Massachusetts Unemployment Calculator
Estimate your Massachusetts weekly unemployment benefit, duration, and total payout. Massachusetts pays up to $1,105 a week for up to 30 weeks. This is an estimate, not a determination.
An estimate, not a determination.
This estimates your Massachusetts weekly unemployment benefit from your wages. The state agency makes the actual decision based on your full wage record and why your job ended. File your claim with Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) to get your real amount.
More exact? Enter your highest-paid quarter
Most states base your benefit on your highest-earning quarter of the base period (the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters). Enter it for a closer estimate; leave blank to use your annual income.
Estimated Weekly Benefit
$500/week
≈ 50% of your weekly wage · Massachusetts · estimate only
Max Duration
30 weeks
Max Total Benefit
$15,000
Total benefits are the lesser of 30 x WBA or 36% of base-period wages (G.L. c. 151A, s. 30(a)). The cap drops to 26 x WBA for claims filed in a month when the 12-month average unemployment rate is at or below 5.1% in each of the state's 10 metropolitan areas. As of September 2026 DUA states the maximum duration is 30 weeks.
Massachusetts has a one-week unpaid waiting period before benefits begin.
This is an estimate, not a determination. The state agency calculates your actual benefit from your full base-period wage record, and eligibility also depends on why your job ended and your ongoing work search.
Your weekly benefit is based on your wages in the "base period" (usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters), replaced at roughly 50% up to Massachusetts's $1,105 maximum. Eligibility also depends on earning enough in the base period and on why your job ended (generally you must be out of work through no fault of your own). This is an estimate, not legal advice or a determination, and RecordingLaw.com is not a government agency.
How Massachusetts Calculates Your Weekly Benefit
WBA = (sum of the two highest quarters of the base period / 26), which approximates 50% of the claimant's average weekly wage. Clamped to the state maximum. (For claimants with wages in only one or two quarters, the divisor adjusts.)
The result is capped at Massachusetts's $1,105 maximum and floored at its $53 minimum (2026). You can collect for up to 30 weeks. Total benefits are the lesser of 30 x WBA or 36% of base-period wages (G.L. c. 151A, s. 30(a)). The cap drops to 26 x WBA for claims filed in a month when the 12-month average unemployment rate is at or below 5.1% in each of the state's 10 metropolitan areas. As of September 2026 DUA states the maximum duration is 30 weeks.
Dependents: $25 per dependent child per week. Total dependency allowance may not exceed 50% of the claimant's WBA. Allowance is added ON TOP of the WBA (so the effective max with dependents is up to 1.5x the base max, ~$1,657).
Source: Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA).
Who Qualifies in Massachusetts
To draw benefits you generally must have earned enough during the base period (Standard: last four completed calendar quarters before the claim. Alternate base period available.), be unemployed through no fault of your own (laid off, not fired for misconduct and generally not quitting without good cause), and be able, available, and actively looking for work. Must have earned at least 30x the prospective WBA in the base period and at least $6,300 (indexed) in total base-period wages. Massachusetts also has a one-week unpaid waiting period before benefits begin.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is unemployment in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts pays roughly 50% of your average weekly wage, from a $53 minimum up to a $1,105 maximum per week (2026). Use the calculator above to estimate your amount from your wages.
How many weeks of unemployment can I get in Massachusetts?
Up to 30 weeks. Total benefits are the lesser of 30 x WBA or 36% of base-period wages (G.L. c. 151A, s. 30(a)). The cap drops to 26 x WBA for claims filed in a month when the 12-month average unemployment rate is at or below 5.1% in each of the state's 10 metropolitan areas. As of September 2026 DUA states the maximum duration is 30 weeks.
How is my Massachusetts weekly benefit calculated?
WBA = (sum of the two highest quarters of the base period / 26), which approximates 50% of the claimant's average weekly wage. Clamped to the state maximum. (For claimants with wages in only one or two quarters, the divisor adjusts.)
What is the maximum unemployment benefit in Massachusetts?
$1,105 per week in 2026, or up to $1,657 with the dependent allowance. The maximum is set by the state and usually updated each year.
Is this calculator official?
No. It is a free estimate based on Massachusetts's published 2026 formula and caps. Your actual benefit is determined by Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) from your complete wage record and the reason your job ended. It is not legal advice and RecordingLaw.com is not a government agency.
Disclaimer
This calculator is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice, a benefit determination, or a guarantee of eligibility. Unemployment formulas and maximums change (often annually); figures are current as of 2026-09-28. Only Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) can determine your actual benefit and eligibility. RecordingLaw.com is not a government agency.