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Mississippi Unemployment Benefits Calculator (2026)

Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES) administers unemployment compensation under Miss. Code § 71‑5‑503, which sets the weekly benefit at the claimant’s highest‑earning base‑period quarter wages divided by 26, never dropping below $30 or rising above $235. That $235 ceiling is the nation’s lowest and has been unchanged since 2004, so anyone earning roughly $6,110 in their best quarter hits the same cap.

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: Mississippi Department of Employment Security — Miss. Code § 71-5-503; MDES.

How Mississippi calculates it

  • Identify the wages earned in the claimant’s highest‑earning quarter of the base period.
  • Divide that quarterly wage amount by 26 to get a preliminary weekly benefit.
  • If the result is less than $30, raise it to the $30 minimum; if it exceeds $235, lower it to the $235 maximum.
  • The final weekly benefit is payable for up to 26 weeks.

Worked example

With highest quarter wages of $5,000, you divide $5,000 by 26 to get $192. That figure falls within the $30–$235 range, so the weekly benefit is $192 for up to 26 weeks, yielding a total of $4,992 if the full benefit period is drawn.

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum weekly unemployment benefit in Mississippi?

The maximum weekly benefit is $235, the lowest cap of any state and unchanged since 2004.

How many weeks of benefits can I receive?

Benefits are payable for up to 26 weeks per claim.

How is my weekly benefit amount calculated?

Take the wages you earned in your highest‑earning base‑period quarter, divide that amount by 26, then adjust the result to fall between the $30 minimum and the $235 maximum.

Has the weekly maximum changed recently?

No. Mississippi’s $235 maximum has remained the same since 2004.

What happens if my highest quarter wages exceed the amount that triggers the cap?

If your highest quarter wages are above about $6,110, the division by 26 will produce a figure above $235, so your weekly benefit is limited to the $235 maximum.

Is the calculation different in Jackson, Gulfport or Southaven?

No. Benefits are set by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security under one statewide formula, so a claim filed from Jackson, Gulfport, Southaven is computed exactly like one from anywhere else in Mississippi. Only your wages — not your city or county — change the result.

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