Unemployment

Virginia’s maximum weekly unemployment benefit rose from $430 to $478 starting July 5, 2026, under a new law signed by Governor Abigail Spanberger — but the increase only applies to claims filed on or after that date, not to unemployment claims that were already active. The New Numbers Two amounts changed under the legislation, HB1320 […]

Hotel workers on strike at Seattle’s Embassy Suites Downtown Pioneer Square have applied for unemployment benefits under a Washington law that took effect January 1, 2026 — the first in the state to let workers collect unemployment while striking, and by mid-July the state had already paid out nearly $506,000 to strikers statewide. What the […]

Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 4.9% in June 2026, up from 4.8% in May, even as the national rate fell to 4.2% over the same month — a divergence that puts more Arizonans in a position to actually need the state’s unemployment benefits, which pay considerably less than the national picture might suggest. […]

New unemployment claims fell to 187,000 for the week ending July 18, 2026, well below the 212,000 economists expected and down from 209,000 the week before — the latest in a run of low readings that the Labor Department’s data shows aren’t just a one-week blip. The Numbers, Week by Week Week ending July 11, […]

New York’s maximum weekly unemployment benefit rose from $504 to $869 — a 72% jump — with payments at the new rate starting the week of October 13, 2025, the state’s first increase to the cap since 2019. How Much More Eligible Workers Get The $504 cap had stayed frozen for six years while the […]

A bill in Congress would require every state to offer at least 26 weeks of unemployment benefits, replace 75% of a worker’s wages, and pay benefits starting from the first week of a job loss — but it’s a proposal sitting in committee, not a change that’s taken effect. What the Bill Would Actually Change […]

Workers who exhaust their regular unemployment benefits can get up to 13 additional weeks through the federal-state Extended Benefits program — but as of the most recent Department of Labor trigger data, no state currently qualifies, because the program only switches on during periods of genuinely elevated unemployment. How Long Regular Unemployment Benefits Last Most […]

Washington state pays the highest maximum weekly unemployment benefit in the country — $1,208 a week for new claims filed on or after July 5, 2026 — more than double what many other states offer, according to state-by-state benefit data. Why Washington Tops the List Unemployment insurance is run state by state, not federally, so […]

Michigan domestic violence survivors who leave a job because of abuse can now qualify for unemployment benefits, a change that took effect July 17, 2026 under Public Act 238. Previously, voluntarily quitting a job almost always disqualified a worker from collecting unemployment — this new provision creates a specific exception for survivors. What Changed Under […]

Michigan unemployment claimants now have to prove three job-search activities every week instead of one. The change took effect Sunday, July 19, 2026, and it applies to anyone currently certifying for weekly or biweekly benefits through the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA). What Changed on July 19 Before July 19, claimants only had to complete and […]