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PayByTown

Unemployment benefits by state

If you lost your job, file with your state the first week you are out of work. Pick your state for the steps, the weekly amounts, how many weeks you can collect and how to appeal a denial — 49 jurisdictions, each checked against the agency's own pages. Last checked .

Every state at a glance

StateWeekly benefitMost weeksWaiting weekAppeal within
Alabama$45–$275141 unpaid waiting week15 days
Alaska$56–$370261 unpaid waiting week30 days
Arizona$236–$320241 unpaid waiting week15 days
Arkansas$81–$451121 unpaid waiting week20 days
California$40–$450261 unpaid waiting week30 days
Colorado$25–$884261 unpaid waiting week20 days
Connecticut$44–$72126No waiting week21 days
Delaware$20–$45026No waiting week15 days
District of Columbia$50–$444261 unpaid waiting week15 days
Florida$32–$275121 unpaid waiting week20 days
Georgia$55–$36514No waiting week15 days
Hawaii$5–$868261 unpaid waiting week10 days
Idaho$72–$624261 unpaid waiting week14 days
Illinois$51–$628261 unpaid waiting week30 days
Indiana$37–$390261 unpaid waiting week15 days
Iowa$96–$64416No waiting week10 days
Kansas$165–$663161 unpaid waiting week16 days
Kentucky$39–$746161 unpaid waiting week30 days
Louisiana$35–$282121 unpaid waiting week15 days
Maine$113–$649261 unpaid waiting week30 days
Maryland$50–$43026No waiting week15 days
Massachusettsup to $1,154301 unpaid waiting week10 days
Michiganup to $53026No waiting week30 days
Minnesotaup to $948261 unpaid waiting week45 days
Mississippi$30–$235261 unpaid waiting week14 days
Missouri$35–$320201 unpaid waiting week30 days
Montana$238–$805241 unpaid waiting week10 days
Nebraska$70–$582261 unpaid waiting week20 days
Nevada$16–$657261 unpaid waiting week11 days
New Hampshire$32–$427261 unpaid waiting week14 days
New Jersey$186–$90526No waiting week21 days
New Mexico$116–$624261 unpaid waiting week15 days
North Carolina$15–$350121 unpaid waiting week30 days
North Dakota$43–$800261 unpaid waiting week12 days
Ohio$176–$624261 unpaid waiting week21 days
Oklahoma$16–$649161 unpaid waiting week10 days
Oregon$211–$902261 unpaid waiting week20 days
Pennsylvania$68–$605261 unpaid waiting week21 days
Rhode Island$82–$777261 unpaid waiting week15 days
South Carolina$42–$350201 unpaid waiting week10 days
South Dakota$28–$575261 unpaid waiting week15 days
Tennessee$55–$325121 unpaid waiting week15 days
Texas$76–$619261 unpaid waiting week14 days
Utah$47–$806261 unpaid waiting week15 days
Virginia$160–$478261 unpaid waiting week30 days
Washington$383–$1,208261 unpaid waiting week30 days
West Virginia$24–$662261 unpaid waiting week8 days
Wisconsin$54–$370261 unpaid waiting week14 days
Wyoming$48–$67126No waiting week28 days

Summary only. Some states change the weeks with the unemployment rate and most update the benefit table every July or January. Open your state for the full rule and its sources. Legal information, not legal advice; see our methodology.

What is the same everywhere

  • File in the state where you worked, even if you live elsewhere. File the first week you are out of work — benefits usually cannot be backdated.
  • You normally must be out of work through no fault of your own, be able and available to work, and have earned enough in a recent base period.
  • After you file you certify for each week you claim, and many states require a set number of job-search contacts.
  • Benefits are federal taxable income; you can usually choose to have tax withheld.
  • If you are denied, the notice gives a short deadline to appeal. Keep certifying while you wait.

Other help while you wait