Mississippi Unemployment Calculator
Figure basis: Official U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment InsuranceThis calculator estimates your Mississippi unemployment insurance (UI) weekly benefit for 2026. Enter your usual gross weekly pay to see an estimated weekly benefit, alongside the official Mississippi minimum ($30) and maximum ($235) weekly benefit amounts and the 13 to 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 Mississippi, the weekly unemployment benefit ranges from $30 to $235, payable for 13 to 26 weeks (up to $6,110 in total). On $1,000 a week, the estimated benefit is about $235.00 per week.
How Mississippi unemployment benefits work
Mississippi 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 $30 and a maximum of $235, and is payable for 13 to 26 weeks.
estimated weekly benefit = min(max(weekly wage x 50%, $30), $235)
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.
Mississippi unemployment figures (2026)
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum weekly benefit | $30 | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
| Maximum weekly benefit | $235 | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
| Weeks payable | 13 to 26 weeks | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
Why Mississippi's ceiling is the lowest in the nation
Mississippi pays the lowest maximum weekly unemployment benefit of any state in the country: $235. No other state ceiling comes close to being this modest, and it has stayed there for years because Mississippi does not index the maximum to wage growth. For a worker who earned $1,000 a week before losing a job, that $235 cap replaces less than a quarter of prior pay, so the 50% estimate this tool shows will overstate the real award for almost everyone above minimum-wage earnings.
The floor is $30 a week, also near the national bottom, while duration is comparatively generous at up to 26 weeks (starting from 13). That combination is unusual: Mississippi offers a longer runway than benefit-cutting states like North Carolina or Missouri, but a much smaller weekly check, so the total value of a full claim still lands low. Over a maximum 26-week claim at the ceiling, the payout tops out around $6,110.
The practical takeaway is to plan around the fixed $235 maximum rather than the half-pay estimate. Most claimants who earned a typical full-time wage will be capped, which actually makes your weekly figure easier to predict here than in states with indexed ceilings. Confirm your exact amount with the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, but expect the cap to do most of the work.
Mississippi unemployment: frequently asked questions
What is the maximum unemployment benefit in Mississippi for 2026?
The maximum weekly benefit amount in Mississippi is $235 for 2026. The minimum is $30. Over the maximum 26 weeks, that is up to $6,110 in total benefits.
How many weeks of unemployment can I get in Mississippi?
Mississippi pays benefits for 13 to 26 weeks; the exact number depends on your base-period wages and, in some states, the state unemployment rate.
How much unemployment will I get in Mississippi?
Your weekly benefit is roughly half your usual gross weekly pay, subject to the Mississippi minimum of $30 and maximum of $235. For example, on $1,000 a week the estimate is about $235.00. This is an estimate; Mississippi 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
- Mississippi 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.