Category: Taxes and Retirement

Oklahoma’s unemployment insurance program — managed by the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC) — provides up to $649 per week in 2026. One important warning for Oklahoma workers: Oklahoma did NOT expand Medicaid under the ACA until 2021, and while SoonerCare (Oklahoma Medicaid) now covers more adults, coverage gaps can…

North Dakota's unemployment insurance program — managed by Job Service North Dakota (JSND) — provides up to $815 per week in 2026. North Dakota also has one of the most generous partial UI earnings disregards in the country at 60% of WBA — giving workers the most flexibility for part-time…

New Mexico's unemployment insurance program — managed by the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS) — provides up to $624 per week in 2026. New Mexico has one of the higher Medicaid enrollment rates in the country due to its expanded program and relatively lower household incomes, making health…

New Hampshire’s unemployment insurance program — managed by New Hampshire Employment Security (NHES) — provides up to $427 per week in 2026. The state has no income tax on wages or benefits — New Hampshire’s long-standing tax philosophy means your UI check arrives without any state tax bite. New Hampshire’s…

Nebraska’s unemployment insurance program — managed by the Nebraska Department of Labor (NDOL) — provides up to $582 per week in 2026. Nebraska expanded Medicaid in 2020 following a voter initiative, which significantly strengthened the safety net for unemployed workers. See how Nebraska’s benefits compare nationally at SavingToInvest’s state unemployment…

Montana's unemployment insurance program — managed by the UI Division of the Montana Department of Labor and Industry — provides up to $698 per week in 2026 with a 28-week duration that's slightly longer than most states. Montana's economy — heavily influenced by agriculture, tourism, and extractive industries — can…

Missouri’s unemployment insurance program — managed by the Division of Employment Security (DES) — has a maximum of $320 per week in 2026, capped at just 20 weeks. Missouri sits alongside Arkansas, Kansas, and North Carolina as states that have reduced their standard benefit duration below the traditional 26 weeks.…

Mississippi’s unemployment insurance program — managed by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES) — provides just $235 per week in 2026. This is the lowest maximum weekly unemployment benefit in the country. For context, $235 per week is $1,020 per month — less than the average utility bill plus…

Maine's unemployment insurance program — managed by the Maine Department of Labor (MDOL) — provides up to $623 per week in 2026. Maine's 50% earnings disregard for partial benefits is one of the most worker-friendly in New England, and the state has expanded Medicaid, providing an important safety net for…

Louisiana's unemployment insurance program — managed by the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) — has a maximum of just $275 per week in 2026. Only Mississippi's $235 cap is lower nationally. For context on how extreme this is: $275/week is roughly $1,070/month — well below the cost of a one-bedroom apartment…

Iowa's unemployment insurance program — managed by Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) — now pays up to $790 per week for claimants with dependents, following the state's annual increase effective the benefit week of July 5, 2026. Iowa's benefit is above average for the Midwest, and the state's relatively flat cost…

Indiana’s unemployment insurance program — managed by the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) — offers up to $390 per week in 2026. Indiana has a relatively low maximum benefit for the Midwest, though the state’s lower cost of living softens that somewhat. Indiana also has a unique Medicaid program (HIP…

Idaho's unemployment insurance program — managed by the Idaho Department of Labor (IDOL) — offers up to $624 per week in 2026. Idaho is a moderate-benefit state, though its partial UI rules make earning part-time income while collecting benefits particularly difficult. See how Idaho compares to other states at SavingToInvest's…