Arizona Unemployment Calculator: WBA, Eligibility & Duration

What Is the Arizona Unemployment Calculator?

The Arizona Unemployment Calculator is an online estimator designed to calculate potential unemployment insurance (UI) benefits based on:

• Your claim start date
• Your wages from the last four quarters (three months each)

The calculator uses Arizona’s unemployment rules to figure out if you meet eligibility requirements, and if you do, it shows:

• Base Period Used (Standard or Alternate)
• Estimated Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA)
• Estimated Maximum Benefit Amount
• Estimated Duration of Benefits

Important: This is an estimate only. The Arizona DES makes the final decision after you file your claim.

How Does It Work?

The calculator looks at your wages from the past year to determine your benefits. Here’s the breakdown:

1. Claim Start Date
   The calculator uses your start date to figure out your base period. The base period is usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before your claim.
2. Quarterly Wages
   You’ll enter your wages for four quarters (three-month blocks). Example: January–March, April–June, etc.
3. Eligibility Rules
   To qualify in Arizona, you must:
   • Earn enough in your highest quarter (at least 390 times the state minimum wage).
   • Earn wages in the other three quarters equal to at least half of your highest quarter wages.
4. Weekly Benefit Calculation
   • Your Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA) is about 1/25 of your highest quarter wages.
   • The maximum weekly benefit in Arizona is $320.
5. Maximum Benefits & Duration
   • The most you can receive is either 26 weeks of payments or one-third of your total base period wages—whichever is lower.

Why Use the Arizona Unemployment Calculator?

Filing for unemployment can be stressful. The calculator gives you:

• Clarity – Know what to expect before filing.
• Confidence – Understand how Arizona calculates benefits.
• Planning Power – Estimate your weekly income so you can budget ahead.

Instead of guessing, you’ll have real numbers to guide your next steps.

Example Walkthrough

Let’s say you enter these wages:

• Quarter 1: $6,000
• Quarter 2: $6,500
• Quarter 3: $6,200
• Quarter 4: $6,800

Here’s what the calculator might show:

• Base Period Used: Standard
• Weekly Benefit Amount: $248 (rounded down, capped at $320 max)
• Total Benefit Amount: About $6,400
• Duration: 26 weeks

This gives you a realistic idea of what you could receive until you secure new work.

Limitations You Should Know

While the calculator is useful, it’s not the final word. A few things to keep in mind:

• Actual wages reported by employers may differ from what you enter.
• Arizona DES may adjust eligibility based on special rules.
• The maximum weekly benefit is capped at $320, even if your wages suggest more.

Always file your official claim to confirm your benefits.