How to Calculate Unemployment

With today's economy, more people are finding themselves filing for unemployment. Once you know how to calculate unemployment, you will have a closer figure to how much you could receive per week or per benefit period. This is important when you consider taking unemployment or finding another job. If you will make less money working a lower paying job, unemployment may be the way to go in order to keep up with the bills and other obligations. Once you calculate your unemployment benefits, you will have a better idea of how much to expect per week.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Figure out your base period for calculating unemployment. For instance, if you start your claim in November of 2008, the base period you would use is July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008. The highest quarter during this base period is used to calculate how much you have earned. The earnings are only for work preformed for an employer that pays unemployment insurance.

2. Look at the base period where you received the highest pay. This is the base period that is used to calculate your potential unemployment benefits.

3. Calculate the highest quarter earnings with a calculator. You will receive four percent of the total wages in the highest quarter. The maximum weekly benefit rate requires earnings of $8,875.00 for a weekly check of $355.00. The minimum weekly benefit rate requires $1,325.00 for a weekly check of $53.00.

4. Calculate what your weekly benefits would be if you have another job. Take your weekly gross income and subtract $30.00. Multiply the balance by 67 percent. Take the total WBR and subtract that total to get the amount you will receive for partial unemployment benefits for that week.
   Example:
   Weekly Benefit Rate is $335 Gross income is $275
   1. Gross income $275 - $30 = $245
   2. $245 X .67 = $164.15
   3. $335 WBR - $164.15 = $170.85
   4. Round $170.85 down to $170

5. Calculate your unemployment benefits for every week if the partial gross income is different. The amounts will vary if the gross income varies.

Tips & Warnings

• Always make sure to claim any and all income that is received in any given week.
• Do not file false claims or the state will make you pay them back by holding back your benefits the next time you file.

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