California Unemployment Calculator
As of October 19, 2026, regular California unemployment pays $40 to $450 a week for 14 to 26 weeks. Enter your wages for the four quarters of your base period to estimate your weekly benefit, your maximum total benefit and which rule capped it.
Maintained by Archie Chang · Formulas and sources checked October 19, 2026 · Methodology & sources
Weekly benefit range (October 19, 2026)
$40 to $450
Effective January 2, 2005
Maximum weeks
14 to 26
Regular state benefits only
State income tax on benefits
Not taxed by the state
Federal income tax applies in every state
California unemployment benefit calculator
Which months are my four quarters?
The standard base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. The quarter you file in, and the one just before it, are left out. Enter the quarters in order, oldest first. Each quarter is three calendar months: January to March, April to June, July to September, October to December.
| If you file in | Your base period is |
|---|---|
| January to March 2026 | October 2024 to September 2025 |
| April to June 2026 | January to December 2025 |
| July to September 2026 | April 2025 to March 2026 |
| October to December 2026 | July 2025 to June 2026 |
Use gross wages (before taxes) from every covered job, in the quarter they were earned. If your wages are too low under this period, many states test an alternate base period made of the last four completed quarters.
Enter your wages above to see your California estimate.
The state also runs its own estimator: EDD unemployment benefit calculator.
How much does unemployment pay in California?
California does not use a percentage. EDD looks up your highest-paid base period quarter in the Unemployment Insurance Benefit Table for claims beginning January 2, 2005 or later.
High-quarter wages of $900.00 to $948.99 pay $40 a week. Above $1,872 each $26 band adds $1, and $11,674.01 or more pays the $450 maximum.
Only the highest quarter sets the weekly amount, so a single strong quarter can raise the benefit even when the other quarters are low.
The standard base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters. EDD checks the alternate base period (the last four completed quarters) only when the standard one does not give enough wages. Enter whichever four quarters apply to you.
California unemployment eligibility: the wage tests
These are the monetary tests only. California also decides whether you lost your job through no fault of your own and whether you are able and available to work.
- Highest quarter of at least $1,300, or
- highest quarter of at least $900 and total base period wages of at least 1.25 times the highest quarter.
Maximum weeks and maximum benefit amount
The maximum benefit amount is the lower of 26 times the weekly benefit amount and one-half of base period wages, so claims run from 14 to 26 weeks. The calculator rounds one-half of wages down to a whole dollar; the EDD pages reviewed do not state a rounding rule.
Working part time while collecting
If you earn $100 or less in a week, the first $25 is not counted against your benefit. At $101 or more, the first 25 percent of earnings is not counted. The rest is subtracted from the weekly benefit amount. Example from EDD: a $315 benefit and $200 of earnings pays $165.
Are California unemployment benefits taxable?
Unemployment benefits are taxable income on your federal return in every state. California does not tax unemployment benefits, and EDD says you do not report Form 1099-G on the California return. Benefits are taxable on your federal return.
How to apply in California
Apply online with myEDD. EDD sets your actual weekly amount from the wages employers report, and you certify for benefits every two weeks.
Apply for unemployment benefits at EDD
When this changes: The benefit table has been the same for claims since January 2, 2005, so there is no scheduled yearly change. Fixed in statute since 2005; no scheduled change.
Frequently asked questions
How much does unemployment pay in California?
Regular California unemployment pays between $40 and $450 a week as of October 19, 2026. Your amount depends on the wages you were paid in your base period. California does not use a percentage. EDD looks up your highest-paid base period quarter in the Unemployment Insurance Benefit Table for claims beginning January 2, 2005 or later.
How is the California weekly benefit amount calculated?
California does not use a percentage. EDD looks up your highest-paid base period quarter in the Unemployment Insurance Benefit Table for claims beginning January 2, 2005 or later. High-quarter wages of $900.00 to $948.99 pay $40 a week. Above $1,872 each $26 band adds $1, and $11,674.01 or more pays the $450 maximum. Only the highest quarter sets the weekly amount, so a single strong quarter can raise the benefit even when the other quarters are low.
How long can I collect unemployment in California?
The maximum benefit amount is the lower of 26 times the weekly benefit amount and one-half of base period wages, so claims run from 14 to 26 weeks. The calculator rounds one-half of wages down to a whole dollar; the EDD pages reviewed do not state a rounding rule.
Are unemployment benefits taxable in California?
California does not tax unemployment benefits, and EDD says you do not report Form 1099-G on the California return. Benefits are taxable on your federal return.
Can I work part time and still get California unemployment?
If you earn $100 or less in a week, the first $25 is not counted against your benefit. At $101 or more, the first 25 percent of earnings is not counted. The rest is subtracted from the weekly benefit amount. Example from EDD: a $315 benefit and $200 of earnings pays $165.
Is there a waiting week in California?
Yes. EDD says you must serve a one-week unpaid waiting period on your claim before getting paid. You still have to certify and meet all requirements for that week.
Sources for California
- EDD: Unemployment Insurance Benefit Table (DE 1101BT5)Weekly benefit table, every row reproduced in our tests
- EDD: How Unemployment Insurance Benefits Are Computed (DE 8714AB)Monetary requirements and base periods
- EDD: Unemployment eligibility requirements$40 to $450 range and waiting week
- EDD: FAQ on reporting work and wagesPartial-earnings rule and examples
- EDD: Form 1099-G tax informationFederal and California tax treatment
- U.S. DOL, Significant Provisions of State UI Laws (July 2026)Cross-check of minimum, maximum, weeks and the partial-benefit disregard
Sources checked October 19, 2026.