Policy Basics: How Many Weeks of Unemployment Compensation Are Available? | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Of the states not providing the standard 26-week maximum:

  • Massachusetts provides up to 30 weeks of UI except when a federal extended benefits program is in place or in periods of low unemployment, as was the case through February, when the maximum drops to 26 weeks;
  • Montana provides up to 28 weeks of UI;
  • Michigan normally provides up to 20 weeks of UI, but in the COVID-19 emergency that has risen to 26 weeks;
  • Arkansas, South Carolina, and Missouri provide up to 20 weeks of UI.

The remaining six states periodically update their maximum weeks of UI available based on changes in the state’s unemployment rate:

  • Idaho currently provides up to 21 weeks of UI;
  • Kansas normally provides up to 16 weeks of UI but that has been extended to 26 through April 2021;
  • Alabama currently provides up to 14 weeks of UI for new enrollees, with an additional five-week extension for those enrolled in a state-approved training program;
  • Georgia normally provides up to 14 weeks of UI, but in the COVID-19 emergency that has risen to 26 weeks;
  • Florida currently provides up to 12 weeks of UI; and
  • North Carolina currently provides up to 12 weeks of UI.

The table below shows the latest three-month average unemployment rate for each state over January 2020 – March 2020, as well as the maximum number of weeks of UI benefits currently available in each state through regular UI.

TABLE 1
Unemployment Rates and Weeks of Unemployment Insurance (UI) Available
State Unemployment (3-month avg.) Regular UI and extended benefits available*
Alabama 3.0 14 weeks**
Alaska 5.8 26+13 weeks
Arizona 4.8 26 weeks
Arkansas 3.9 20 weeks
California 4.3 26+13 weeks
Colorado 3.2 26 weeks
Connecticut 3.7 26+13 weeks
Delaware 4.3 26 weeks
District of Columbia 5.5 26 weeks
Florida 3.3 12 weeks
Georgia 3.5 26+13 weeks***
Hawaii 2.6 26 weeks
Idaho 2.7 21 weeks
Illinois 3.9 26 weeks
Indiana 3.1 26 weeks
Iowa 3.1 26 weeks
Kansas 3.1 26 weeks***
Kentucky 4.8 26 weeks
Louisiana 5.8 26+13 weeks
Maine 3.1 26+13 weeks
Maryland 3.3 26 weeks
Massachusetts 2.8 26+13 weeks
Michigan 3.8 26+13 weeks***
Minnesota 3.1 26+13 weeks
Mississippi 5.4 26 weeks
Missouri 3.8 13 weeks
Montana 3.5 28+13 weeks
Nebraska 3.3 26 weeks
Nevada 4.5 26+13 weeks
New Hampshire 2.6 26+13 weeks
New Jersey 3.8 26+13 weeks
New Mexico 5.2 26 weeks
New York 4.0 26+13 weeks
North Carolina 3.9 12 weeks
North Dakota 2.2 26 weeks
Ohio 4.6 26+13 weeks
Oklahoma 3.2 26 weeks
Oregon 3.3 26+13 weeks
Pennsylvania 5.1 26+13 weeks
Puerto Rico 8.7 26+13 weeks
Rhode Island 3.8 26+13 weeks
South Carolina 2.5 20 weeks
South Dakota 3.3 26 weeks
Tennessee 3.4 26 weeks
Texas 3.9 26 weeks
Utah 2.8 26 weeks
Vermont 2.7 26+13 weeks
Virgin Islands 4.3 26 weeks
Virginia 2.9 26 weeks
Washington 4.3 26+13 weeks
West Virginia 5.3 26+13 weeks
Wisconsin 3.5 26 weeks
Wyoming 3.7 26 weeks

* 13 weeks of Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Assistance (PEUC) are available in all states before extended benefits become available; the maximum weeks of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) for exhaustees equals 39 minus the number of weeks of regular UI and Extended Benefits (EB) received. No PEUC or PUA is available after December 31, 2020.

** 5-week extension is available to those enrolled in a state-approved training program.

*** During the COVID-19 emergency.