Unemployment benefits in Massachusetts
Massachusetts's maximum weekly unemployment benefit is $1,105.
| Minimum weekly benefit | not confirmed |
|---|---|
| Maximum weekly benefit | $1,105 |
| Maximum duration | Varies — see below |
How the weekly benefit is calculated
Roughly 50% of your average weekly wage in the base period, capped at the statutory maximum.
Base period
The last four completed quarters, not the standard first-four-of-last-five; an alternate base period (last three quarters plus a partial one) is available.
Duration
Currently 30 weeks, not the standard 26 — Massachusetts's own extended-duration trigger (a 12-month average unemployment rate above 5.1% in at least one of ten metro areas) has been active since April 2025, and reverts to 26 weeks once it deactivates. A dependency allowance of up to $25/child is added on top.
Maximum, duration and base period are primary-confirmed. No minimum weekly benefit was found on the pages checked.
Some figures on this page were read directly from the state agency's own site or statute; others could not be, and are marked accordingly above.
Sources
While you're working, model your paycheck
Massachusetts unemployment: common questions
How much is unemployment in Massachusetts?
Roughly 50% of your average weekly wage in the base period, capped at the statutory maximum. The maximum is $1,105. Maximum, duration and base period are primary-confirmed. No minimum weekly benefit was found on the pages checked.
How long do unemployment benefits last in Massachusetts?
Currently 30 weeks, not the standard 26 — Massachusetts's own extended-duration trigger (a 12-month average unemployment rate above 5.1% in at least one of ten metro areas) has been active since April 2025, and reverts to 26 weeks once it deactivates. A dependency allowance of up to $25/child is added on top.
What wages count toward my benefit?
The last four completed quarters, not the standard first-four-of-last-five; an alternate base period (last three quarters plus a partial one) is available.
What is the maximum weekly unemployment payment in Massachusetts?
$1,105 a week is the most Massachusetts pays, before any deductions you elect such as tax withholding or child support. Most claimants receive less, because the weekly amount is calculated from your own base-period wages: Roughly 50% of your average weekly wage in the base period, capped at the statutory maximum.
What day does unemployment pay in Massachusetts?
This page does not model payment dates. Timing is set by Massachusetts's own unemployment agency rather than by the benefit formula, and normally depends on when your weekly or biweekly claim is filed and processed rather than on a fixed calendar day. What this page does model is how much you are owed and for how long, both traced to the sources listed below.
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