How to Calculate Expected Unemployment Benefits

If you have recently lost your job, you may qualify for unemployment benefits. Weekly unemployment compensation amounts are based on the amount of money you earned before you were unemployed. The amounts vary from state-to-state, which means one calculation does not exist for estimating your benefits amount. As long as you have your earnings information, you can plug the data into a benefits estimator or calculator to determine your expected amount of compensation.

Instructions

1

Gather your last paycheck stub for each job that you held in the past 18 months. If you cannot find a paycheck stub, you can use a W-2 instead.

2

Separate the paystubs and W-2s into groups. You need five groups for each of the most recent five calendar quarters, which are three-month periods.

3

Use a calculator to add up your total wages in each of the first four quarters. These quarters make up your base period and the fifth quarter does not count. The amount you earned in the base period is what your unemployment benefits are based on, which is why you need total wages for each quarter.

4

Go to your state unemployment website and use the expected benefits calculator, if your state offers one, to calculate your benefits. Alternatively, use the Unemployment Benefits website (see Resources) to calculate the amount. You must enter in the wages for the first four quarters to get your expected benefits amount. If you use the Unemployment Benefits site, you must first enter in your state, employment status, education level and zip code. After you do this, you will be presented with an advertisement. To continue to the benefits calculator, click on the "To Skip This Offer, Click Here" link above the ad.