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Illinois Unemployment Weekly Benefit Calculator

Use this tool to estimate your Illinois unemployment weekly benefit based on your two highest‑earning quarters and any dependents.

Reviewed 2026-08-27 · Estimates only — not legal or financial advice.

Before taxes.
Before taxes.
A non-working spouse or a dependent child changes both the rate and the cap.
The law behind this calculator: Illinois Department of Employment Security — weekly benefit amount table — 820 ILCS 405/401; IDES table CLI110L.

How Illinois calculates it

  • Add the wages from your two highest‑earning quarters and divide the sum by 26 to get the average weekly wage.
  • Multiply the average weekly wage by the applicable rate: 47.0% if you have no dependents, 56.0% if you have a non‑working spouse, or 64.3% if you have a dependent child.
  • Apply the 2026 maximum weekly limits: $628 for the 47.0% rate, $748 for the 56.0% rate, and $859 for the 64.3% rate.
  • Only one allowance may be used—either the spouse or the child allowance, never both, and the child allowance always yields the higher benefit.
  • The resulting weekly benefit can be received for up to 26 weeks.

Worked example

Quarters of $13,000 and $12,000 with no dependents: average weekly wage = ($13,000 + $12,000) ÷ 26 = $962; × 47.0% = $452 — a weekly benefit of $452 for up to 26 weeks. The same wages with a dependent child would use 64.3% (up to $859).

Frequently asked questions

Who is eligible for Illinois unemployment benefits?

You must be unemployed through no fault of your own, have earned enough wages during the base period, and be able and available for work.

How are the two highest‑earning quarters determined?

Illinois looks at the wages you earned in each calendar quarter of your base period and selects the two quarters with the highest earnings.

What rate applies if I have both a non‑working spouse and a dependent child?

Illinois allows only one allowance; you must use either the spouse or the child rate, and the child rate (64.3%) always provides the higher benefit.

What is the maximum number of weeks I can receive benefits?

Benefits are payable for up to 26 weeks.

Do the 2026 maximum benefit amounts change each year?

The maximum weekly amounts listed ($628, $748, $859) apply to benefit years beginning on or after January 1, 2026; future years may have different limits.

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