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.
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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 | $746 | $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 | $1,154 | $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 | $800 | $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 | $619 | $76 | 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.
Does severance affect unemployment? By state
It depends on the state. From the Department of Labor’s comparison of state laws and each state agency: 7 states do not deduct it, 11 states depend on how it is paid, 17 states reduce your benefit, 12 states can make you ineligible for the weeks it applies to, and 4 where official sources disagree. Pick your state for its own rule, with the source.
Not deducted (7)
Severance is not deducted from your benefits.
Depends on how it is paid (11)
Whether severance affects your benefits depends on how the payment is structured and what the agreement says.
Reduces your benefit (17)
Severance counts as income that reduces your weekly benefit for the weeks it covers.
Can make you ineligible for those weeks (12)
Severance can make you ineligible for benefits for the weeks it applies to. The rule below says which weeks.
Not confirmed: check with the state (4)
Official sources disagreed on the rule, so we do not estimate it. The state page links the agency.
More: severance pay: taxes, negotiating and the agreement and the severance calculator.
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How many people run out of benefits before finding work: see unemployment-insurance exhaustion in the October 2026 White Collar Employment Report.
Recently laid off? Start with what to do after a layoff and check the layoff tracker for layoff notices in your state.