Job & Family Services - Unemployment Compensation FAQ's
Unemployment Compensation FAQ's
What is the weekly benefit amount?
 
  An applicant's "weekly benefit amount" is the dollar amount he/she may receive for a week of total unemployment. The "weekly benefit amount" is approximately 50% of the applicant's average weekly wage during the base period.However, the "weekly benefit amount" cannot exceed the state's maximum payment for each dependency classification. This maximum level is based on (1) the statewide average weekly wage, (2) the applicant's base period wages, and (3) the number of "allowable dependents.
 
  The chart below shows the maximum "weekly benefit amount" for each dependency class and the dollar amount the applicant had to earn to qualify for that amount.
 
 
Dependency Classification Number of Allowable Dependents If the applicant's Average Weekly Wage was: The Maximum Weekly Benefit Amount is:
A 0 $710 or more $355
B 1 or 2 $862 or more $431
C 3 or more $958 or more $479
 
How long may an applicant receive benefits?
 
  The number of benefit weeks an applicant is entitled to depends on the number of qualifying weeks in the base period. Applicants are allowed 20 benefit weeks for the first 20 qualifying weeks in the base period. For each qualifying week above the 20-week minimum, they receive another benefit week -- up to a maximum 26 weeks.

 

 Qualifying weeks:   20  21  22  23  24  25  26 or more
 Benefit weeks:  20  21  22  23  24  25  26 maximum

 

What is the total amount of unemployment benefits an applicant may receive?
 
  The "total benefits payable" amount is calculated by multiplying the weekly benefit amount by the number of benefit weeks. This is the total amount an applicant may receive in his/her benefit year.
 
Example:
Weekly benefit amount of $250  X   Benefit weeks of 20  = Total benefits payable of $5000