StateTally

California Unemployment Benefits Calculator (2026 Weekly Amount)

California pays unemployment through the EDD, and your check is driven by one number: the wages in the highest-earning quarter of your base period. For most claimants the weekly benefit is about 1/26 of that quarter — roughly half your average weekly wage — but it stops hard at the state maximum of $450/week, a cap that hasn't moved in over a decade. This calculator gives you the estimate the EDD's own table would.

Reviewed 2026-08-27 · Estimates only — not legal or financial advice. · Ver esta página en español

The 3-month calendar quarter of your base period in which you earned the most, before taxes.
The law behind this calculator: California Employment Development Department — unemployment insurance — Cal. Unemp. Ins. Code § 1280; EDD benefit table.

How California calculates it

  • Your standard base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file.
  • The EDD looks up your highest quarter in its benefit table; for middle and higher earners this works out to about 1/26 of that quarter's wages (lower earners get closer to 55% of weekly pay).
  • The weekly amount is bounded at $40 minimum and $450 maximum.
  • Regular claims last up to 26 weeks of full benefits within a 52-week benefit year.
  • If you don't qualify under the standard base period, an alternate base period using more recent quarters can be applied.

Worked example

You earned $11,700 in your best quarter (about $46,800/year). $11,700 ÷ 26 = $450 — exactly at the cap, so your estimated check is $450/week for up to 26 weeks. Anyone earning more gets the same $450.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my California benefit capped at $450?

The Legislature has not raised the maximum weekly benefit since 2005, so anyone whose highest quarter tops about $11,700 hits the same $450 ceiling — one of the lowest effective replacement rates among large states.

Do I qualify if I was fired?

Being fired only disqualifies you if the employer proves misconduct — a deliberate violation of a reasonable workplace rule. Poor performance or being a bad fit generally does not block benefits.

Is there a waiting period?

Yes, one unpaid waiting week at the start of every claim, served after you file and certify.

Are the benefits taxable?

Federally yes; California does not tax unemployment compensation on your state return.

Can I receive benefits while working part-time?

Yes. The first $25 or 25% of your weekly earnings (whichever is more) is disregarded; the rest reduces that week's benefit. Reduced weeks stretch your claim's total duration.

Is the calculation different in Los Angeles, San Diego or San Francisco?

No. Benefits are set by the California Employment Development Department under one statewide formula, so a claim filed from Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco is computed exactly like one from anywhere else in California. Only your wages — not your city or county — change the result.

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StateTally. (2026). California Unemployment Calculator 2026: up to $450/week. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://statetally.com/unemployment/california/