Determine your state’s unemployment insurance rules and benefit formula
Find your base period wages, usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters
Add up your earnings during the base period
Identify the highest-paid quarter in the base period
Apply your state’s calculation method to the highest-paid quarter or total base period wages
Compute the weekly benefit amount using the state’s percentage and maximum limits
Check the state minimum and maximum weekly benefit amounts
Multiply the weekly benefit amount by the number of eligible weeks to estimate total benefits
Subtract any required deductions, such as part-time earnings or severance, if applicable
Verify eligibility requirements for each week claimed
Confirm the final amount with your state unemployment agency or online benefits calculator