How Much Unemployment Pays in Alaska
How Alaska calculates weekly unemployment benefits, the current minimum and maximum, and how many weeks you can collect.
Short answer: Your weekly benefit is based on your base period wages. The minimum weekly benefit is $56 and the maximum is $370. A dependent allowance of $24 per week per dependent child may be added for up to 3 dependents. Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Unemployment Insurance FAQ; Department press release No. 08-87 (Dec. 9, 2008)
| Weekly benefit amount | Your weekly benefit is based on your base period wages. The minimum weekly benefit is $56 and the maximum is $370. A dependent allowance of $24 per week per dependent child may be added for up to 3 dependents. The $370 maximum applies to new claims effective on or after January 1, 2009. The January 1, 2009 effective date comes from the department's press release at https://labor.alaska.gov/news/2008/news08-87.pdf. The U.S. Department of Labor's July 2026 summary of state laws also lists $56 to $370 (up to $442 with dependents). |
|---|---|
| How many weeks | 16 to 26 weeks, depending on the amount and distribution of your base period wages. The benefit year is generally 52 weeks from the effective date of the claim. |
| Waiting week | Yes. The first eligible week of a new claim is an unpaid waiting week. |
Where to get help in Alaska
More Alaska unemployment benefits
- Logging In to Your Alaska Unemployment Claim
- Unemployment for Self-Employed and Gig Workers in Alaska
- Unemployment After Being Fired in Alaska
- Unemployment After Quitting in Alaska
- How to File for Unemployment in Alaska
- All Alaska unemployment benefits rules
FAQ
How much is unemployment in Alaska?
Your weekly benefit is based on your base period wages. The minimum weekly benefit is $56 and the maximum is $370. A dependent allowance of $24 per week per dependent child may be added for up to 3 dependents. The $370 maximum applies to new claims effective on or after January 1, 2009.
How long can you get unemployment in Alaska?
16 to 26 weeks, depending on the amount and distribution of your base period wages. The benefit year is generally 52 weeks from the effective date of the claim.
Is there a waiting week for unemployment in Alaska?
Yes. The first eligible week of a new claim is an unpaid waiting week.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.