The Average Unemployment Benefits
The amount of unemployment benefits you receive depends on where you live in America. President Obama's 2009 economic stimulus plan added $25 more a week to federal unemployment benefits, yet it might surprise you to learn how small most state averages are.
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The National Average
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The national average unemployment benefit payment per week is $293, according to the MSN Money website. That's 35 percent of an average salary in America reports USA Today. The total is based on a single, unemployed person. However, overall, you could get less than that average or much more depending on what state you live in.
The Lowest Paying Unemployment by State
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A few southern states are among those paying the lowest unemployment benefits in the country. Mississippi has a maximum of only $230 a week in benefits, reports MSN Money from 2009 State Labor Department statistics. The second lowest, however, is not in the South but in Arizona at $240 a week. Alabama has the third lowest at $255, while Tennessee pays only $275.
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The Highest Paying Unemployment by State
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Massachusetts provides the highest unemployment checks in the country at $628 a week. That state stands alone in any check within the $600 range. You can find a number of other states, though, within the $500 range. New Jersey is the next highest at $584 a week. According to MSN Money's chart, Minnesota is the next largest at $566, and Hawaii provides unemployment benefits at $545 a week.
Tiers of Benefits
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A 2010 USA Today article informs that three tiers exist for unemployment benefits. For traditional benefits, you generally receive 26 weeks of benefits. Afterward, the federal government provides an additional 34 to 53 weeks of checks. Then 13 to 20 weeks of emergency benefits are provided based on a state's unemployment rate. In totality, it can add up to 99 weeks. The amount you receive may increase if you have children, and the first $2,400 is tax deductible.
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