Unemployment Benefits Compensation

The total amount that will be paid for unemployment insurance is determined by calculating the earnings from your base period used to determine initial eligibility. The quarter where you received the highest wages will be used as the base to determine the Weekly Benefit Amount. This dollar amount can be found in the Unemployment Insurance Benefit Table, which will inform you of the benefit amount that you are eligible to receive weekly.

Calculating California Unemployment Benefit Amounts

Determine Your Weekly Benefit Amount

The Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA) is the dollar amount of your benefits that will be allotted weekly as long as continuing qualifications are met and no other wages are earned that week. In California, this amount will be between $40 to $450 depending on wages reported in the base period.

Determine Your Maximum Benefit Amount

Your Maximum Benefit Amount will be calculated by taking your Weekly Benefit Amount and multiplying it by 26 (the maximum number of weeks allowed to collect unemployment benefits) or half of the total Base Period wages - whichever is smaller.