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AfterLayoff

Idaho Unemployment Calculator (2026)

If you lose your job in Idaho, unemployment insurance can pay you between $72 and $624 per week in 2026. Depending on your work history, benefits can last from 10 to 26 weeks. The exact amount is based on what you earned before you were laid off.

Data verified 2026-07-04Source: US DOL + state statuteEffective 2026-01-01
Weekly benefit range
$72$624
Duration
10–26 weeks
Formula
highest quarter ÷ 26
Apply with
Idaho's unemployment agency official
The actual rule

How Idaho calculates it

Idaho looks at your base period — roughly the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. It finds the quarter where you earned the most and pays you 1/26 of that amount each week. For example, if your best quarter was $10,400, your weekly benefit would be about $400.

There are limits. The least Idaho pays is $72 per week, and the most is $624 per week in 2026. If the formula gives you a number above $624, you get the cap instead.

How many weeks you can collect is not the same for everyone. Idaho uses a schedule based on how your total base-period wages compare to your highest quarter. Steadier earnings across the year generally mean more weeks, from a minimum of 10 up to a maximum of 26.

highest quarter ÷ 26, clamped to $72$624
Source: US DOL “Significant Provisions of State UI Laws” (Jan 2026) + state statute · verified 2026-07-04
Qualifying

Do you qualify in Idaho?

To qualify on wages, your total base-period earnings must be at least 1.25 times your highest-quarter wages, and you need at least $1,872 in one quarter. In plain terms: you need some work history beyond a single burst of earnings, plus a minimum level of pay.

You also have to meet the standard conditions that apply in every state: you lost your job through no fault of your own (a layoff counts), you are able to work, you are available for work, and you are actively looking for a new job while you collect benefits.

Maximum total benefit: Weighted schedule of BPW-to-HQW ratio x WBA.

Common questions

Idaho unemployment, in plain language

How much unemployment will I get in Idaho? +
Between $72 and $624 per week in 2026. Idaho pays 1/26 of your highest-quarter wages. So if you earned $9,100 in your best quarter, you would get about $350 per week. Higher earners hit the $624 weekly cap.
How long does unemployment last in Idaho? +
From 10 to 26 weeks, depending on your work history. Idaho compares your total base-period wages to your highest-quarter wages and uses a schedule to set your number of weeks. People with steadier earnings through the year generally get closer to 26 weeks.
How is the weekly benefit calculated in Idaho? +
Take the calendar quarter in your base period where you earned the most, and divide those wages by 26. If your best quarter was $13,000, that works out to $500 per week. The result is subject to a minimum of $72 and a maximum of $624 in 2026.
Can I work part-time and still get unemployment in Idaho? +
Yes, but you must report all earnings. Idaho disregards earnings up to one-half of your weekly benefit amount, so income below that level does not reduce your check. Earnings above that level reduce your payment, and if you earn too much in a week, you get no benefit for that week.
Who qualifies for unemployment benefits in Idaho? +
You need enough wages: at least $1,872 in one base-period quarter, and total base-period wages of at least 1.25 times your highest quarter. You also must be out of work through no fault of your own, and be able, available, and actively searching for work each week you claim.
Is unemployment taxable in Idaho? +
Unemployment benefits are taxable income on your federal return. You can ask to have federal tax withheld from your payments by filing Form W-4V. State tax treatment varies, so check with your state tax agency or a tax professional about how benefits are handled where you file.
What if my Idaho unemployment claim is denied? +
You have the right to appeal. Your denial notice will explain the reason and the deadline to file an appeal, so act quickly and keep filing your weekly claims while the appeal is pending. If you win, you can be paid for those weeks.
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