Massachusetts Unemployment Calculator (2026)
Massachusetts offers some of the most generous unemployment benefits in the U.S. In 2026, weekly benefits range from $60 to $1,105, plus $25 per dependent with no cap on the dependent add-on. It's also the only state that pays up to 30 weeks — every other state tops out at 26 or fewer.
How Massachusetts calculates it
Massachusetts pays 50% of your average weekly wage. If you averaged $1,600 per week before your layoff, your benefit would be about $800 per week. If you have dependent children, you get an extra $25 per dependent each week, with no cap on that allowance.
For 2026, the weekly benefit runs from a minimum of $60 to a maximum of $1,105 (before any dependent add-ons). At the max, 30 weeks adds up to $33,150 ($1,105 x 30). Your total payout is the lesser of 36% of your base period wages or 30 times your weekly benefit, so people with shorter work histories may get fewer weeks — the range is 10 to 30 weeks.
One note on our estimate: we approximate your average weekly wage as your annual pay divided by 52. Massachusetts uses its own definition based on your base period wages, so your actual amount may differ somewhat from our number.
Dependents: $25 per dependent, no cap
Do you qualify in Massachusetts?
To qualify on wages, you need base period earnings of at least 30 times your weekly benefit amount, with a minimum of $6,300 in wages. In plain terms: if you worked steadily for a decent stretch of the past year, you likely clear this bar.
You also need to meet the usual non-monetary rules: you lost your job through no fault of your own (a layoff counts), you're able to work, you're available for work, and you're actively looking for a job each week you claim.
Maximum total benefit: Lesser of 36% BPW or 30 x WBA.