How unemployment insurance benefits are determined

Learn how unemployment benefits are determined and estimate how much you may be eligible for.

Estimate your weekly benefit amount

If you are eligible to receive unemployment benefits, your weekly benefit amount will be about 50% of your average weekly wage, up to the maximum amount set by law.

As of October 5, 2025, the maximum weekly benefit amount is $1,105 per week.

Calculate your weekly benefit amount  Learn more about unemployment eligibility 

How benefit amounts are determined

When you submit your application, the Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) uses information from you and your employer to determine your annual benefit amount. This is called a maximum benefit credit, and it’s based on:

• Primary base period, or how much you earned in the last 4 completed quarters.
• Alternate base period, or how much you earned in the last 3 completed quarters and the time between the last completed quarter and the effective date of your initial claim. This may be used to increase your maximum benefit credit.

If you are approved for benefits, your claim will remain open for 1 year (52 weeks). This is your benefit year. In that year, you are eligible to receive up to:

• 30 times your weekly benefit amount, or
• 36% of your total wages in your base period

How duration of benefits is determined

You can receive unemployment benefits for a certain number of weeks based on your maximum benefit credit and your weekly benefit amount. This is your duration of benefits.

To find your duration of benefits, you can divide your maximum benefit credit by your weekly benefit amount.

For example, if your weekly benefit amount is $362:

• And your maximum benefit amount for the year is $10,860, you qualify for 30 weeks ($10,860 ÷ $362 = 30 weeks)
• And your maximum benefit amount for the year is $8,688, you qualify for 24 weeks ($8,688 ÷ $362=24 weeks)

In Massachusetts, the maximum duration of benefits is 30 weeks.

Situations that may change your benefit amount

Allowances

If you have any dependents and you are their main support, you may be eligible for a dependency allowance of up to $25 per child. Spouses are not included.

Dependents must be:

• Under the age of 18
• Under the age of 24 and enrolled as a full-time student
• Over the age of 18 and not able to work due to a mental or physical disability

Deductions

• Child support: If you owe child support in any state, your benefits may be reduced by the amount owed. You must report this when you complete your application for benefits.
• Overpayments: If you owe unemployment money due to overpayments in any state, your benefits may be reduced by up to 50% to make up for the overpayment.

WorkShare plans

If your employer has an approved WorkShare plan, your benefit amount will be based on the percentage of work hours you lost.

Receiving other income

Your weekly benefits may change depending on other income, including part-time work.

Working while receiving unemployment benefits  Situations that may change your eligibility 

If you disagree with your benefit amount

After you apply, DUA will send you a Notice of Monetary Determination, which includes your estimated benefit amount based on the information provided by you and your employer.

If you disagree with any information in the notice (including wage or employer information), follow the instructions in the notice to submit an Affidavit to Correct Wages.