Mississippi Unemployment Calculator: WBA, Eligibility & Duration

What Is the Mississippi Unemployment Calculator?

The Mississippi unemployment calculator is an online benefits estimator. By entering your claim start date and your wages for the last four quarters, the calculator provides:

• Estimated Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA): The amount you may receive each week.
• Estimated Maximum Benefit Amount: The total benefits you may receive for the claim period.
• Estimated Duration: The number of weeks you may be eligible to receive payments.

Important: This is only an estimate. Your actual benefits are determined by MDES after you officially file a claim.

How the Calculator Works

The calculator uses Mississippi’s state unemployment rules to estimate benefits. Here’s the breakdown:

1. Base Period:
   • The base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim.
   • For example, if you filed in September 2025, your base period would cover April 2024 – March 2025.
2. Quarterly Wages:
   • You must enter your earnings for each of the four quarters in the base period.
   • The calculator updates the labels (Quarter 1, Quarter 2, etc.) to match your claim date so you know exactly which months apply.
3. Eligibility Rules:
   • You must have earned wages in at least two different quarters.
   • Your highest quarter wages must be at least $780.
   • Your total wages in the base period must be at least 40 times your weekly benefit amount (WBA).
4. Benefit Calculation:
   • Your WBA is roughly your highest quarter wages divided by 26, with a minimum of $30 and a maximum of $235 per week.
   • Your maximum benefit amount is capped at the lower of 26 times your WBA or one-third of your total wages.
   • Your duration is calculated by dividing the maximum benefit by the weekly benefit.

Step-by-Step: How to Use the Mississippi Unemployment Calculator

1. Enter Your Claim Start Date
   • Select the date you expect to file.
   • The calculator automatically adjusts the base period quarters.
2. Input Your Wages for Each Quarter
   • Add your earnings for Quarter 1, Quarter 2, Quarter 3, and Quarter 4.
   • If you had no earnings in a quarter, leave it blank or enter 0.
3. Click “Calculate Estimate”
   • The tool will instantly display:
     • Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA)
     • Total Maximum Benefit
     • Estimated Duration
4. Review the Disclaimer
   • Remember, this is not a guarantee. MDES makes the official determination after reviewing your full work history and wages.

Example Scenario

Let’s say you earned the following wages:

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

The calculator would:

• Find your highest quarter ($3,000).
• Divide by 26 → about $115 per week.
• Apply Mississippi’s minimum/maximum limits (still within range).
• Estimate your maximum benefit amount at about one-third of your total wages, capped at 26 weeks.

So, you might see:

• Weekly Benefit: ~$115
• Total Benefit: ~$3,450
• Duration: ~30 weeks (depending on total wage base).

Why Use the Mississippi Unemployment Calculator?

Using this tool gives you:

• Clarity – You’ll know if you’re likely eligible before applying.
• Financial Planning – Helps you budget during a job search.
• Confidence – Reduces surprises when MDES processes your claim.

Key Takeaways

• The Mississippi Unemployment Calculator is a free, easy-to-use estimator.
• You’ll need your claim date and your last four quarters of wages.
• Weekly benefits in Mississippi range from $30 to $235.
• Eligibility depends on wage requirements across multiple quarters.
• Official approval and amounts are decided by MDES, not the calculator.