Social Security Programs in the United States
Appendix III: Unemployment Insurance Provisions
| State and taxable wage base | Weekly benefit amount for total unemployment 1 | Duration of benefits (weeks) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computation (fraction of high-quarter wages unless otherwise indicated) 2 | Minimum | Maximum | Minimum 4 | Maximum | |
| Alabama ($8,000) | 1/24 of average of two highest quarters | $22 | $180 | 15+ | 26 |
| Alaska ($24,200) | 4.4–0.9% of annual wages, plus $24 per dependent up to $72 | 44–68 | 248–320 | 3 16 | 3 26 |
| Arizona ($7,000) | 1/25 | 40 | 185 | 12+ | 26 |
| Arkansas ($9,000) | 1/26 up to 66 2/3% of State average weekly wage | 49 | 273 | 9 | 26 |
| California ($7,000) | 5 1/23–1/33 | 40 | 230 | 3 14+ | 3 26 |
| Colorado ($10,000) | 60% of 1/26 of two highest quarters, up to 50% of 1/52 of base period wages | 25 | 283 | 13+ | 26 |
| Connecticut ($12,000) | 1/26 of two highest quarters, up to 60% of State average weekly wage, plus $10 per dependent up to 1/2 weekly benefit amount or five dependents | 15–25 | 353–403 | 3 26 | 3 26 |
| Delaware ($8,500) | (5) | 20 | 6 300 | 24 | 26 |
| District of Columbia ($10,000) | 1/26 up to 50% of State average weekly wage, plus $5 per dependent up to $20 | 50 | 1 359 | 3 20 | 3 26 |
| Florida ($7,000) | 1000 | 32 | 250 | 26 | 26 |
| Georgia ($8,500) | 1/50 of two highest quarters 5 | 37 | 215 | 9+ | 26 |
| Hawaii ($26,000) | 1/21 up to 70% of State average weekly wage | 5 | 351 | 3 26 | 3 26 |
| Idaho ($22,800) | 1/26 up to 60% of State average weekly wage | 44 | 259 | 10 | 26 |
| Illinois ($9,000) | 49.5% of claimant's average weekly wage in two highest quarters, up to 49.5% of State average weekly wage 5 | 51 | 257–341 | 26 | 26 |
| Indiana ($7,000) | 5% of first $1,750 in high quarter, 4% of remaining high quarter wages | 87 | 217 | 8+ | 26 |
| Iowa ($15,200) | (2,5) | 34–41 | 231–283 | 11+ | 26 |
| Kansas ($8,000) | 4.25% of high quarter wages, up to 60% of State average weekly wage | 67 | 270 | 10 | 26 |
| Kentucky ($8,000) | 1.185% of base period wages, up to 55% of State average weekly wage | 22 | 246 | 15 | 26 |
| Louisiana ($7,700) | 1/25 of 4 quarters 7 | 10 | 6 193 | 26 | 26 |
| Maine ($7,000) | 1/22 up to 52% of State average weekly wage, plus $10 per dependent up to 1/2 weekly benefit amount | 36–54 | 210–315 | 26 | 26 |
| Maryland ($8,500) | 1/24 plus $8 per dependent up to $40 | 25–33 | 1 250 | 26 | 26 |
| Massachusetts ($10,800) | 1/21–1/26 up to 57.5% of State average weekly wage, plus $25 per dependent up to 1/2 weekly benefit amount 2 | 14–21 | 362–543 | 10+–30 | 30 |
| Michigan ($9,500) | 70% of claimant's after-tax earnings, up to a maximum of 58% of State average weekly wage | 60 | 300 | 15 | 26 |
| Minnesota ($16,300) | 5 1/26 | 38 | 314 | 10+ | 26 |
| Mississippi ($7,000) | 1/26 | 30 | 180 | 13+ | 26 |
| Missouri ($8,000) | 4.5% | 45 | 175 | 11+ | 26 |
| Montana ($16,000) | 1% of base period wages or 1.9% of wages in two highest quarters, up to 60% of State average weekly wage | 57 | 230 | 8 | 26 |
| Nebraska ($7,000) | 1/20–1/24 | 20 | 184 | 20 | 26 |
| Nevada ($17,200) | 1/25 up to 50% of State average weekly wage | 16 | 247 | 12+ | 26 |
| New Hampshire ($8,000) | 0.8–1.1% of annual wages | 32 | 228 | 26 | 26 |
| New Jersey ($18,600) | 60% of claimant's average weekly wage, plus dependents' allowance, up to 56 2/3% of State average weekly wage | 60 | 1 374 | 3 15 | 3 26 |
| New Mexico ($14,200) | 1/26, not less than 10% nor more than 50% of State average weekly wage | 43 | 218 | 19 | 26 |
| New York ($7,000) | 50% of claimant's average weekly wage | 40 | 300 | 26 | 26 |
| North Carolina ($12,100) | 1/26 of high quarter wages, up to 66 2/3% of State average weekly wage | 25 | 310 | 13–26 | 26 |
| North Dakota ($14,200) | 1/65 of two highest quarters and 1/2 total wages in third quarter, up to 60% of State average weekly wage 7 | 43 | 251 | 12 | 26 |
| Ohio ($9,000) | 1/2 claimant's average weekly wage, plus dependents' allowance of $1–$83 based on the claimant's average weekly wage and number of dependents 2,7 | 66 | 257–345 | 20 | 26 |
| Oklahoma ($11,000) | 6 1/25 | 16 | 6 251 | 9 20+ | 9 26 |
| Oregon ($20,000) | 1.25% of base period wage, up to 64% of State average weekly wage | 73 | 314 | 3 4+ | 3 26 |
| Pennsylvania ($8,000) | 1/23–1/25 up to 66 2/3% of State average weekly wage plus $5 for one dependent; $3 for second | 35–40 | 6 362–370 | 16 | 26 |
| Puerto Rico ($7,000) | 1/11–1/26 up to 50% of State average weekly wage | 7 | 152 | 3 26 | 3 26 |
| Rhode Island ($17,600) | 4.62% of high quarter wages up to 67% of State average weekly wage, plus greater of $10 or 5% of the benefit rate per dependent up to five dependents | 41–51 | 336–420 | 15+ | 26 |
| South Carolina ($7,000) | 1/26 up to 66 2/3% of State average weekly wage | 20 | 221 | 15 | 26 |
| South Dakota ($7,000) | 1/26 up to 50% of State average weekly wage | 28 | 187 | 15+ | 26 |
| Tennessee ($7,000) | 1/26 of average two highest quarters | 30 | 220 | 12+ | 26 |
| Texas ($9,000) | 8 1/25 | 44 | 266 | 9+ | 26 |
| Utah ($17,800) | 1/26 up to 60% of State insured average fiscal year weekly wage | 17 | 272 | 10 | 26 |
| Vermont ($8,000) | (5) | 31 | 217 | 26 | 26 |
| Virgin Islands ($14,000) | 1/26 up to 50% of State average weekly wage | 32 | 231 | 13+ | 26 |
| Virginia ($8,000) | 1/50 of wage in two highest quarters | 65 | 10 224 | 12 | 26 |
| Washington ($21,300) | 1/25 of average of two highest quarters, up to 70% of State average weekly wage | 78 | 365 | 16+–30 | 30 |
| West Virginia ($8,000) | 1.0% of annual wage up to 66 2/3% of State average weekly wage | 24 | 296 | 26 | 26 |
| Wisconsin ($10,500) | 4% of high-quarter wages up to maximum weekly benefit amount | 53 | 282 | 12 | 26 |
| Wyoming ($12,200) | 4% of high-quarter wages up to 55% of State average weekly wage 6 | 17 | 236 | 12–26 | 26 |
| 1 When two amounts are given, the higher includes dependents' allowances. In the District of Columbia, Maryland, and New Jersey the maximum is the same with or without dependents' allowances. Higher for minimum weekly benefit amount includes maximum allowance for one dependent. | |||||
| 2 When States use a weighted high quarter, annual wage, or average weekly wage formula, approximate fractions or percentages are figured at midpoint of lowest and highest normal wage brackets. When dependents' allowances are provided, the fraction applies to the basic weekly benefit amount. In some States, variable amounts above maximum basic benefits are limited to claimants with specified number of dependents and earnings in excess of amounts applicable to maximum basic weekly benefit amount. In Indiana, dependents' allowances are paid only to claimants with earnings in excess of that needed to qualify for a basic weekly benefit amount and who have one to three dependents. In Iowa and Ohio, claimants may be eligible for an augmented amount at all benefit levels but benefit amounts above the basic maximum are available only to claimants in dependency classes whose high-quarter wages or average weekly wage are higher than that required for a maximum basic benefit. In Massachusetts, for claimants with an average weekly wage in excess of $66 the weekly benefit amount is computed at 1/26 of the two highest quarters of earnings or 1/13 of highest quarter if the claimant has no more than two quarters work. | |||||
| 3 Benefits extended under State program when unemployment in State reaches specified levels: Alaska and California by 50%; Oregon by 25%; Connecticut by 13 weeks; District of Columbia by 10 weeks. In Hawaii, benefits extended by 13 weeks when man made or natural disaster causes damages to either the State as a whole or any of its counties and creates an unemployment problem involving a substantial number of persons and families. In Puerto Rico, benefits extended by 32 weeks in certain industries, occupations, or establishments when special unemployment situations exist. In all States, benefits may be extended during periods of high unemployment by 50% for up to 13 weeks under the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Program. | |||||
| 4 For claimants with minimum qualifying wages and minimum weekly benefit amount. When two amounts are shown, range of duration applies to claimants with minimum qualifying wages in base period; longer duration applies with minimum weekly benefit amount; shorter duration applies with maximum possible concentration of wages in the high quarter; therefore the highest weekly benefit amount possible for such base period earnings. | |||||
| 5 To 58.5% State average weekly wage if claimant has nonworking spouse; 65.5% if claimant has dependent child, Illinois; 1/19–1/23 up to 65% of the State average weekly wage for claimants with dependent, Iowa; 1/46 of wages in highest two quarters if the trust fund balance is at least $90 million or is 1/52 of wages in highest two quarters if the trust fund balance is less than $90 million, Delaware; a State average weekly wage ranging from 60% to 66⅔% depending on the balance of the fund, Minnesota; wages in the two highest quarters divided by 45, Vermont; if high quarter wages exceed $4,966.99, the maximum weekly benefit amount will be 39% of these wages divided by 13, California; 1/25 of highest quarter if alternative qualifying wages are used, Georgia. | |||||
| 6 Weekly benefit amount will be reduced by 5% or by the reduction determined by a trigger mechanism, but the weekly benefit amount may not be reduced to less than half the maximum weekly benefit amount, Pennsylvania; weekly benefit amount over $90 will be reduced to 85% of the computed amount when revenues in the fund are inadequate to pay benefits, Wyoming; the greater of $197 or 60%, 57.5%, 55%, 52.5%, or 50% of State average weekly wage of the second preceding calendar year depending on the condition of the fund, Oklahoma; if the trust fund balance is less than $165 million but more than $150 million, the maximum weekly benefit amount will be $245, if the trust fund balance is less than $150 million but equal to or greater than $90 million, the maximum weekly benefit amount will be $225, and if the trust fund balance is less than $90 million the maximum weekly benefit amount will be $205, Delaware; weekly benefit amount reflects a 7% decrease and a 5% discount from the computed maximum of $205, Louisiana. | |||||
| 7 Up to 66⅔% of State average weekly wage, Louisiana; 62% of State average weekly wage depending on the trust fund reserves or 65% of State average weekly wage depending on trust fund reserves and the State's average contribution rate if below the nationwide average for the preceding year, North Dakota. | |||||
| 8 Maximum amount adjusted annually: by same percentage increase as occurs in State average weekly wage, Ohio; by $7 for each $10 increase in average weekly wage of manufacturing production workers, Texas. | |||||
| 9 Duration can be much less than 26 weeks for individuals with only one base period employer, Oklahoma. | |||||
| 10 On July 8, 1996, the maximum weekly benefit amount increased to $224 in Virginia. | |||||
| Source: Significant Provisions of State Unemployment Insurance Laws, Department of Labor, Washington, DC, January 5, 1997. | |||||