Connecticut Unemployment Calculator
Figure basis: Official U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment InsuranceThis calculator estimates your Connecticut unemployment insurance (UI) weekly benefit for 2026. Enter your usual gross weekly pay to see an estimated weekly benefit, alongside the official Connecticut minimum ($44) and maximum ($721) weekly benefit amounts and the 26 weeks of benefits payable. The weekly amount is an estimate: it uses about 50% wage replacement (which matches the common "one twenty-sixth of high-quarter wages" rule) and is capped at the state minimum and maximum. Your state agency sets the exact figure from your base-period wage history, and eligibility rules apply. The minimum, maximum, and number of weeks are the official 2026 figures, sourced from U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance.
In Connecticut, the weekly unemployment benefit ranges from $44 to $721, payable for 26 weeks (up to $18,746 in total). On $1,000 a week, the estimated benefit is about $500.00 per week.
How Connecticut unemployment benefits work
Connecticut pays a weekly benefit amount (WBA) based on your earnings during the base period (usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters). The WBA is subject to a state minimum of $44 and a maximum of $721 (up to $796 with the maximum dependents' allowance), and is payable for 26 weeks.
estimated weekly benefit = min(max(weekly wage x 50%, $44), $721)
estimated maximum total = estimated weekly benefit x 26 weeks
The 50% figure is an approximation of the common state formula; your state agency sets the exact WBA from your wage records.
Connecticut unemployment figures (2026)
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum weekly benefit | $44 | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
| Maximum weekly benefit | $721 | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
| Maximum with dependents' allowance | $796 | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
| Weeks payable | 26 weeks | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
Editor's insight: Connecticut's new indexing and its dependency bonus
Connecticut recently changed how it sets the top of its unemployment scale. After years with a frozen maximum, the state began indexing the ceiling to wage growth in late 2024, which is why the current maximum weekly benefit sits high at $721. That base figure is not the whole story, though: Connecticut adds a dependency allowance of $15 for each dependent, up to five, lifting the practical maximum to $796 for a claimant supporting a full household.
Connecticut is also one of a shrinking number of states that still guarantees a uniform 26 weeks of benefits to everyone who qualifies, rather than sliding the week count up and down with the unemployment rate the way Arkansas or Alabama do. That combination, a high indexed ceiling plus a full 26-week term, makes Connecticut one of the stronger programs in the country for a laid-off worker.
The minimum weekly benefit is $44, and your actual amount is built from your base-period wages, so the 50% estimate here is only a guide. If you have dependents, remember to claim the allowance separately, because it is added on top of the base benefit. The Connecticut Department of Labor confirms your official weekly figure and applies the dependency amount once you document each dependent.
Connecticut unemployment: frequently asked questions
What is the maximum unemployment benefit in Connecticut for 2026?
The maximum weekly benefit amount in Connecticut is $721 for 2026 (up to $796 with the maximum dependents' allowance). The minimum is $44. Over the maximum 26 weeks, that is up to $18,746 in total benefits.
How many weeks of unemployment can I get in Connecticut?
Connecticut pays benefits for a uniform 26 weeks.
How much unemployment will I get in Connecticut?
Your weekly benefit is roughly half your usual gross weekly pay, subject to the Connecticut minimum of $44 and maximum of $721. For example, on $1,000 a week the estimate is about $500.00. This is an estimate; Connecticut sets your exact amount from your base-period wage history.
Is this the exact unemployment amount I will receive?
No. The minimum, maximum, and weeks shown are the official 2026 figures, but the weekly amount here is an estimate (about 50% wage replacement, which matches the common "one twenty-sixth of high-quarter wages" rule). Your state agency computes the exact figure from your reported wages, and eligibility rules apply.
Official sources
- Connecticut unemployment weekly benefit and duration (tax year 2026): U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance, as at Jul 15, 2026.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 15 July 2026. See our methodology. General information, not legal or financial advice; file your claim with your state agency.