New Hampshire unemployment benefits
In New Hampshire, unemployment benefits last up to 26 weeks and pay up to $427 a week (as of July 1, 2026). There is an unpaid waiting week, and you file with the New Hampshire Employment Security.
By Justin KullaLast updated
Last verified October 6, 2026 against official sources.
File a claim with the New Hampshire Employment Security →
New Hampshire benefits at a glance
| Maximum weekly benefit | $427source, July 1, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Minimum weekly benefit | $32source, July 1, 2026 |
| Maximum weeks of benefits | 26 weeks (26 weeks for all eligible claimants (uniform duration))source, July 1, 2026 |
| Weeks depend on the state unemployment rate | Nosource, July 1, 2026 |
| Unpaid waiting week | Yessource, October 6, 2026 |
| Severance pay | The weekly benefit is reduced by the weekly prorated amount of the payment.source, January 1, 2023 |
| 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 actively seek work each week; the minimum number of weekly work search activities is listed as "Unspecified - reasonable person".source, January 1, 2023 |
| Extended benefits | Not available nowsource, October 4, 2026 |
| How to file | the New Hampshire Employment Securitysource, 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 New Hampshire Employment Security.
Severance and unemployment in New Hampshire
Severance pay: The weekly benefit is reduced by the weekly prorated amount of the payment.
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 New Hampshire
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 New Hampshire 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.