Unemployment Benefits Compensation
Unemployment compensation is the money paid to you by the DWS while you are filing for unemployment. Another term for this is “unemployment benefits,” and they are essentially interchangeable. When you successfully file, your unemployment benefit amount will be automatically calculated.
Max Weekly Benefit Amt.
Max Weeks of Benefits
Max Benefit Amount
However, you can also calculate your benefit amount by following the simple formula outlined below. You'll not only be able to make an estimate of how much you'll make each week, but gauge the total level of benefits you will receive during your unemployment period.
Calculating Utah Unemployment Benefit Amounts
Determine Your Weekly Benefit Amount
Your Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA) is determined by calculating the highest quarter wages of your base period. Base periods were previously discussed, so you should have a good idea of that amount.
Once you've determined your highest paying quarter and ensured you qualify, you would divide those earnings by 26 and subtract five to calculate your WBA. The current Maximum WBA is $509.
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EXAMPLE: Your highest quarter wages were $9,000, so you would divide 9,000 by 26 and subtract 5 to get $341 (9,000/26 -5 = 341). Always round down to the nearest whole dollar, rather than up, when calculating your WBA.
Determine Your Maximum Benefit Amount
Determining your Maximum Benefit Amount (MBA) is as simple as multiplying your WBA by 26 (the maximum numbers of weeks you can claim).
Note that this number should be close, but not over, your highest quarter earning wages. The current maximum that can be earned is $13,234 (509 x 26).
EXAMPLE: If your WBA was $341, you would multiply it by 26 to get $8,866. As you can see, this is near, but not quite a high, as your highest quarter wages of $9,000.