What is the maximum unemployment benefit in Missouri?

$320 a week as of July 1, 2026; the minimum is $35.

How many weeks of unemployment can you get in Missouri?

Up to 20 weeks (8-20 weeks depending on base-period wages).

Does Missouri have a waiting week for unemployment?

Yes. The first eligible week is an unpaid waiting week.

Missouri unemployment benefits

Q: How do I file for unemployment in Missouri?

File an initial claim with the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Division of Employment Security at https://labor.mo.gov/des/how-to-file.

In Missouri, unemployment benefits last up to 20 weeks and pay up to $320 a week (as of July 1, 2026). There is an unpaid waiting week, and you file with the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Division of Employment Security.

By Justin KullaLast updated October 6, 2026

Last verified October 6, 2026 against official sources.

File a claim with the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Division of Employment Security →

Missouri benefits at a glance

Missouri unemployment insurance facts, with sources
Maximum weekly benefit	$320source, July 1, 2026
Minimum weekly benefit	$35source, July 1, 2026
Maximum weeks of benefits	20 weeks (8-20 weeks depending on base-period wages)source, July 1, 2026
Weeks depend on the state unemployment rate	Nosource, July 1, 2026
Unpaid waiting week	Yessource, October 6, 2026
Severance pay	Missouri DOLIR says severance and termination pay do not reduce the weekly benefit amount, and severance pay is not reportable. You may file while receiving it.source, October 6, 2026
Pay in lieu of notice	The weekly benefit is reduced by the weekly prorated amount of the payment.source, January 1, 2023
Work-search requirement	Claimants must complete at least 3 work search activities per week. The agency may increase or direct the requirement.source, January 1, 2023
Extended benefits	Not available nowsource, October 4, 2026
How to file	the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Division of Employment Security source, 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 Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Division of Employment Security.

Severance and unemployment in Missouri

Severance pay: Missouri DOLIR says severance and termination pay do not reduce the weekly benefit amount, and severance pay is not reportable. You may file while receiving it.

Pay in lieu of notice (including WARN Act pay): The weekly benefit is reduced by the weekly prorated amount of the payment.

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 Missouri

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 Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Division of Employment Security. 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.