Ohio Unemployment Calculator
Figure basis: Official U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment InsuranceThis calculator estimates your Ohio unemployment insurance (UI) weekly benefit for 2026. Enter your usual gross weekly pay to see an estimated weekly benefit, alongside the official Ohio minimum ($176) and maximum ($624) weekly benefit amounts and the 20 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 Ohio, the weekly unemployment benefit ranges from $176 to $624, payable for 20 to 26 weeks (up to $16,224 in total). On $1,000 a week, the estimated benefit is about $500.00 per week.
How Ohio unemployment benefits work
Ohio 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 $176 and a maximum of $624 (up to $842 with the maximum dependents' allowance), and is payable for 20 to 26 weeks.
estimated weekly benefit = min(max(weekly wage x 50%, $176), $624)
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.
Ohio unemployment figures (2026)
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum weekly benefit | $176 | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
| Maximum weekly benefit | $624 | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
| Maximum with dependents' allowance | $842 | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
| Weeks payable | 20 to 26 weeks | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
Ohio's dependency allowance can lift the cap by more than $200
Ohio is one of the few states that still pays a dependency allowance, and it moves the headline number more than most people expect. The base maximum weekly benefit is $624 for a claimant with no dependents, but a worker in the top dependency class (three or more dependents, with wages high enough to reach it) can draw up to $842 per week. That is a spread of $218, and your dependency class is set at the start of your benefit year, so listing every qualifying dependent when you first file is not a formality.
The weekly benefit itself is roughly half of your average weekly wage during the base period (the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters), floored at $176 and capped by your dependency class. Duration is not a flat 26 weeks either: Ohio scales payable weeks from 20 to 26 based on how many qualifying weeks of covered work you had, so a shorter work history can mean a shorter claim even at the same weekly rate.
Two things trip people up here. First, the $842 figure is not available to everyone; it requires both dependents and wages high enough to reach it. Second, the estimate on this page uses a flat 50% replacement clamped to the $176 to $624 range, so it deliberately ignores the dependency uplift. Treat the tool as a starting point and confirm your class with the Ohio agency.
Ohio unemployment: frequently asked questions
What is the maximum unemployment benefit in Ohio for 2026?
The maximum weekly benefit amount in Ohio is $624 for 2026 (up to $842 with the maximum dependents' allowance). The minimum is $176. Over the maximum 26 weeks, that is up to $16,224 in total benefits.
How many weeks of unemployment can I get in Ohio?
Ohio pays benefits for 20 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 Ohio?
Your weekly benefit is roughly half your usual gross weekly pay, subject to the Ohio minimum of $176 and maximum of $624. For example, on $1,000 a week the estimate is about $500.00. This is an estimate; Ohio 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
- Ohio 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.