Your benefit year

Learn all about your benefit year, including when it starts how long it lasts and how long it lasts.

Your benefit year is the 52-week period when you may qualify to receive unemployment benefits on your claim. It usually begins the Sunday of the week you first apply for benefits.

Learn more about how to apply for unemployment benefits, or see how you can estimate your benefit.

Benefits in your benefit year

  • You can usually get up to 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits during your benefit year.
  • If you have benefits left over when your benefit year ends, they do not transfer or roll over into the new benefit year.
  • If you use up all of your benefits in your benefit year, you need to wait until your benefit year ends before you can apply for benefits again.
  • If you worked in another state, you might qualify for benefits there and should apply with that state's unemployment agency.

What to do when you reach the end of your benefit year

If you still need unemployment benefits, you can reapply once your benefit year ends. The best and fastest way to apply for unemployment benefits is online.