Category: Government Rebates and Payments

If you have kids under 17, here's the OBBBA update that matters to you: the Child Tax Credit just went up to $2,200 per child, permanently. That's $200 more per child than the 2017 TCJA rate, and the credit will now adjust for inflation annually — meaning it should keep…

Kansas' unemployment insurance program — managed by the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) — increased its maximum weekly benefit to $637 in 2026, up from $589 in 2025. Kansas sets its maximum based on the statewide average weekly wage, adjusted annually, so another increase for 2027 is likely — KDOL…

Yes — unemployment compensation is taxable income at the federal level, and in most states, at the state level too. It's reported on your tax return just like wages, and the IRS gets a copy of what you were paid. Here's how the withholding, the 1099-G form, and state-by-state tax…

Arkansas's unemployment insurance program — run by the Division of Workforce Services (DWS) — provides a relatively modest weekly maximum and limits benefits to just 16 weeks. The 2026 maximum ($451/week) is already locked in — the real open question is whether Arkansas revisits the 16-week duration cap, something legislators…

Minnesota's unemployment insurance program — managed by the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) — increased its maximum weekly benefit to $914 in 2026, up from $857 in 2025. Minnesota sets its maximum at 50% of the statewide average weekly wage, adjusted annually, so another increase for 2027 is…

Alabama's unemployment insurance program — managed by the Alabama Department of Labor (ADOL) — has the distinction of one of the lowest maximum weekly benefit caps in the United States. The 2026 maximum ($275 per week) is already locked in; the open question is whether ADOL adjusts it for 2027,…

Maryland unemployment insurance pays between $50 and $430 per week in 2026, with benefits available for up to 26 weeks. That cap hasn't changed in several years, but a law passed in the 2026 General Assembly session (SB 3) will tie Maryland's maximum benefit to 40% of the state average…

Virginia's unemployment insurance program — managed by the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) — is about to get a meaningful boost. For 2026, the current maximum is $430 per week, but that jumps to $478 per week for new claims starting July 5, 2026 thanks to legislation passed earlier this year.…

North Carolina's unemployment insurance program, run by the Division of Employment Security (DES), is one of the most restrictive in the United States. The state cap of $350 per week is low compared to peers, and the 12-week maximum duration is tied with Florida for the shortest in the country.…

Wisconsin's unemployment insurance program, run by the Department of Workforce Development (DWD), provides benefits for up to 26 weeks. With a 2026 maximum of $370 per week, the benefit amounts are on the lower end for a Midwest state, but the program's partial unemployment rules and access to complementary state…

Ohio's unemployment insurance program — run by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) — pays benefits for up to 26 weeks, with a meaningful boost for workers who have dependents. The 2026 maximum weekly benefit ($624, or up to $842 with dependents) is already locked in —…

One of the most common questions I get is simply: how do I reach a real person at my state unemployment office? Most state UI agencies push callers toward their website or an automated line first, and getting through to a live agent for a claim-specific issue can take some…

New Jersey's unemployment insurance program — managed by the NJ Division of Unemployment Insurance — provides some of the strongest UI benefits in the country. The maximum weekly benefit rose to $905 for 2026, up from $854 the year before, following the statutory annual adjustment; the 2027 maximum hasn't been…