Maximum weekly benefit and weeks, 2026
The table uses the U.S. Department of Labor comparison of state laws effective July 2026. Where a state published a later change, we show the new amount and its effective date.
| State | Max weekly | With dependents / note | Max weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $1,208 | effective July 5, 2026 | 26 (1-26) |
| Massachusetts | $1,154 | effective October 4, 2026 | 30 (10-30) |
| Minnesota | $948 | $611, or $948 under the alternative formula | 26 (9-26) |
| New Jersey | $905 | None | 26 (20-26) |
| Oregon | $902 | effective June 28, 2026 | 26 (1-26) |
| Colorado | $884 | $804, or $884 under the alternative formula | 26 (13-26) |
| New York | $869 | None | 26 (uniform) |
| Hawaii | $868 | None | 26 (uniform) |
| North Dakota | $815 | None | 26 (12-26) |
| Utah | $806 | None | 26 (10-26) |
| Rhode Island | $777 | $777–$971 with dependents | 26 (17-26) |
| Montana | $767 | None | 24 (8-24) |
| Vermont | $751 | None | 26 (23-26) |
| Connecticut | $721 | $721–$796 with dependents | 26 (uniform) |
| Kentucky | $720 | None | 24 (16-24) |
| Wyoming | $671 | effective July 5, 2026 | 26 (11-26) |
| Kansas | $663 | None | 16 (10-16) |
| West Virginia | $662 | None | 26 (uniform) |
| Nevada | $657 | None | 26 (8-26) |
| Maine | $649 | $649–$1,135 with dependents | 26 (15-26) |
| Oklahoma | $649 | None | 16 (16) |
| Iowa | $644 | $644 without dependents; $790 with four or more; effective July 5, 2026 | 16 (10-16) |
| Illinois | $628 | $628–$859 with dependents | 26 (uniform) |
| Idaho | $624 | None | 26 (10-26) |
| New Mexico | $624 | $624–$674 with dependents | 26 (14-26) |
| Ohio | $624 | $624–$842 with dependents | 26 (20-26) |
| Pennsylvania | $605 | $605–$613 with dependents | 26 (18-26) |
| Texas | $605 | None | 26 (10-26) |
| Nebraska | $582 | None | 26 (10-26) |
| South Dakota | $575 | None | 26 (15-26) |
| Michigan | $530 | None | 26 (14-26) |
| Virginia | $478 | None | 26 (12-26) |
| Arkansas | $451 | None | 12 (9-12) |
| California | $450 | None | 26 (14-26) |
| Delaware | $450 | None | 26 (24-26) |
| District of Columbia | $444 | None | 26 (uniform) |
| Maryland | $430 | None | 26 (uniform) |
| New Hampshire | $427 | None | 26 (uniform) |
| Indiana | $390 | None | 26 (26) |
| Alaska | $370 | $370–$442 with dependents | 26 (16-26) |
| Wisconsin | $370 | None | 26 (14-26) |
| Georgia | $365 | None | 26 (6-26) |
| North Carolina | $350 | None | 20 (12-20) |
| South Carolina | $350 | None | 20 (13-20) |
| Tennessee | $325 | None | 20 (12-20) |
| Arizona | $320 | None | 24 (8-24) |
| Missouri | $320 | None | 20 (8-20) |
| Louisiana | $282 | None | 20 (12-20) |
| Alabama | $275 | None | 14 (14) |
| Florida | $275 | None | 12 (9-12) |
| Mississippi | $235 | None | 26 (13-26) |
Ranges in the weeks column are the minimum and maximum duration in the federal table; your weeks depend on your past wages and, in some states, the unemployment rate. "Uniform" means every eligible claimant can get the same number of weeks.
How your weekly amount is calculated
States base your weekly benefit on what you earned in a base period, usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters. The maximum is a cap: many claimants get less. Use your state's estimator or wait for your monetary determination letter after you file.
Frequently asked questions
Which state pays the most unemployment?
Washington, with a maximum of $1,208 a week.
Which state pays the least?
Mississippi, with a maximum of $235 a week.
Will I get the maximum?
Only if your past wages are high enough. Each state calculates your weekly amount from your base-period wages, and some add an allowance for dependents.
How many weeks of unemployment can I get?
36 states pay up to 26 weeks. 14 pay fewer at most (Alabama 14, Arizona 24, Arkansas 12, Florida 12, Iowa 16, Kansas 16, Kentucky 24, Louisiana 20, Missouri 20, Montana 24, North Carolina 20, Oklahoma 16, South Carolina 20, Tennessee 20). Massachusetts pays up to 30.
Sources
U.S. DOL, Comparison of State UI Laws: Significant Provisions, July 2026, July 2026. Checked October 30, 2026.
State figures: each state's official unemployment agency, linked on its state page.