Kentucky Unemployment Calculator: WBA, Eligibility & Duration

What Is the Kentucky Unemployment Calculator?

The Kentucky Unemployment Calculator is a free online tool designed to estimate your unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. By entering your claim start date and your wages from the last four quarters, the calculator applies Kentucky’s official formula to show:

• Your weekly benefit amount (WBA)
• Your maximum total benefit amount
• The duration of benefits (up to 26 weeks in most cases)
• Which base period was used (Standard or Alternate)

Important Note: The results are only an estimate. Your actual eligibility and benefits are determined by the Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance (OUI) when you file your claim.

How Does It Work?

The calculator uses Kentucky’s unemployment rules to figure out your benefits. Here’s a simplified breakdown of the steps:

1. Base Period Selection
   • Your “base period” is usually the first four of the last five completed quarters before your claim.
   • If you don’t qualify under the Standard Base Period, the calculator checks the Alternate Base Period, which uses a slightly different set of quarters.
2. Wage Entry
   • You enter your wages for each quarter (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4).
   • The calculator automatically adjusts the quarter labels based on your claim date.
3. Eligibility Check
   To qualify, you must:
   • Have wages in at least two quarters.
   • Earn at least $750 outside your highest quarter.
   • Have total wages equal to at least 1.5 times your highest quarter’s wages.
4. Benefit Calculation
   • Weekly Benefit = about 1.1923% of your total base period wages, capped between $39 and $665.
   • Maximum Benefits = up to 26 times your weekly benefit (or one-third of total wages, whichever is less).
   • Duration = calculated based on your wages and capped at 26 weeks.

Example Calculation

Let’s say your wages in the last four quarters were:

• Quarter 1: $5,000
• Quarter 2: $5,500
• Quarter 3: $5,200
• Quarter 4: $5,800

Here’s what happens:

• Total wages: $21,500
• High quarter wages: $5,800
• Total wages ÷ 1.5 × high quarter = passes eligibility check.
• Weekly benefit estimate: about $256/week
• Duration: up to 26 weeks
• Maximum benefit: about $6,656

This is exactly the type of estimate the calculator shows instantly.

Why Use the Kentucky Unemployment Calculator?

• Plan ahead – Know what to expect financially before filing.
• Save time – Get quick estimates without waiting for official processing.
• Check eligibility – Understand if you meet the wage requirements.
• Compare scenarios – Try different wage inputs if your income varied.

For anyone recently unemployed in Kentucky, this calculator removes a lot of the guesswork.

Using the Calculator Step-by-Step

1. Select your claim start date.
2. Enter your wages for the past four quarters.
3. Hit Calculate Estimate.
4. Review your estimated weekly benefit, total benefit amount, and duration.
5. If ineligible, the calculator may ask for wages from an additional quarter to test the Alternate Base Period.

If you need to start over, simply hit Reset.