How Much Does Wisconsin Unemployment Pay?

Unemployment insurance programs provide temporary financial support for eligible workers who experience job loss. These state-administered programs, funded through employer contributions, offer a partial replacement of wages to help individuals maintain economic stability while seeking new employment. The specific rules for eligibility, benefit calculation, and duration vary significantly by state, reflecting each state’s unique economic conditions and statutory frameworks. Understanding these parameters is important for anyone navigating a period of unemployment.

Eligibility for Benefits

To qualify for unemployment benefits, individuals must meet specific criteria related to their past employment and current availability for work. A primary requirement is that an individual must be unemployed through no fault of their own. This means being laid off due to lack of work, rather than being terminated for misconduct or voluntarily quitting without a compelling reason.

Applicants must also demonstrate a sufficient work history and earnings during a defined “base period.” In Wisconsin, the standard base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before a claim is filed. Wages must have been earned in at least two quarters of this base period, and total earnings must meet minimum thresholds. Claimants must be physically and mentally able to work, available to accept suitable employment, and actively seeking new work. Failing to search for work or refusing suitable job offers can lead to disqualification.

Determining Your Weekly Benefit Amount

The weekly unemployment benefit amount in Wisconsin is determined by an individual’s earnings during their base period. The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) calculates the weekly benefit based on wages earned in the “high quarter” of the base period. The high quarter refers to the calendar quarter (January-March, April-June, July-September, or October-December) within the base period when the claimant earned the most wages.

To calculate the weekly benefit rate, Wisconsin uses a formula where the amount is 4% of the total covered wages earned in the highest-paid quarter. For example, if an individual earned $9,000 in their high quarter, their weekly benefit would be $360. This calculated amount is subject to a minimum and a maximum. The minimum weekly benefit rate is $54, requiring high quarter earnings of at least $1,350.

For 2025, the maximum weekly benefit amount is $370. This means the weekly benefit is capped at $370, even if 4% of high quarter wages calculates to a higher amount. To receive the maximum weekly benefit, an individual needs to have earned at least $9,250 in their high quarter.

Additional wage requirements must be met across the entire base period. Total base period wages must equal at least 35 times the calculated weekly benefit rate. Wages earned outside the high quarter must amount to at least four times the weekly benefit rate. These requirements ensure a substantial work history across the entire base period, not just in the highest earning quarter.

Additional Payments and Deductions

Wisconsin’s unemployment insurance program does not provide additional allowances for dependents. Federal and state income taxes can be withheld from unemployment benefits if requested by the claimant. Claimants can elect to have 10% withheld for federal taxes and 5% for state taxes.

Income earned from part-time work while receiving benefits will reduce the weekly payment. When reporting income, such as wages from partial employment or other payments like holiday or severance pay, a specific formula is applied. Under this partial wage formula, $30 is first subtracted from the gross income earned in a week. The remaining amount is then multiplied by 67%, and this product is subtracted from the calculated weekly benefit rate. The final result is rounded down to the nearest whole dollar, and no payment is made if the calculated amount is less than $5. Severance pay, if allocated on a weekly basis, may reduce or delay unemployment payments. Certain retirement payments can lead to a reduction in benefits, particularly if a base period employer contributed to the retirement system.

Benefit Duration and Total Maximums

In Wisconsin, unemployment benefits are available for a maximum duration. Eligible individuals can receive benefits for up to 26 weeks. There is also a total maximum benefit amount (MBA) that can be received over a 52-week “benefit year.” The benefit year begins the week an initial claim application is filed.

The total maximum benefit amount is determined as the lesser of 26 times the weekly benefit rate or 40% of the total base period wages from all covered employment. This total amount functions like an account balance; as weekly benefits are paid, they are subtracted from this maximum. Once the maximum benefit amount is exhausted, no further regular unemployment benefits can be paid within that benefit year, even if the 26-week period has not been fully utilized.