Ohio Unemployment Calculator (2026)
In 2026, Ohio pays $176 to $624 per week in unemployment benefits — and up to $842 if you have dependents. Benefits last 20 to 26 weeks depending on how long you worked before your layoff.
How Ohio calculates it
Ohio pays half of your average weekly wage. If you averaged $1,000 per week before your layoff, your benefit would be about $500 per week. If you have dependents, Ohio adds a dependency allowance of $1 to $218 per week, based on your wages and how many dependents you have.
For 2026, the weekly benefit runs from a minimum of $176 to a maximum of $624 without dependents, or up to $842 with the maximum dependency allowance. Your total payout is 20 times your weekly benefit, plus one extra week of benefits for each qualifying week you worked beyond 20 — which is how duration lands between 20 and 26 weeks.
One note on our estimate: we approximate your average weekly wage as your annual pay divided by 52. Ohio uses its own definition based on your base period wages, so your actual amount may differ somewhat from our number.
Dependents: $1-$218 depending on AWW and dependents
Do you qualify in Ohio?
To qualify on wages, you need at least 20 weeks of work in your base period, with average weekly wages of at least 27.5% of the state's average weekly wage — a dollar threshold Ohio updates each year. Your wages also need to be spread across at least two quarters.
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: 20 x WBA + 1 x WBA for each qualifying week over 20.