Idaho unemployment benefits
In Idaho, unemployment benefits pay up to $624 a week (as of July 1, 2026); check with the Idaho Department of Labor for how many weeks you can receive. There is an unpaid waiting week, and you file with the Idaho Department of Labor.
By Justin KullaLast updated
Last verified October 6, 2026 against official sources.
File a claim with the Idaho Department of Labor →
Idaho benefits at a glance
| Maximum weekly benefit | $624source, July 1, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Minimum weekly benefit | $72source, July 1, 2026 |
| Maximum weeks of benefits | Check with the Idaho Department of Labor |
| Weeks depend on the state unemployment rate | Yessource, July 1, 2026 |
| Unpaid waiting week | Yessource, October 6, 2026 |
| Severance pay | Idaho Code 72-1367(4) says severance pay is treated as wages for the weekly earnings deduction, even if the claimant signed a release of claims. IDOL says a lump-sum severance must be reported in the week it is paid.source, October 6, 2026 |
| Pay in lieu of notice | Check with the Idaho Department of Labor |
| Work-search requirement | Claimants must complete at least 2 work search activities per week. Registering with employment services, using reemployment services, attending a job-seeking workshop, or taking part in job search activities may count.source, January 1, 2023 |
| Extended benefits | Not available nowsource, October 4, 2026 |
| How to file | the Idaho Department of Laborsource, October 6, 2026 |
Weekly amounts exclude dependents’ allowances. Severance, pay in lieu of notice and work-search entries dated January 1, 2023 come from the Department of Labor’s latest Comparison of State UI Laws, which reflects state law on that date; confirm them with the Idaho Department of Labor.
Severance and unemployment in Idaho
Severance pay: Idaho Code 72-1367(4) says severance pay is treated as wages for the weekly earnings deduction, even if the claimant signed a release of claims. IDOL says a lump-sum severance must be reported in the week it is paid.
Pay in lieu of notice (including WARN Act pay): Check with the Idaho Department of Labor.
File as soon as you are out of work even if you received severance. The agency decides how payments affect your claim, and most states pay only from the week you file.
Local workforce boards in Idaho
Public workforce boards run American Job Centers, which offer free help with job search, training and benefits.
If you’re a laid-off professional
Sources: U.S. Department of Labor, Significant Provisions of State Unemployment Insurance Laws and Comparison of State Unemployment Insurance Laws, the DOL Extended Benefits trigger notice, and the Idaho Department of Labor. Where official sources disagree or a figure could not be confirmed, this page says to check with the agency rather than estimate. Rules change; the agency’s decision on your claim is what counts. See our editorial standards.