The labor market has shown recent improvement as economic activity has ticked back up with loosened pandemic restrictions. However, as the country hits record numbers of COVID-19 infections and the holidays approach, a number of states have clamped back down.
California, Connecticut and Washington have prohibited indoor dining in restaurants, and Massachusetts has imposed a statewide curfew, to name a few. With this has come new predictions of more Americans losing their jobs, particularly in the restaurant and hospitality industries, and tapping into their state’s unemployment funds.
The amount an individual receives on unemployment varies from state to state, ranging from $183 per week in Louisiana to $444 per week in Hawaii, according to September data from the Department of Labor. While each state uses its own formula to determine its unemployment benefit, it is generally calculated based on an individual’s recent earnings, taking into account their number of dependents, up to a maximum amount.
In most states, unemployment benefits last for 26 weeks. The federal Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program offers an additional 13 weeks for unemployed workers whose state-funded benefits have run out and meet certain criteria. Without further legislation from Congress, these payments will end on Dec. 31.
States with particularly high unemployment rates have also adopted their own extended benefits programs, which would go into effect after both regular unemployment and the federal PEUC benefits have been exhausted.
GOBankingRates compiled unemployment data from September to find out the average unemployment check in each state, as well as each state’s unemployment rate and the number of weeks that benefits are available. Find out how your state compares.
Last updated: Nov. 19, 2020
