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Kansas Unemployment Benefits Calculator (2026)

Under K.S.A. § 44‑704, the Kansas Department of Labor sets the weekly unemployment benefit at 4.25% of your highest‑earning base‑period quarter, with a floor of $165 and a ceiling of $663, payable for up to 16 weeks.

Reviewed 2026-09-02 · Estimates only — not legal or financial advice.

The 3-month calendar quarter of your base period in which you earned the most, before taxes.
The law behind this calculator: Kansas Department of Labor — unemployment insurance — K.S.A. § 44-704; Kansas Register (SFY 2027).

How Kansas calculates it

  • Identify the claimant’s highest‑earning base‑period quarter.
  • Divide that quarter’s total wages by 23.53.
  • If the result is below $165, use $165; if it exceeds $663, use $663.
  • The final figure is the weekly benefit amount.
  • Benefits are payable for up to 16 weeks under current low‑unemployment conditions (up to 26 weeks if unemployment rises).

Worked example

Highest quarter wages of $12,500: $12,500 ÷ 23.53 = $531, which is within the $165–$663 bounds, so the weekly benefit is $531 for up to 16 weeks ($8,496 total if fully drawn).

Frequently asked questions

What are the eligibility requirements for Kansas unemployment benefits?

You must have earned wages during the base period and be unemployed through no fault of your own; the Kansas Department of Labor then applies the statutory formula.

Are Kansas unemployment benefits subject to state income tax?

Unemployment compensation is taxable for federal purposes and Kansas treats it as ordinary income for state tax, so it appears on your Kansas tax return.

When does the first weekly payment arrive after I file a claim?

Kansas imposes a one‑week waiting period, so the first benefit check is issued after the initial week of unemployment following a successful claim filing.

What happens if my calculated weekly benefit is below the $165 minimum?

The benefit is raised to the statutory minimum of $165 per week; Kansas does not pay a reduced amount below that floor.

How does the benefit duration change if unemployment rates rise?

The standard duration is 16 weeks, but during periods of high unemployment the maximum can be extended to 26 weeks under federal extensions.

Is the calculation different in Wichita, Overland Park or Kansas City?

No. Benefits are set by the Kansas Department of Labor under one statewide formula, so a claim filed from Wichita, Overland Park, Kansas City is computed exactly like one from anywhere else in Kansas. Only your wages — not your city or county — change the result.

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