Pennsylvania Unemployment Calculator
Figure basis: Official U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment InsuranceThis calculator estimates your Pennsylvania unemployment insurance (UI) weekly benefit for 2026. Enter your usual gross weekly pay to see an estimated weekly benefit, alongside the official Pennsylvania minimum ($68) and maximum ($605) weekly benefit amounts and the 18 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 Pennsylvania, the weekly unemployment benefit ranges from $68 to $605, payable for 18 to 26 weeks (up to $15,730 in total). On $1,000 a week, the estimated benefit is about $500.00 per week.
How Pennsylvania unemployment benefits work
Pennsylvania 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 $68 and a maximum of $605 (up to $613 with the maximum dependents' allowance), and is payable for 18 to 26 weeks.
estimated weekly benefit = min(max(weekly wage x 50%, $68), $605)
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.
Pennsylvania unemployment figures (2026)
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum weekly benefit | $68 | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
| Maximum weekly benefit | $605 | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
| Maximum with dependents' allowance | $613 | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
| Weeks payable | 18 to 26 weeks | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
Pennsylvania's dependent allowance is small, but credit weeks set your duration
Pennsylvania keeps a dependent allowance, but unlike Ohio's, it is modest: $5 a week for one dependent and $3 for a second, capped at $8. That is why the maximum on this page reads $605 for most claimants and $613 at the very top. The allowance only applies to a spouse or child you actually support, and it will not turn a mid-range benefit into the maximum, so do not overestimate its effect on your weekly check.
The figure that quietly does the heavy lifting in Pennsylvania is credit weeks. Your weekly benefit is roughly half of your full-time weekly wage, floored at $68 and capped at $605, but how many weeks you can collect (from 18 up to 26) depends on the number of credit weeks in your base period, each being a week in which you earned at least a set qualifying amount. Fewer credit weeks means a shorter claim even if your weekly rate is high.
A common misstep is assuming the full 26 weeks are automatic. They are not: you generally need 18 or more credit weeks to reach the top of the duration range, and workers with seasonal or part-year histories often land in the 18 to 24 week band. The estimate here multiplies your weekly amount by 26, so treat the total as a best case and verify your credit weeks with the Pennsylvania agency.
Pennsylvania unemployment: frequently asked questions
What is the maximum unemployment benefit in Pennsylvania for 2026?
The maximum weekly benefit amount in Pennsylvania is $605 for 2026 (up to $613 with the maximum dependents' allowance). The minimum is $68. Over the maximum 26 weeks, that is up to $15,730 in total benefits.
How many weeks of unemployment can I get in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania pays benefits for 18 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 Pennsylvania?
Your weekly benefit is roughly half your usual gross weekly pay, subject to the Pennsylvania minimum of $68 and maximum of $605. For example, on $1,000 a week the estimate is about $500.00. This is an estimate; Pennsylvania 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
- Pennsylvania 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.