Missouri Unemployment Calculator
Figure basis: Official U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment InsuranceThis calculator estimates your Missouri unemployment insurance (UI) weekly benefit for 2026. Enter your usual gross weekly pay to see an estimated weekly benefit, alongside the official Missouri minimum ($35) and maximum ($320) weekly benefit amounts and the 8 to 20 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 Missouri, the weekly unemployment benefit ranges from $35 to $320, payable for 8 to 20 weeks (up to $6,400 in total). On $1,000 a week, the estimated benefit is about $320.00 per week.
How Missouri unemployment benefits work
Missouri 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 $35 and a maximum of $320, and is payable for 8 to 20 weeks.
estimated weekly benefit = min(max(weekly wage x 50%, $35), $320)
estimated maximum total = estimated weekly benefit x 20 weeks
The 50% figure is an approximation of the common state formula; your state agency sets the exact WBA from your wage records.
Missouri unemployment figures (2026)
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum weekly benefit | $35 | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
| Maximum weekly benefit | $320 | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
| Weeks payable | 8 to 20 weeks | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
Missouri ties how long you get paid to the jobless rate
Missouri stands out for pairing one of the lowest maximums in the country, $320 a week, with one of the shortest and most variable durations. Benefits run from just 8 weeks up to 20, and that ceiling is not a matter of your own earnings alone: Missouri tied maximum duration to the statewide unemployment rate, so the calendar you qualify for shrinks when the job market is strong. In good times a claimant can be limited to well under half a year of support.
The minimum of $35 a week sits near the national floor, and the $320 maximum has held flat for years because Missouri does not index it to average wages the way many states do. A worker earning $1,000 a week here hits the cap almost immediately, so the tool's 50% estimate will overstate the award for most middle-income filers. The gap between estimated half-pay and the real $320 ceiling is the single most important thing to understand before planning around these numbers.
Because duration floats with the economy, the 8 to 20 week range shown below should be treated as the current setting rather than a permanent guarantee. Confirm both your weekly amount and your available weeks with the state when you file, since a change in the published unemployment rate can move the duration between one claim and the next.
Missouri unemployment: frequently asked questions
What is the maximum unemployment benefit in Missouri for 2026?
The maximum weekly benefit amount in Missouri is $320 for 2026. The minimum is $35. Over the maximum 20 weeks, that is up to $6,400 in total benefits.
How many weeks of unemployment can I get in Missouri?
Missouri pays benefits for 8 to 20 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 Missouri?
Your weekly benefit is roughly half your usual gross weekly pay, subject to the Missouri minimum of $35 and maximum of $320. For example, on $1,000 a week the estimate is about $320.00. This is an estimate; Missouri 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
- Missouri 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.