2024 Maximum Weekly Unemployment Insurance Benefits and Weeks By State

Listed in the table below are the latest maximum weekly unemployment insurance benefit/compensation amounts by state. The Unemployment compensation (UC) program is designed to provide benefits to most individuals out of work or in between jobs, through no fault of their own.

Note, the table contains the the maximum regular weekly state unemployment insurance compensation (benefit), including adjustments for dependents where applicable.

In most states the number of dependents you have, prior employment duration and your average maximum weekly wage will impact the unemployment benefits you are eligible to receive.

Please check your respective states unemployment website referenced in the table below for state-specific UI details, benefit eligibility and process to claim/file for benefits.

State unemployment benefit information is constantly changing so if you notice any discrepancies or outdated amounts please leave a comment and I will update the table as appropriate.

Maximum Unemployment Benefits By State

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StateMax. Weekly Benefit AmountAdditional State Unemployment InformationMax Weeks*
Alabama$275AL Unemployment Information26
Alaska$370 (Individual) up to $442 (w/dependents)AK Unemployment Insurance State Website26
Arizona$320AZ Department of Economic Security24
Arkansas$451Arkansas Division of Workforce Services20
California$450CA EDD Unemployment26
Colorado$742CO Department of Labor and Employment26
Connecticut$703 (Individual) up to $778 (w/dependents)CT Department of Labor26
Delaware$400DE Division of Unemployment Insurance
26
District of Columbia$444DC Dept. of Employment Services26
Florida$275FL Dept. of Economic Opportunity Information12
Georgia$365GA Department of Labor Information
14 to 26
Hawaii$765HI Unemployment Insurance State Website26
Idaho$499ID Dept. of Labor26
Illinois$578 (Individual) up to $787 (w/dependents)$542 (Individual) up to $742 (w/dependents)26
Indiana$390IN Department of Workforce Development26
Iowa$481 (Individual) up to $591 (w/dependents)IA Workforce Development
26
Kansas$540KS Department of Labor16
Kentucky$626KY Career Center26
Louisiana$275LA Workforce Commission26
Maine$538.00 (plus $25 per dependent)ME Department of Labor26
Maryland$430 (includes $8 p/dependent allowance)MD Department of Labor - Unemployment Division26
Massachusetts$1033 (+$25 p/dependent)MA Department of Unemployment Assistance30
Michigan$362MI UIA20
Minnesota$857MN Department of Employment and Economic Development26
Mississippi$235MS Department of Employment Security
26
Missouri$320MO Department of Labor and Industrial Relations13
Montana$552MT Department of Labor and Industry28
Nebraska$440NE Department of Labor26
Nevada$469NV Dept. of Employment, Training and Rehab26
New Hampshire$427NH Department of Employment Security26
New Jersey$830NJ Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development Information26
New Mexico$511NM Department of Workforce Solutions 26
New York$504NY Dept. of Labor26
North Carolina$350NC Division of Employment Security12
North Dakota$673ND Job Service26
Ohio$561 (no deps) to $757 (2+ deps)OH Dept. of Job and Family Services
26
Oklahoma$539OK UI Home Page26
Oregon$648OR Employment Department 26
Pennsylvania$605 + $8 max dependent allowancePA Department of Labor & Industry 26
Puerto Rico$240PR Department of Labor & HR26
Rhode Island$586 (Individual) to $867 (w/dependents)RI Dept. of Labor and Training 26
South Carolina$326SC Dept. of Employment & Workforce 20
South Dakota$487SD Department of Labor & Regulation26
Tennessee$275TN Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development26
Texas$577TX Workforce Commission26
Utah$580UT Dept. of Workforce Services26
Vermont$583VT Dept. of Labor26
Virginia$378VA Employment Commission12 to 26
Washington$1019WA Employment Security Department26
West Virginia$424Workforce WV26
Wisconsin$370WI Dept. of Workforce Development26
Wyoming$508WY Unemployment Insurance Home Page26

Maximum Weekly Unemployment Insurance Benefit Amounts (WBA) by State

*Maximum weeks of coverage are subject to prevailing state unemployment rates, so can fluctuate widely. I have listed the absolute maximum number of weeks and recommend you check the state UI site link in the table to get the current maximum weeks when you apply for benefits. 

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What’s the highest amount you can get from unemployment?

The Federal-State UC program is a partnership based upon federal law, but administered by state employees under state laws. Thus each state designs its own UC program within the guidelines of the federal requirements, which includes setting the benefit amount along with eligibility and disqualification provisions.

So while the highest amount you can get per week in each state is listed in the table above, the actual weekly benefit amount (WBA) will generally be based on your base period income, dependents and other factors per your state unemployment agency’s guidelines. See the table above for pertinent links to more information.

Steps to Filing and Getting Your Unemployment Claim Processed Quickly

  • Filing online via your state’s unemployment website (versus calling or by mail) as soon as possible after losing your job or pay cut is the fastest way to submit an unemployment claim. Particularly in today’s world where call centers are operating at reduced capacity. If you have issues with your claim you will have to likely contact your local State Unemployment Insurance agency. Just be prepared for this to take time.
  • Have details of your former jobs/employers (up to 24 months of history), personal (SSN, address) and banking information ready when filing the claim or talking to an agent at your state UI office. Make sure to give complete and correct information to minimize delays with your claim processing. It generally takes two to four weeks after you file your claim to receive your first first benefit check.
  • You can get paid by check, debit card or direct deposit. To get your payments in the fastest way go with direct deposit and ensure you have your correct and up to date bank routing and account numbers documented.
  • Certify on time (weekly or bi-weekly) to claim your benefits in order to get your unemployment check paid on schedule. One of the main reason people see disruptions is failing to file on time and with the required information. Further, with the new federal programs in place, the unemployment certification requirements could be more onerous so make sure you take time to review your weekly or bi-weekly certification requirements. If you miss several weeks of certification, you may have to file a new claim.

Your state unemployment website will generally allow you to calculate your estimated state unemployment benefits prior to or when submitting a claim. You will need to have your income/wages earned during the four prior calendar quarters (base year period) and also number of hours worked in some instances for each of these quarters.

Since the wages you earn can vary significantly from quarter to quarter, you may want to consider these differences in deciding when to file your claim. Refer to your local state’s website for specifics on calculations and eligibility.

The final amount of your benefit is determined after the State UI division process your application and validates income and employment duration with your employer(s).

Will I Have to Pay Taxes on My Unemployment Benefits

Unemployment insurance is federally taxable income and must be reported on your IRS federal income tax return.

Your local state unemployment agency will send you form 1099-G to file with your tax return (see due dates). This form is sent in late January and outlines the amount of benefits paid to you during the previous year.

You can also choose to withhold income tax (like you do on a paycheck) during the year when receiving benefits with 10 percent being the maximum generally allowed.

State taxes on unemployment vary by state and many states do not tax unemployment benefits, either by law or because they don’t have a state income tax (e.g. Florida).

But many of these states also have the lowest levels of unemployment benefits. See more in this detailed article on unemployment benefit taxes.

Note that up to $10,200 of unemployment benefits under the expired federally funded enhanced extended benefits (PUA, PEUC and $300 FPUC) were deemed as non-taxable.

Can I Get Partial Unemployment Benefits

There will situations when workers keep their job, but face a significant drop in income as their hours worked or paid are reduced. In situations like this they may qualify for partial unemployment benefits.

You will have to check your state unemployment website for details on qualifying for partial unemployment as rules vary. How much you get in terms of unemployment benefits will depend on your earnings for the relevant week you certify.

For example in New York uses a partial unemployment system based on hours worked. Generally you can work up to 7 days per week without losing full unemployment benefits for that week, if you work 30 hours or fewer and earn $504 or less in gross pay excluding earnings from self-employment.

With this change, your benefits will not be reduced for each day you engage in part-time work. Instead, benefits will be reduced in increments based on your total hours of work for the week.

States like PA and CA, offer Partial Unemployment Benefit Credits to offset the impacts of reduced benefits from part time work, but in many higher income states this won’t make much of an impact. 

Claiming Benefits Across Multiple States

If you worked and earned wages in multiple states you may be able to claim benefits from all these states relative to the income you earned.

Generally you should first exhaust benefits from the state where you had the highest income and/or lived for the longest duration in the base year of figuring your claim. After which you can submit claims from the other states up to the maximum weekly benefit.

Retroactive Benefit Payments

You will be able to claim retroactive payments for missed payment weeks during eligible periods of coverage. This was also the case for (now expired) pandemic benefits under the PUA, PEUC, $300 FPUC and $100 MEUC programs.

Each state has different processes for claiming retroactive benefits and you will need to provide evidence for eligibility and re-certify for missed weeks. Just be prepared to wait a few weeks for payments given the manual nature in many states for verifying back payments and completing relevant identify checks.

Unemployment Overpayment Waivers

For a variety of reasons, either due to the claimant filing or state unemployment agency’s processing issues, unemployment benefits can be overpaid.

In this situation claimants may get a letter weeks or months after receiving benefits notifying them that they need to repay overpaid unemployment benefits.

This caused many state agencies to make incorrect payments and then spend months and years afterwards chasing up these payments or issuing waivers to those who would suffer financial hardship from making repayments for overpaid claims (excluding fraudulent claims).

The good news is that in most cases, assuming you were deemed eligible for the unemployment benefit, and you didn’t provide false or incorrect information, state agencies will allow you to apply for a waiver to avoid repaying past unemployment benefit overpayments. You will need to provide certain documentation and evidence of hardship if you were forced to repay funds.

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393 thoughts on “2024 Maximum Weekly Unemployment Insurance Benefits and Weeks By State”

  1. There used to be stated that would accept a claim even though no wages were earned in that state if you had wages from 2 or more states in the past year. Do any states still do that? If so, which ones?

    Reply
  2. In the State of North Carolina, unemployment is only for 12 weeks, not 5-20. Please delete the “to 20 weeks”. After I called and spoke with a NC UI employee, they confirmed it is only 12 weeks, and that is the max which is awful compared to our other states.

    Reply
  3. In the State of Georgia, unemployment is only for 14 weeks, not 14-20. Please delete the “to 20 weeks”.
    I have been employed in the unemployment division for 14 years.

    Reply
  4. In Pennsylvania you can not draw UI benefits if you draw any other retirement , other than SS. It is based on the amount of “other retirement you receive” When I worked in Pa, I had UI deducted from my check. Are there other States which follow this rule also and who are those States, it is difficult to locate this on their web pages?

    Reply
    • UI is not paid by the employee, so it was not deducted from your check. UI is money kept in a reserve with the government and it is paid for by your employer. Social security, however is your money.
      The reason you cannot get UI with retirement is because retirement is “quitting” a job. If the job is available to you, keep it. If you retire, you quit. The other reason is because your weekly wages are more than the weekly unemployment benefit. If you work for a company 30 years, like Sears and they announce that they are going out of business, you may be able to get unemployment first, then apply for your retirement b/c you were being laid off anyway. If you quit or retire before the layoff date, you won’t qualify.

      Reply
      • In Pennsylvania employees certainly do pay into the system. Employees .07% of their wages into the system. It is one of three states where employees also pay into the system (I think it was Alaska and New Jersey were the other two). Employers definitely pay much more than employees, but employees do pay something in some states.

        Reply
  5. Pennsylvania does not allow an employee who draws any type of retirement other than SS to receive Unemployment Insurance benefits, based on amount of other retirement you receive, even though when I worked there I was charged UI taxes. What other States in the US are this way? It is impossible to determine by reading their individual sites, someone mush have this info.?

    Reply
  6. I have about 3 weeks left of my Illinois unemployment benefits.
    I am still searching for work, when and how do I file for an extension of benefits
    Thank you

    Reply
    • Extensions stopped Dec.2013. There is no extension in any state. Additionally, you cannot file another claim until one year from the date when you first filed.

      Reply
    • IA’s maximum unemployment benefit for a single without dependents is $447. You are receiving $385 because your wages are not sufficient to support a higher weekly benefit.

      Reply
  7. just got out from the military. Just need to know if veterans can claim unemployment from any state since we move so much.

    Reply
    • Thanks for your service. Per the last part of the article, “If you worked and earned wages in multiple states you may be able to claim benefits from all these states relative to the income you earned.” Suggest you contact your local states unemployment office (links above to each State’s UI website)

      Reply
      • You must have an address in a state to file and you can only file in ONE state. You can’t collect benefits in every state. A claim stays in the system for one year.

        Reply
        • You don’t need to have an address in the state to apply there. You only need to have worked there. I travel for work as an electrician and have my choice among the dates I’ve worked in a year, none of which I have had any address in.

  8. It’s appalling that unemployment benefits in Puerto Rico are just 42 to 133.00 a month while all the other states give much more. Who can live on that? This country just fleeces the Puerto Rican people decade after decade. Shame on this country and its stupid racist Congress

    Reply
    • It probably has a lot to do with the cost of living, average wage, and number of employed/unemployed. These are set state by state, not by congress. Puerto Rico’s duly (and repeatedly) elected liberal/democrat government is spending itself into oblivion, and creating these unemployment compensation benefits. Puerto Rico has nobody else to blame, racist or otherwise, but itself.

      Reply
    • What’s appalling is the level of ignorance , racism , and foolishness that comes forth from your post. Take some time to use the device to research your unemployment benefits come from and you will learn that the Federal Government doesn’t determine your rates. Your local government does. And the money comes from locally collected taxes from your fellow man and women.

      Reply
      • Unless its changed, actually the money is in an account that is each year allotted from the feds based on need.

        Reply
  9. Writing a paper where I’d like to use the statistics in this graph. Did you reference any single site to pull this data?

    Reply
  10. i have a friend facing being tempoarally laid off from his job in Michigan he is single and makes $1500.00 a week what will he be able to get being laid off?

    Reply
  11. Can you please confirm what the maximum weekly benefit amount for the State of Delaware is Currently in March, 2017? Thank you

    Reply
  12. I’m in Florida. Previously made $55k. Currently unemployed. It’s outrageous that max unemployment is $275 weekly. Guess what? Now that the poverty level increased- I’ve suddenly become ‘too poor’ for tax credit on my Obamacare insurance premium. The marketplace rep suggested Medicaid (don’t qualify cause I’m unmarried and childless). Lol. Freaking laughable. I choose not to participate in this nonsense so I’m forgoing insurance for now. Can’t be penalized because technically I don’t make enough.

    Reply
    • No unemployment benefit worthy of the name and no Medicaid – two of the great benefits of living in a low-tax, red state, populated with retirees who live there EXACTLY because there are no taxes. No taxes translates to no social safety nets for the average worker who is paying to support these retirees with their FICA contributions. Especially hard on the single without children. You need to move further north – or to California Or, TX. TX at least has a decent UE benefit.

      Reply
    • Florida is a cesspool NJ $677 per week MA $742 per week…welcome to civilization…yeah the sunshine the beaches blah blah blah, Flori-duh…perhaps a place to visit…not live

      Reply
    • You want to know what else is crazy about Florida? The maximum amount hasn’t changed in decades. Zero cost of living increase since I used it over 20 years ago.

      Reply
    • Don’t feel to bad Lois. Amazing enough our Gov Doug Ducey in Arizona just signed a bill regulating a maximum of 4 weeks of unemployment compensation at $240 weekly. Since the Unemployment is down in Arizona to 4.3 %, this means you can go out and get a job no matter what kind of job. Also in the hiring the employer should pay 20% above $240 which is $288 a week. Makes a lot of sense here in Arizona doesn’t it???

      Reply
  13. I see Georgia states 14-20 weeks; how can I get 20 weeks as my 14 is almost up? I will have employment in 4 weeks with a trucking company, but need the extra 4 weeks to keep the lights on and myself fed… please help

    Reply
    • You can’t. Duration of benefits in GA is determined by its unemployment rate. Right now the UE rate is so low, GA only pays 14 weeks.

      Reply
  14. In 2016 I didn’t claim any unemployment so the money I paid into it last year why can’t I right that money off as a loss or donation on my taxes

    Reply
    • Because what you paid is a tax – not a donation. How much overall did you pay in last year? Can’t amount to much. Only three states – Alaska, PA, NJ – impose a teeny UI tax on employees while working.

      Reply
  15. What the hell damn Democrats in CA. Max amount $450 a week ,Colorado, Connecticut,massachuestes make more makes no sense taking it in the ass thanks gov. Brown

    Reply
    • Be glad you aren’t in MS, Alabama, AZ, FL, TN – all of which pay under $300/mo. CA is the most claimant-friendly state in the US. $450/wk is still $1,949/mo. That’s more than many people earn, these days.

      Reply
    • Thanks for the update and reference. Table updated to reflect that he Maximum Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA) will be raised from $359 to $425 for all initial claims filed on October 2, 2016 and after.

      Reply
    • The rate in the table above does reflect the latest 2016/17 rates. I believe there was a minor benefit increase for MD last year.

      Reply
    • Scroll to the bottom of the article. If you worked and earned wages in multiple states you may be able to claim benefits from all these states relative to the income you earned. Generally you should first exhaust benefits from the state where you had the highest income and/or lived for the longest duration in the base year of figuring your claim. After which you can submit claims from the other states up to the maximum weekly benefit. Note that when assessing your eligibility for state unemployment they will look at your earned income in that state as well. So go to both the state’s websites and see which one provides you with the greatest benefit (you may not be eligible for the maximum benefit in either state)

      Reply
    • You have to file where you were employed; where the Company you reported to was- Mississippi.
      TN will look at what you made in TN in the last 4 – 6 (or however many) quarters of years and tell you after an hour if you are at their office or after days (or waiting weeks to get denied if you apply online) that you can’t get money out of them if you haven’t been paying in to their system.

      Reply
  16. Question, my husband works out of Louisiana but we live in Texas. In which state do we file for unemployment? Texas unemployment is way more than Louisiana.

    Reply
  17. I have a few family members going through the unemployment process for the first time.
    After comparing just a few States’ unemployment insurance payments (Minnesota versus Illinois) I found it crazy that these states alone had x2 or 50% difference (depending on how you’re looking at it). Why is this so?

    Reply
    • The Federal Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration promulgates regulations based on Federal UI Law. Each state must follow these broad regulations or risk loosing Federal funding (which is used to pay staff, buy equipment, etc, etc.).
      Then each state legislature passes laws that set up UI. The State Department of Labor (names vary), then promulgates regulations and the ways in which unemployment compensation is applied for, paid, adjudicated and so forth.
      So, each state can have different top rates, lowest possible rates and so on.
      Yay, states rights.

      Reply
  18. MA update (Oct 2016) – Claimants receive a weekly benefit of approximately 50 percent of their average weekly wage, up to the maximum set by law. The current maximum benefit rate is $742 a week (effective October 2, 2016).

    The duration of benefits – the maximum number of weeks you would be able to collect benefits – is determined by the total amount of your wages paid and the amount of your benefit rate.

    The maximum number of weeks a claimant can collect full benefits is 30 weeks. Under Massachusetts law, regular benefits are capped at 26 weeks (instead of the maximum of 30 weeks) whenever there is a program of extended benefits. However, many individuals qualify for less than the maximum weeks of coverage. The maximum benefit credit amount is $22,260, which equals $742 a week for 30 weeks.

    If you are eligible for UI benefits in Massachusetts, you will receive a weekly payment for the prior week’s benefit. If you have children, you may be eligible to receive an additional $25 per child per week up to a maximum of 1/2 of your weekly benefit amount.

    Reply
  19. I just retired out of the militray after 20 years. I live in CA and just filed unemployment in CA. I have been awarded 477 a week. I am a retired 03E must look for jobs, register for CALJOBS. I am unsure why some military folks who served 4 years honorably aren’t getting it.

    Reply
    • Thanks for letting me know. I have updated to 12 weeks (from 14 weeks in 2015, to 26 weeks before that). Also note in Florida, Unemployment Insurance was rebranded with the name Reemployment Assistance.

      Reply
  20. Stills said pending how long must i wait til change in status ,i now live in Virginia , just moved laid off in NH ,filed in NH ,open claim 8/20/2016

    Reply
  21. Unemployment Max benefit should be based on the location of the employer’s HOME OFFICE, especially when it is an international company with offices all over the map. The way it is set up now leads companies to open offices and opportunities, in the lowest paying states, like Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. In effect, paying out the lowest max rate in unemployment benefits, yet will have home offices in Connecticut, where is pays out one of most the highest max benefits. that should be illegal.

    Reply
      • I’m sorry, this statement is not correct. I worked in North Carolina and the company was based in Florida. I was required to file a Florida claim in order to obtain benefits based on where their Federal Tax ID is registered.

        Reply
  22. Well i just found out about the $275/wk MAX that I SHOULD receive. Not sure if that is pre or post tax I worked for the company for ten years. $50,000 a year with benefits that brought my actual cost to over $60K per year . I cannot imagine the formula used to calculate this amount to be a fair compensation for wrongful termination. I decided not to take this to court and look at it as an act of God that I needed to move on to other things seeing this ludicrous number, I wonder if I did the right thing. However, this is an absolutely clear sign that it is time to leave my native birthplace and improve my quality of life in more than one way.

    Reply
    • I understand what you mean even where the benefit is higher I was in the same wage area and I am getting offers to make $16 /17 per hour. Really to make the wages I made in the year 2000

      Reply
  23. Working in stateI left my work in Pennsylvania after two years based on my own choice to accept an offer from Maryland. Then I was laid off in Maryland after 6 months. Before that I was lived and worked in Pennsylvania for two years. Can I fill the claim in any of Maryland or Pennsylvania? Pennsylvania gives 573$ compared to 430$ in Maryland but I worked only 6 months in Maryland. It was my choice to left the work in Pennsylvania but I lost my work in Maryland without any fault from my sides in the last 18 months

    Reply
  24. I left my work in Pennsylvania after two years based on my own choice to accept an offer from Maryland. Then I was laid off in Maryland after 6 months. Before that I was lived and worked in Pennsylvania for two years. Can I fill the claim in any of Maryland or Pennsylvania? Pennsylvania gives 573$ compared to 430$ in Maryland but I worked only 6 months in Maryland. It was my choice to left the work in Pennsylvania but I lost my work in Maryland without any fault from my side

    Reply
    • You can file in Pennsylvania, as long as you worked in Pennsylvania during the base period beginning January 2015. Tell Pennsylvania Dept. of Labor you want a combined wage claim between Maryland and Pennsylvania. I have a combined wage claim myself.

      Reply
  25. I am a resident of North Dakota and the Maximum Pre-Tax is $633. Please change your information to reflect the truth.

    Reply
  26. Where can I find a list of Maximum Weekly Unemployment Benefits by State…by year for the past 20 or so years?

    Reply
    • You would have to go to the individual state websites…I am not sure of a central location for this data. Or would have to contact a data services provider (e.g bloomberg or related) that keeps this information. Would be expensive.

      Reply
  27. So I was getting 199 a week on unemployment then worked at soc lost job got approved for 20 weeks of 292 a week but now out of weeks but still have 1872 dollars on account… can I still get unemployment benefits?

    Reply
  28. Texas just did their unemployment rate last week. But they always cut people off without notification when they do it..even though you’re eligible for 52 weeks n cut off people mid time or before n now you can’t even get through cause their phones are so busy.. People got bills..

    Reply
    • Texas unemployment, per their webpage, is 26 weeks. And, by the way for others reading this, their unemployment max payout is $465/week.

      Reply
        • Kevin would be curious to know how you managed to get 52 weeks and $479.00 a week. I am in Texas and got $435.00 week for only 26 weeks and they tell me I am done…….no more benefits to receive and this after 23 years for the same company. Go figure

        • I’d like to know if there is an extension on 26 weeks in Texas. I got the $479 but am on week 16 and worry if I don’t find something soon. As for experienced workers I’ve basically done the same type jobs for 40 years. With 4 companies, always went to another job never out of work. Now they don’t want to pay for mature employees with experience!!

        • I just started drawing UI from TX. Benefit period is 52
          Weeks, but payment is only made for 26 Weeks. I am receiving max benefit which is now $493.

    • Actually 424 is the max for someone with no dependents. The table above is the maximum amount regardless of # of dependents (I have clarified this). See details on the Ohio UIC website

      0 Dependents Max = $424
      1 or 2 Dependents Max = $514
      3 + Dependents = $572 (this is the number I have)

      Reply
  29. I don’t understand how they expect us to work twice as hard for unemployment when we already did our hard earned labor to collect it. i.e., register online for the jobcenterofwisconsin.gov, oh and don’t forget that when u first sign up for UI you have to fax proof of employment papers stating why you were laid off or terminated, go online and apply for at least 4 jobs, at the end of the week fax papers to UI then Sunday call for your weekly claim. But what about the people who don’t have transportation, or isn’t close to a job center to do applications, who don’t have access to Internet or computers, etc. what about if that is the only income they’re waiting on to get so they can go and put gas in their cars or bus fare to get to the places they have to go. They don’t think, but yet they still try to make it hard for us to collect OUR FINANCES that we worked hard for.

    Reply
    • You can thank your Legislature for being lap dogs of the Koch brothers for all that nonsense. We have the same garbage here in Florida (another Teabag Party Legislature enslaved to the Koch brothers). At least your benefits in Wisconsin aren’t maxed out at $275/week and can only collect for 12 weeks (like they do in Florida)! Or, at least not yet…. Give Pee Wee Walker a few more months and he’ll trash your State as badly as Skeletor the Medicare Fraudster did to Florida!

      Reply
  30. I am livid! After 25 years of working and tolerating the infantile personalities of supposed leaders in management I worked interstate, only six miles from home. That state’s unemployment is $100 LESS per week than the state in which I reside.

    I’m already going to have to do SOMETHING to survive but $400/month is a huge difference. Why I could actually keep my home!

    These monthly rate differences are horrific!

    Reply
    • Cindy, If you work in 2 or more states you can file in either state. I think now you have to have worked in that state, but just a few years ago you could file on ANY state as long as you worked in 2 or more. I filed a claim on MA, am form OK, and only worked that year in CA, IL and MO. Check into it.

      Reply
  31. Here in Florida they have approved my unemployment claim and say they will pay me $232 a week. I have not seen a dime. They say there is something to be adjudicated although I have an approval letter. I try to call but I can never get through to a human so I can never get answers. The state now owes me $928. I don’t think I’ll ever see it. Slick Rick and his crew are balancing the budget on the backs of the poor. They keep the unemployment numbers looking good by ignoring the unemployed until they go away.

    Reply
    • I was approved in Florida also for $274 a week and it was one month and one week after losing my job that I finally received payment with back pay for all weeks claimed. You will get it since you have the approval letter. Sometimes that adjudication comes from them being backed up processing claims, then you will see your payments like clock work every two weeks after entering your job contacts . If you want to call them, Monday is not good, but Wednesday is perfect. Right at 7:00 am have that phone ringing and you will get in before the large call volume

      Reply
    • Unemployment claims have TWO approvals. 1) Monetary Approval to determine “how much” you will receive if your separation is determined in your favor. 2) Non-Monetary Approval, which states that your separation from your employment was due to no fault of your own and you will then begin receiving payment. The only separations that begin after 10 business days automatically are “Layoffs or Lack of Work”. All others that are considered “Discharges” must be adjudicated by a human being and therefore the process can take 4-6 weeks if the separation documentation provided by the employee and employer are conflicting. Hope this helps.

      Reply
  32. This just goes to show you how much our so called wonderful government cares about its people, they consistently give themselves raises, but we can’t get a raise on unemployment? 6 months of unemployment really isn’t much time to try an find a career for yourself, an now we have to pay health insurance out of the unemployment benifit we receive, forget the house payment 4 of us can live in my car til it’s repossessed, just as long as we have health insurance that won’t cover anything, wow wonder what kinda money the government gets for setting up this deal with the insurance companies, pretty clear those who r supposed to be helping this once great country are really only concerned with lining there own pockets, I just wanna say thanks to the government for not caring in the time of our need!!!! Don’t worry about me I’ll survive, now get out there an bomb some country for there oil!!!

    Reply
    • Hope you don’t live in Florida. Not only do you max out the weekly benefit at $275, you can only collect for 12 weeks, thanks to the Teabag Party Legislature that’s enslaved to their beloved Koch Brothers)!! I hope Florida voters finally wake up and throw these clowns out of office!!

      Reply
      • Funny, I just found that out. Couldn’t believe it, just 12 weeks and I’m now out of benefits. How do they expect people to survive, this is a crime. Florida sucks.

        Reply
  33. If you figure a person in Wisconsin has worked for 17 years before losing their job, at an average pay of $50,000/year of which, between the employer and employee contribution of 7%/paycheck, the total monies paid into the employee’s unemployment insurance would be $59,500.

    The maximum, the amount an employee in Wisconsin can receive is $9,620, or 16% of the monies paid into their unemployment insurance.

    Imagine paying car insurance that only covered 16% of the cost of repairs or replacement of your vehicle? Or 16% of the repairs on the damage to the roof of your house.

    Where did the nearly $50,000.00 go when the former employee needs it?

    Reply
    • Susen,
      Unemployment taxes are not collected on an employees entire yearly wage.
      There is a maximum wage base that varies by state, and taxes are not paid above that limit.
      Wisconsin’s maximum wage base is $14,000 for 2017, so only the first $14,000 of each employees wages are taxed. If WI is like most states, the wage base has risen over the last decade, and most likely prior to that the base was much lower – $6,000 used to be a good average.
      This is all payable they the employer.
      Most always when the employee has a deduction from their check, it is because the state has had to borrow from the federal unemployment fund and this is to help pay it back. Once their account has been cleared, the employee deductions should cease.
      I know this information doesn’t help make ends meet, but might make it easier knowing there isn’t as much difference as you were thinking between what was paid in vs what you could receive.

      Reply
  34. I don’t know how some of these states expect people to live if they lose their jobs. Michigan pays the same maximum they did 20 years ago. So if a guy makes $1100.00 a week he’s supposed to live on 362.00 pre tax. Auto insurance alone will kill you in Michigan. Everything has tripled and quadrupled in the past 20 years. I noticed that our wonderful state government has been consistently giving themselves “cost of living raises” and their paid by the taxpayers salaries have more than doubled in the same period of time.

    Reply
    • Apparently here in FL I am expected to live on $74 a week. Yes, seventy four dollars…It would have been better to let them lay me off at full time than work all this past year and struggle with part time pay and use up savings to now face the prospect of getting laid off. What am I going to do? I am terrified. How awful a life must be to look at prisoners and think they have it better than you do.Why are the states with people that need unemployment the most, the states that have the lowest pay and lowest weeks? Besides the fact that the stupid people here vote republican and they are the ones that give out the most corporate welfare and screw over the people.

      Reply
      • I agree Kitten…

        It’s sad sad sad when the rich keep getting richer off the economically poor and the they keep getting poorer… The cost of living in FL is not that low for the unemployment rate to be amongst the low end of the sphere with other states. This is a very political state and a must know someone to get a job that pays a decent salary state. When you apply for over 100 management jobs and go on 10 interviews and have a masters degree and a professionally written resume showing your accomplishments as well as your experience to be in management and do not get a call back, but have spoken to individuals in the company or organization that is working and just got on with an associate degree doing something they have no skills for but their GOD mother works there and got them on then you know you are out of your league and need to find some connections or get out of Florida….

        Reply
        • Hi , I would like to know about if you don’t have any past experience job in united state. I am new immigrant in Portland I will get my benefit for 8 month s after that I must have to work but as I am interested to study here in college so I want the employment benefit that I can give my home rent and other personal expense till I will done with my college studies.after that I will look for job to get it. so I need your assistance in this regard . please send me that am I illegible for this unemployment benefit or not . if not is there any solution that I can effort my self to continue my studies in here .

      • Lol is all you can do, try making 100k plus a year and going down to the MAX 250 a week. It wouldn’t even pay half of my rent…. screw Florida

        Reply

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