Unemployment benefits by state
How much unemployment pays, for how long, and how to file, in every state and DC. Choose a state for how severance and pay in lieu of notice count, the work-search rules, and local job centers.
By Justin KullaLast updated
Last verified October 6, 2026 against official sources.
| Waiting week | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $275 | $45 | 14varies with unemployment rate | Yes |
| Alaska | $370 | $56 | 26 | Yes |
| Arizona | $320 | $236 | 24varies with unemployment rate | Yes |
| Arkansas | $451 | $81 | 12 | Yes |
| California | $450 | $40 | 26 | Yes |
| Colorado | $884 | $25 | 26 | Yes |
| Connecticut | $721 | $44 | 26 | No |
| Delaware | $450 | $20 | 26 | Check with state |
| District of Columbia | $444 | $50 | 26 | Yes |
| Florida | $275 | $32 | 12varies with unemployment rate | Yes |
| Georgia | $365 | $55 | Check with statevaries with unemployment rate | No |
| Hawaii | $868 | $5 | 26 | Yes |
| Idaho | $624 | $72 | Check with statevaries with unemployment rate | Yes |
| Illinois | $628 | $51 | 26 | Yes |
| Indiana | $390 | $37 | 26 | Yes |
| Iowa | $644 | $96 | 16 | No |
| Kansas | $663 | $165 | 16varies with unemployment rate | Yes |
| Kentucky | Check with state | $39 | 16varies with unemployment rate | Yes |
| Louisiana | $282 | $35 | 12varies with unemployment rate | Yes |
| Maine | $649 | $113 | 26 | Yes |
| Maryland | $430 | $50 | 26 | No |
| Massachusetts | $1,105 | $60 | 30varies with unemployment rate | Yes |
| Michigan | $530 | $218 | 26 | No |
| Minnesota | $948 | $37 | 26 | Yes |
| Mississippi | $235 | $30 | 26 | Yes |
| Missouri | $320 | $35 | 20 | Yes |
| Montana | Check with state | Check with state | 24 | Yes |
| Nebraska | $582 | $70 | 26 | Yes |
| Nevada | $657 | $16 | 26 | Yes |
| New Hampshire | $427 | $32 | 26 | Yes |
| New Jersey | $905 | $186 | 26 | No |
| New Mexico | $624 | $116 | 26 | Yes |
| New York | $869 | $140 | 26 | Yes |
| North Carolina | $350 | $15 | 12varies with unemployment rate | Yes |
| North Dakota | Check with state | $43 | 26 | Yes |
| Ohio | $624 | $176 | 26 | Yes |
| Oklahoma | $649 | $16 | 16 | Yes |
| Oregon | $902 | $211 | 26 | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | $605 | $68 | 26 | Yes |
| Rhode Island | $777 | $82 | 26 | Yes |
| South Carolina | $350 | $42 | 20 | Yes |
| South Dakota | $575 | $28 | 26 | Yes |
| Tennessee | $325 | $55 | 12varies with unemployment rate | Yes |
| Texas | $605 | $75 | 26 | Yes |
| Utah | Check with state | $47 | 26 | Yes |
| Vermont | $751 | $96 | 26 | Check with state |
| Virginia | $478 | $160 | 26 | Yes |
| Washington | $1,208 | $383 | 26 | Yes |
| West Virginia | $662 | $24 | 26 | Yes |
| Wisconsin | $370 | $54 | 26 | Yes |
| Wyoming | $671 | $48 | 26 | No |
Weekly amounts exclude dependents’ allowances. Sources: U.S. Department of Labor, Significant Provisions of State Unemployment Insurance Laws, and each state agency. “Check with state” means official sources disagreed or the figure could not be confirmed; we don’t estimate.
How many people run out of benefits before finding work: see unemployment-insurance exhaustion in the September 2026 Displacement Report.
Recently laid off? Start with what to do after a layoff and check the layoff tracker for WARN notices in your state.