Wisconsin Unemployment Calculator
Compute your 2026 Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Weekly Benefit Rate (4% of your highest base-period quarter, from $54 minimum to $370/week maximum), check the 4× outside-high-quarter and 35× total base-period eligibility rules, and calculate partial benefits under the $20 disregard + 67% offset and $500/32-hour cliff.
2026 Wisconsin DWD Weekly Benefit Rate (WBR) calculator
Unemployment in Wisconsin: 2026 DWD Formula ($54–$370 Max WBR)
| Wisconsin UI rule | 2026 DWD statutory figure |
|---|---|
| Weekly Benefit Rate (WBR) | 4.0% of highest base-period quarter ($54/wk min at $1,350 HQ; $370/wk max at $9,250+ HQ) |
| Total base-period wage requirement | At least 35 × WBR across the 4-quarter base period ($1,890 min; $12,950 for $370 max) |
| Outside-high-quarter requirement | At least 4 × WBR earned in the 3 quarters outside your highest quarter |
| Maximum Benefit Amount (MBA) | Lesser of 26 × WBR ($9,620 max) or 40% of total base-period wages |
| Partial benefit formula & hard cliffs | WBR − ((Weekly Gross − $20) × 67%); $0 paid if weekly gross > $500 or hours ≥ 32 |
Unemployment Benefits Wisconsin: $20 Disregard, 67% Offset & $500 Cliff
Wisconsin DWD disregards the first $20 of weekly part-time earnings and reduces your Weekly Benefit Rate by 67 cents for every dollar above $20 (rounded down to the next whole dollar, with a $5 minimum payment). However, Wisconsin enforces two strict statutory cliffs: if you earn more than $500.00 gross in a single week OR work/receive holiday/vacation/sick pay for 32 or more hours in a week, your Wisconsin unemployment payment for that week drops to $0.
Unemployment Compensation Wisconsin: Worked Example & Partial UI Math
A Wisconsin worker earned $9,500, $10,000, $9,000, and $9,500 ($38,000 total base wages). Because their highest quarter ($10,000) exceeds $9,250, 4% of $10,000 ($400) caps at the $370/week Wisconsin maximum WBR. Their total base wages ($38,000) exceed 35 × $370 ($12,950) and their outside-high-quarter wages ($28,000) exceed 4 × $370 ($1,480), giving them the full $9,620 Maximum Benefit Amount (26 weeks).
Common questions
What is the maximum unemployment benefit in Wisconsin in 2026?
The maximum Weekly Benefit Rate in Wisconsin is $370 per week (reached when your highest base-period quarter is at least $9,250), and the maximum total payout over 26 weeks is $9,620.
How is partial unemployment calculated in Wisconsin?
Subtract $20 from your gross weekly part-time wages, multiply the remainder by 67% (0.67), and subtract that result from your Weekly Benefit Rate. However, if you earn over $500 gross or work 32 or more hours in that week, you receive $0.
How much do I need to earn to qualify for the $370 maximum in Wisconsin?
You need at least $9,250 in your single highest quarter ($9,250 × 4% = $370), at least $1,480 across the other three quarters (4 × $370), and at least $12,950 in total base-period wages (35 × $370) to qualify for $370/week, or $24,050 in total base wages to receive the full 26 weeks ($9,620 ÷ 0.40).
Sources
- Wisconsin Dept. of Workforce Development (DWD): Qualifying Wages & 4% Formula
- Wisconsin DWD Unemployment Insurance Division Official Rules
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General information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Check important numbers with the official source before acting on them.