Unemployment Compensation
Max Weekly Benefit Amt.
Max Weeks of Benefits
Max Benefit Amount
The Unemployment Compensation Division of the Alabama Department of Labor sends weekly checks to qualified recipients of unemployment insurance benefits. If you are a legal resident of Alabama and your work hours and income have been reduced to less than 30 hours and $265 or less per week, you have the right to apply for unemployment insurance compensation. Alabama unemployment benefits vary with each individual situation. Benefits range from a minimum of $45 to a maximum of $265 paid weekly. The amount of benefits you receive is dependent upon the amount of money you earned during your base period. Once qualified for unemployment insurance benefits, Alabama residents may qualify to receive benefits for up to 26 weeks. The maximum total amount you can draw within one year is shown in your monetary determination.
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Calculating Alabama Unemployment Benefit Amounts
Benefits are calculated using calendar quarters and a base period. Calendar quarters consist of four sections of three months, totaling one full calendar year. Alabama uses the first four quarters of the last five calendar quarters beginning the week before you file your claim. The monetary amount of unemployment insurance benefits you qualify to receive depends on the income you earned in wages during the highest earning quarter of your base period.
The highest earning calendar quarter is a 3-month section of your base period in which you earned the most income. Your total base period income must be at least 1 ½ times higher than your highest earning quarter income to qualify.
Example: Highest earning quarter = $6,000
Total base period must be at least: $9,000
Determine Your Weekly Benefit Amount
To determine your weekly benefit amount, find the Maximum Benefit Amount (MBA) you qualify for according to your base period income and divide that amount by 26.
Example: MBA = $8,000
$8,000 divided by 26 = $307.69, rounded to the nearest dollar to $308 is the WBA
Determine Your Maximum Benefit Amount
To estimate your Maximum Benefit Amount (MBA), first you must find your base period.
Once you have found your base period, determine the two quarters of your base period where you earned the most income, and add the earnings from those two quarters together. The total equals your maximum benefit amount you can receive over a 52-week claim year.