeal if denied. Weekly or biweekly claims require you to report hours worked, income earned, and whether you searched for work.
Unemployment insurance (UI) is a temporary income support program for workers who have lost their job through no fault of their own. It replaces 50-67% of your prior wages, up to your state's maximum benefit.
Weekly benefit = previous weekly wage × state replacement rate (50-67%), capped at the state's maximum. For example: $1,000 weekly wage × 60% = $600/week (if below state max).
Base year is typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. You may want to have earned a minimum amount during this period, usually $1,500-$3,000.
Some states add $10-30/week per dependent (spouse, child under 18). This can increase total benefits by 10-25%. Check your specific state's rules.
Standard duration is 26 weeks. Some states offer 13 additional weeks during high unemployment. Pandemic-era extensions are no longer available.
Benefits typically replace 40-50% of your prior weekly wages up to a state maximum. Maximum weekly benefits range from $235 in Mississippi to $1,015 in Massachusetts. Most states pay benefits for up to 26 weeks, though some offer fewer weeks.
You may want to have lost your job through no fault of your own, earned minimum wages during the base period, be actively seeking work, and be able and available to accept suitable employment. Quitting voluntarily or being fired for misconduct typically disqualifies you.
Yes, unemployment benefits are fully taxable as ordinary income at the federal level. Most states also tax unemployment benefits. You can opt for federal tax withholding at 10% on your benefits to avoid a surprise tax bill at filing time.
Most states provide 26 weeks of regular benefits. Some states offer fewer, such as 12 weeks in North Carolina and Florida. During economic downturns, federal extensions may provide additional weeks. Benefits end when you find new employment.
Most states allow part-time work while collecting reduced benefits. Earnings are typically deducted dollar for dollar or at a partial rate from your weekly benefit. Report all earnings to avoid overpayment penalties. Check your specific state rules.
Weekly Benefit = Prior Weekly Wage × State Replacement Rate
Replacement rate: 50–67% (varies by state)
Plus: Dependent allowance (if applicable)
Capped at: State maximum weekly benefit
Every formula on this page traces to a federal agency, central bank, or peer-reviewed institution. We cite the rule-makers, not secondhand blogs.
Found an error in a formula or source? Report it →
Calculations are for educational purposes only. Consult a qualified financial advisor for personalized advice.