Montana Unemployment Calculator
Figure basis: Official U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment InsuranceThis calculator estimates your Montana unemployment insurance (UI) weekly benefit for 2026. Enter your usual gross weekly pay to see an estimated weekly benefit, alongside the official Montana minimum ($227) and maximum ($767) weekly benefit amounts and the 8 to 24 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 Montana, the weekly unemployment benefit ranges from $227 to $767, payable for 8 to 24 weeks (up to $18,408 in total). On $1,000 a week, the estimated benefit is about $500.00 per week.
How Montana unemployment benefits work
Montana 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 $227 and a maximum of $767, and is payable for 8 to 24 weeks.
estimated weekly benefit = min(max(weekly wage x 50%, $227), $767)
estimated maximum total = estimated weekly benefit x 24 weeks
The 50% figure is an approximation of the common state formula; your state agency sets the exact WBA from your wage records.
Montana unemployment figures (2026)
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum weekly benefit | $227 | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
| Maximum weekly benefit | $767 | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
| Weeks payable | 8 to 24 weeks | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
Montana's high ceiling sets it apart from the plains
Montana is the outlier of this group at the top end: its maximum weekly benefit of $767 is more than three times Mississippi's ceiling and comfortably above what most neighboring states pay. Montana indexes that maximum to its average weekly wage, so the number climbs most years, and it also sets a relatively high floor of $227. Low earners and high earners alike therefore start from a stronger position here than in much of the country.
Duration is where Montana gets less generous. Benefits run from as few as 8 weeks up to 24, short of the 26-week standard, and the exact number is calculated rather than fixed: Montana divides your total base-period benefit entitlement by your weekly amount, so a claimant with uneven quarterly earnings can end up with fewer weeks even at a healthy weekly rate. The 24-week ceiling means a full claim is capped below what states like Maine or Mississippi allow.
Because Montana computes both the weekly amount and the number of weeks from your actual wage record, the flat 50% estimate on this page is only a starting point. A worker near the top of the wage scale will hit the $767 cap, while someone with concentrated high-quarter earnings may see a weekly figure the simple half-pay rule does not predict. Treat the sourced minimum, maximum, and week range as firm and let the state finalize the rest.
Montana unemployment: frequently asked questions
What is the maximum unemployment benefit in Montana for 2026?
The maximum weekly benefit amount in Montana is $767 for 2026. The minimum is $227. Over the maximum 24 weeks, that is up to $18,408 in total benefits.
How many weeks of unemployment can I get in Montana?
Montana pays benefits for 8 to 24 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 Montana?
Your weekly benefit is roughly half your usual gross weekly pay, subject to the Montana minimum of $227 and maximum of $767. For example, on $1,000 a week the estimate is about $500.00. This is an estimate; Montana 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
- Montana 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.