StateTally

Massachusetts Unemployment Benefits Calculator

Use this tool to estimate your Massachusetts unemployment insurance payment. Enter the wages from your two highest‑earning quarters and see the weekly benefit, minimum and maximum limits, and possible duration.

Reviewed 2026-08-27 · Estimates only — not legal or financial advice.

Before taxes.
Before taxes.
The law behind this calculator: Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance — M.G.L. c. 151A § 29; Massachusetts DUA.

How Massachusetts calculates it

  • Benefit equals 50% of your average weekly wage, where the average weekly wage is your two highest quarters added together then divided by 52.
  • The weekly amount cannot be less than the state minimum of $45 per week.
  • The weekly amount cannot exceed the state maximum of $1,105 per week, which took effect on October 5, 2025 and remains in force through at least October 2026.
  • Benefits are payable for up to 26 weeks under normal circumstances.
  • Massachusetts also provides a dependency allowance of $25 per dependent child, capped at half your weekly rate, which this estimate does not include.
  • When no federal extended‑benefits period is in effect, the total duration can reach 30 weeks.

Worked example

Using the provided inputs, a quarter of $16,000 and a second‑highest quarter of $14,000 yields ($16,000 + $14,000) ÷ 52 = $577 — a weekly benefit of $577 for up to 26 weeks ($15,002 total if fully drawn).

Frequently asked questions

How is the weekly unemployment benefit calculated?

It is 50% of your average weekly wage, which is found by adding the wages from your two highest quarters and dividing the sum by 52.

What is the minimum weekly benefit in Massachusetts?

The benefit cannot be lower than $45 per week.

What is the maximum weekly benefit in Massachusetts?

The benefit cannot exceed $1,105 per week, a cap that began on October 5, 2025.

How many weeks can I receive benefits?

Benefits are payable for up to 26 weeks, and can extend to 30 weeks when no federal extended‑benefits period applies.

Is there extra money for dependent children?

Massachusetts adds a dependency allowance of $25 per dependent child, limited to half of your weekly rate, but this estimate does not include that amount.

Embed this calculator

Attorneys, HR teams, and publishers: add this calculator to your own site free — copy the snippet below. Attribution stays visible.

More calculators