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New Hampshire Unemployment Benefits Calculator (2026)

Under RSA 282-A:25, the New Hampshire Employment Security Department caps weekly unemployment compensation at $427 (minimum $32) and pays up to 26 weeks with no waiting week. The benefit is drawn from a statutory schedule that is roughly 1.03% of your total annual base‑period wages, topping out once earnings hit about $41,500—a maximum that hasn’t changed in over a decade.

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

Everything you earned in the base period (first four of the last five completed quarters), before taxes.
The law behind this calculator: New Hampshire Employment Security — unemployment compensation — RSA 282-A:25; NH Employment Security.

How New Hampshire calculates it

  • Determine your total annual base‑period wages.
  • Apply the statutory schedule: calculate roughly 1.03% of those wages.
  • If the result exceeds $427, cap the weekly benefit at $427; if it falls below $32, raise it to the $32 minimum.
  • Benefits are payable for up to 26 weeks and begin the week after your claim is approved, because New Hampshire has no waiting week.

Worked example

Total base-year earnings of $38,000: 1.03% × $38,000 = $391 — a weekly benefit of $391 for up to 26 weeks ($10,166 total if fully drawn).

Frequently asked questions

Who is eligible for unemployment benefits in New Hampshire?

You must have earned wages during the base period, be unemployed through no fault of your own, and be able and available to work while actively seeking employment.

Are unemployment benefits taxed in New Hampshire?

New Hampshire does not levy a state income tax on unemployment benefits, but the benefits are still subject to federal income tax.

Does New Hampshire require a waiting week before benefits start?

No. New Hampshire does not have a waiting week, so benefits can begin the week after your claim is approved.

What if my calculated weekly benefit falls below the minimum?

The statutory schedule sets a floor of $32 per week; any calculation below that amount is raised to the $32 minimum.

How long can I receive benefits and has the maximum changed recently?

Benefits are payable for up to 26 weeks, and the maximum weekly benefit of $427 has not changed in more than ten years.

Is the calculation different in Manchester, Nashua or Concord?

No. Benefits are set by the New Hampshire Employment Security under one statewide formula, so a claim filed from Manchester, Nashua, Concord is computed exactly like one from anywhere else in New Hampshire. Only your wages — not your city or county — change the result.

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