Vermont Unemployment Benefits 2026: $751 Max, Eligibility, How to File

Vermont's maximum weekly unemployment benefit is $751, according to the Vermont Department of Labor. Under 21 V.S.A. § 1338, the maximum resets on the first day of the first calendar week in July each year, so $751 is the figure for claims in the July 2026 to June 2027 cycle. The Department's own pages do not publish a minimum weekly benefit; the U.S. Department of Labor's July 2026 comparison table lists $96 for Vermont, but that table still describes the formula as wages divided by 45, without the $25 add-on explained below, so the minimum on your monetary determination may be higher.

Benefits last up to 26 weeks, but many claimants get fewer. Under 21 V.S.A. § 1340, total benefits in a benefit year are capped at the lesser of 26 times your weekly amount or 46 percent of your base-period wages, and at 23 times your weekly amount after a misconduct discharge.

Claims are handled by the Vermont Department of Labor, Unemployment Insurance Division. For how unemployment works nationally, including federal tax on benefits, see our guide to unemployment benefits by state.

Information last verified on October 6, 2026. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This page covers regular state unemployment insurance in Vermont under Title 21, chapter 17 of the Vermont Statutes. It does not cover federal programs for federal civilian employees or veterans (UCFE/UCX), Disaster Unemployment Assistance, extended benefits, short-time compensation, or claims filed in other states.

Who is eligible for unemployment in Vermont

You may be eligible if you lost your job or are working fewer than 35 hours a week, earned enough covered wages in your base period, and are able to work, available for work and looking for work. The Department of Labor decides each claim.

Your base period is normally the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file (21 V.S.A. § 1301). If you do not qualify that way, Vermont looks at alternate base periods: the last four completed quarters, or the last three completed quarters plus wages in the current quarter up to the date you file. The Department describes a fourth method for people coming off workers' compensation temporary total disability who file within six months after it ends. Your benefit year runs 52 weeks from your initial claim.

How much you must have earned

Under 21 V.S.A. § 1338(d), you need both of the following in your base period:

• Wages of at least a set minimum in one quarter. The statute prints a base figure of $1,000.00 and, under § 1338(h), that minimum is adjusted every July by the percentage increase in Vermont's minimum wage. The Department refers to it as "the current minimum quarter amount" and does not print the current figure on its benefits page, so confirm it with the Department.
• Additional wages outside your highest quarter equal to at least 40 percent of your highest-quarter wages.

If you are opening a new benefit year right after an earlier one, § 1338(d) also requires wages since the earlier benefit year began of at least four times your previous weekly benefit amount.

How much unemployment pays in Vermont

Vermont's formula is short. The Department says "the weekly benefit amount is computed by dividing the total wages paid in the two highest quarters in the worker's base period by 45." For benefit weeks beginning after July 1, 2026, 2022 Act 183 (as amended by 2025 Act 40) changes 21 V.S.A. § 1338(e) to divide those wages by 45 "and adding $25.00 to the resulting quotient." The Department's page has not been updated to mention the $25, so check the amount on your monetary determination. The result cannot exceed the maximum, which is currently $751.

For example, if your two highest quarters add up to $27,000, $27,000 divided by 45 is $600, and adding $25 gives a weekly benefit of $625. Anyone whose two highest quarters total $32,670 or more ($726 times 45) reaches the $751 maximum. You can estimate your amount with our Vermont unemployment calculator.

Vermont does not add a dependents' allowance; § 1338 contains none. The maximum is recalculated each July. The $757 maximum set in July 2025 was figured as $60 plus 57 percent of the state average weekly wage; for benefit weeks after July 1, 2026, Act 183 as amended replaces the $60 with $25. The next reset is due in the first calendar week of July 2027.

Pages that still quote a $705 maximum are years out of date: the Department reports the maximum was $729 from July 2024 and $757 from July 2025.

How long unemployment lasts in Vermont

Up to 26 weeks of full benefits in a 52-week benefit year. Vermont's duration does not move with the unemployment rate. Instead, 21 V.S.A. § 1340(a) caps your total at "the lesser of 26 times his or her weekly benefit amount or 46 percent of the total wages paid to the individual during his or her base period."

That second limit matters for anyone whose earnings were uneven. Continuing the example above, a claimant with a $625 weekly benefit and $30,000 in total base-period wages is capped at $13,800 (46 percent of $30,000), not $16,250 (26 times $625). That is about 22 weeks of full payments.

If you were discharged for misconduct, the Department says "findings of misconduct will result in maximum duration not exceeding 23 full weeks," and § 1340(b) caps the total at the lesser of the normal limit or 23 times your weekly amount. During periods of high unemployment, state or federal extended benefits may become available, which this page does not cover.

Is there a waiting week in Vermont?

Vermont's statute no longer contains one. Subdivision 1343(a)(4) of Title 21, which once required a one-week waiting period, now reads "[Repealed.]" A 2010 act (Act 124) scheduled it for repeal effective July 1, 2017, or when the unemployment fund returned to a positive balance, whichever was later.

No Department page we reviewed says expressly that Vermont has no waiting week, and the Department's pages and claimant handbook do not mention one. If your first payment does not arrive when you expect, ask the Department about your claim.

Quitting or being fired

Your reason for leaving your last job can delay or end benefits. Whether you can collect is a separate question from whether your employer could lawfully end the job; for the employment side, see our guide to Vermont at-will employment laws.

If you quit

Under 21 V.S.A. § 1344(a)(2)(A), you are disqualified if you "left the employ of the individual's last employing unit voluntarily without good cause attributable to the employing unit." The disqualification lasts until you have worked for a bona fide employer and earned more than six times your weekly benefit amount. In the Department's words, you must "go back to work, earn six times their weekly benefit amount, and then become unemployed again through no fault of their own."

The statute carves out specific situations:

• Military spouse. Leaving to accompany a spouse on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces who must relocate under permanent change of station, activation or unit deployment orders, when the move makes it impractical or impossible to keep working for that employer.
• Foreign Service spouse. Leaving to accompany a spouse holding a U.S. Foreign Service commission assigned overseas, under the same test.
• Health condition. If a health care provider certifies a condition that keeps you from doing the job, § 1344(a)(3) sets a shorter disqualification of one to six weeks instead of the six-times rule.
• Notice of resignation. If you give notice and your employer ends your job before your notice date, 21 V.S.A. § 1343(a)(8) provides for benefits of up to four weeks, ending no later than the date in your notice.

If you were fired

Vermont has two levels. A discharge "for misconduct connected with the individual's work" brings a disqualification of "not more than 15 weeks nor less than six weeks," set by the Commissioner according to the circumstances (21 V.S.A. § 1344(a)(1)). The Department's eligibility page gives the same 6-to-15-week range. Your total benefits are also capped at 23 times your weekly amount.

The Department's claimant handbook (February 2026) describes the misconduct disqualification as 10 weeks plus the 23-week cap. The statute and the Department's eligibility page state a range, so the length in your case is set in your determination.

Gross misconduct is treated far more harshly. The statute defines it as conduct showing "a flagrant, wanton, and intentional disregard of the employer's business interest," including theft, fraud, intoxication, intentional serious damage to property, intentional infliction of personal injury, any conduct that constitutes a felony, or repeated incidents after written warning of unprovoked insubordination or public use of profanity. A gross-misconduct discharge disqualifies you until you have worked again and earned more than six times your weekly benefit amount, and § 1338(d)(2) excludes the wages from that employer from your base period.

Separately from benefits, your employer must still pay your final wages; see Vermont final paycheck laws.

Work search requirements

The claimant handbook says: "Unless you have been excused by the Department from conducting an active work search, you are required to make and report at least three (3) job contacts for each week you file a weekly claim certification."

• Report each contact in the week you made it, and keep records. The Department audits contacts at random.
• Applying to the same job twice within five weeks counts once. Telephone calls and simply posting a resume do not count as contacts.
• You must register for work in Vermont JobLink. If you live and look for work outside Vermont, register with your own state's workforce agency and send proof to the Claims Center within 10 days of opening your claim.
• The Department can excuse the work search, for example during a temporary layoff where the employer confirms a recall. People in approved training are treated as available for work under 21 V.S.A. § 1343(b).

You may also be required to take part in reemployment services if the Department identifies you as likely to exhaust benefits.

Working part-time while on unemployment

You can collect a reduced benefit in a week of less than full-time work if the counted part of your earnings (the part above 50 percent) is below your weekly benefit amount. Under 21 V.S.A. § 1338a, only the part of your pay above 50 percent of it is counted against your benefit, and § 1339 pays your weekly amount minus those counted wages.

The handbook puts it this way: "We will disregard 50% of your gross wages earned." Its example: with a $400 weekly benefit and $300 in gross wages, $150 is deducted and you receive $250. You are treated as fully employed, with no benefit for the week, if you work 35 hours or more or your earnings exceed your weekly benefit amount plus the disregarded amount.

How to file for unemployment in Vermont

File as soon as you are separated from your job or working fewer than 35 hours. A claim cannot be set up until there is an actual separation. If you filed within the last 12 months, re-open that claim instead of starting a new one.

• Online: the Claimant e-Services portal. You need a myVermont account to use it.
• By phone: 1-877-214-3330 to file or re-open a claim, Monday through Thursday 8:30am to 4:00pm and Friday 9:00am to 4:00pm. Claimant assistance is 1-877-214-3332, same hours.
• Weekly claims: online, or through the automated line at 1-800-983-2300.

After you file, submit a weekly claim certification for every week you are out of work. The weekly certification asks eight eligibility questions. The Department publishes a list of documents to have ready on its initial application page.

Denials and appeals

You have 30 days to appeal. Under 21 V.S.A. § 1348(a)(2), an interested party may appeal "within 30 days after notice of the determination." The Department's appeals page says written appeals must be submitted "no later than 30 calendar days from the date of the determination being appealed." Overpayment determinations have the same 30-day window.

Vermont has three levels:

1. Administrative Law Judge. A new, confidential hearing, usually by telephone, in the Department's Appeals Unit.
2. Vermont Employment Security Board. You can appeal the judge's decision within 30 days after the date of that decision (21 V.S.A. § 1349(a)). The Board reviews the existing record.
3. Vermont Supreme Court. The Department says the Clerk of the Employment Security Board must receive your written appeal within 30 calendar days of the Board's decision.

Keep filing your weekly claim certifications for every week you are fully or partially unemployed until the appeal is decided; the Department tells claimants to do this. The Department also notes that you cannot appeal the maximum number of weeks or the maximum dollar amount of benefits a program allows.

Overpayments and fraud

If you received benefits you were not entitled to because of nondisclosure or misrepresentation of a material fact, even an unintentional one, you must repay them. Under 21 V.S.A. § 1347, the Department has three years from the overpayment to make that determination, and it cannot try to recover the money until the decision is final and appeal rights are exhausted. Anyone not currently receiving benefits must be offered a repayment plan.

Since July 1, 2026, the Department may withhold future benefits to recover an overpayment only "in amounts equal to not more than 50 percent of the person's weekly benefit amount."

Intentional misrepresentation adds a 15 percent penalty on the overpaid amount and, if you are not prosecuted, a disqualification of up to 26 weeks. Criminal charges are also possible.

You can ask for a waiver. Under § 1347(f), the Commissioner may waive up to the full overpayment when it was not caused by your intentional misrepresentation, it occurred through no fault of yours, and recovery would be against equity and good conscience. The Department's waiver page lists factors it considers, such as household income below 185 percent of the federal poverty level or receiving SNAP, TANF, LIHEAP, SSI or SSDI.

Is unemployment taxable in Vermont?

Yes. The claimant handbook says: "Unemployment benefits are taxable and must be reported as gross income on your federal and state income tax returns." Under 21 V.S.A. § 1338(i), if you choose federal income tax withholding, Vermont state income tax is withheld at 24 percent of the federal rate. Benefits are also taxable federally; see our unemployment benefits by state guide.

Recent changes

• July 2026: the maximum weekly benefit reset to $751, according to the Department's benefits page and the U.S. Department of Labor's July 2026 table. For benefit weeks after July 1, 2026, 2022 Act 183 (as amended by 2025 Act 40) also adds $25 to each weekly benefit amount and lowers the add-on in the maximum formula from $60 to $25.
• July 1, 2026: recovery of overpayments from future benefits is limited to 50 percent of the weekly benefit amount (2023, No. 184 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, amending 21 V.S.A. § 1347).
• July 2027: the next annual reset of the maximum is due in the first calendar week of July.

Common myths

• "Everyone gets 26 weeks." No. The cap is the lesser of 26 times your weekly amount or 46 percent of your base-period wages, and 23 times your weekly amount after a misconduct discharge.
• "Misconduct always means a 10-week penalty." The statute sets 6 to 15 weeks, decided case by case. Ten weeks is the figure in the handbook.
• "Vermont's maximum is $705." That figure is out of date. The Department reported $757 from July 1, 2025 and now states $751.

Disclaimer: This article provides general legal information about Vermont unemployment insurance, not legal advice or a benefit determination. Only the Vermont Department of Labor decides whether you are eligible and how much you receive. Information verified on October 6, 2026. If your claim has been denied, consider consulting a lawyer licensed in Vermont or a legal aid office.

Related

• Unemployment benefits by state
• Vermont unemployment calculator
• Vermont at-will employment laws
• Vermont final paycheck laws

Last updated: October 7, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the maximum unemployment benefit in Vermont?

$751 a week, according to the Vermont Department of Labor. Under 21 V.S.A. § 1338 the maximum resets each July; it was $757 from July 2025.

What is the minimum unemployment benefit in Vermont?

The Vermont Department of Labor's pages do not state a minimum. The U.S. Department of Labor's July 2026 state comparison lists $96 for Vermont, but that table does not include the $25 weekly add-on that applies after July 1, 2026; confirm your amount on your monetary determination.

How is Vermont unemployment calculated?

Add your wages from the two highest quarters of your base period and divide by 45; for benefit weeks after July 1, 2026, the law adds $25. For example, $27,000 in those two quarters gives $600 plus $25, or $625 a week, and the result is capped at $751.

How many weeks of unemployment can you get in Vermont?

Up to 26 weeks, but total benefits are capped at the lesser of 26 times your weekly amount or 46 percent of your base-period wages under 21 V.S.A. § 1340. After a misconduct discharge the cap is 23 times your weekly amount.

Does Vermont have a waiting week?

The waiting-week provision, 21 V.S.A. § 1343(a)(4), now reads "[Repealed.]" The Department's pages do not mention a waiting week, though none says expressly that there is none.

Can I get unemployment in Vermont if I quit?

Only with good cause attributable to the employer or under a statutory exception, such as following a military spouse ordered to relocate. Otherwise you are disqualified until you work again and earn more than six times your weekly benefit amount.

What happens if I was fired for misconduct in Vermont?

The statute sets a disqualification of 6 to 15 weeks, and your total benefits are capped at 23 times your weekly amount. Gross misconduct, such as theft or fraud, disqualifies you until you earn more than six times your weekly amount at a new job.

How many job contacts do I need for Vermont unemployment?

At least three each week you file a weekly claim certification, unless the Department has excused you. Phone calls and simply posting a resume do not count.

How much can I earn and still collect unemployment in Vermont?

Vermont disregards 50 percent of your gross weekly wages and deducts the rest. You get nothing for a week in which you work 35 hours or more or your earnings exceed your benefit plus the disregarded amount.

How long do I have to appeal a Vermont unemployment denial?

30 days from the determination, in writing, to an Administrative Law Judge under 21 V.S.A. § 1348. Keep filing weekly claims while the appeal is pending.

Does Vermont tax unemployment benefits?

Yes. The Department's handbook says benefits must be reported as gross income on federal and state returns, and if you elect federal withholding, state tax is withheld at 24 percent of the federal rate.