Illinois Unemployment Calculator
Figure basis: Official U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment InsuranceThis calculator estimates your Illinois unemployment insurance (UI) weekly benefit for 2026. Enter your usual gross weekly pay to see an estimated weekly benefit, alongside the official Illinois minimum ($51) and maximum ($628) 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 Illinois, the weekly unemployment benefit ranges from $51 to $628, payable for 26 weeks (up to $16,328 in total). On $1,000 a week, the estimated benefit is about $500.00 per week.
How Illinois unemployment benefits work
Illinois 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 $51 and a maximum of $628 (up to $859 with the maximum dependents' allowance), and is payable for 26 weeks.
estimated weekly benefit = min(max(weekly wage x 50%, $51), $628)
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.
Illinois unemployment figures (2026)
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum weekly benefit | $51 | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
| Maximum weekly benefit | $628 | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
| Maximum with dependents' allowance | $859 | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
| Weeks payable | 26 weeks | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
Why Illinois shows two weekly maximums
Illinois is one of a shrinking group of states that still pays a dependent allowance, and it is why two maximums appear on this page. The base maximum weekly benefit is $628, but a claimant supporting a non-working spouse or dependent children can qualify for up to $859 a week. That gap of $231 is larger than the entire weekly maximum in several Southern states, so it is worth checking which household situation you fall into before assuming the $628 ceiling applies to you.
Illinois sets the underlying weekly benefit at a little under half (about 47%) of the average of your two highest base-period quarters, slightly below the flat 50% estimate this tool starts from, so treat the on-screen weekly figure as a ballpark rather than a promise. The $51 minimum is a true floor for very low base-period earnings; almost every full-time worker lands well above it.
Duration is the simple part: Illinois pays a uniform 26 weeks, unlike Kansas, Kentucky and Louisiana elsewhere on this list, which now flex their weeks with the statewide jobless rate. Over a full 26-week claim, the $628 base maximum is worth up to $16,328, and the $859 dependent maximum up to $22,334. File promptly, because your benefit year and base period are fixed from the week you open the claim, not the week you lost the job.
Illinois unemployment: frequently asked questions
What is the maximum unemployment benefit in Illinois for 2026?
The maximum weekly benefit amount in Illinois is $628 for 2026 (up to $859 with the maximum dependents' allowance). The minimum is $51. Over the maximum 26 weeks, that is up to $16,328 in total benefits.
How many weeks of unemployment can I get in Illinois?
Illinois pays benefits for a uniform 26 weeks.
How much unemployment will I get in Illinois?
Your weekly benefit is roughly half your usual gross weekly pay, subject to the Illinois minimum of $51 and maximum of $628. For example, on $1,000 a week the estimate is about $500.00. This is an estimate; Illinois 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
- Illinois 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.