Unemployment Benefits in New Hampshire: How Much Will You Get?
New Hampshire pays up to $427/week for up to 26 weeks. Here is exactly how your benefit is calculated, what you need to qualify, and how to file.
✓ Verified against NH Employment Security (nhes.nh.gov) · Updated September 2026
Max Weekly Benefit
$427
Per week maximum
Max Duration
26 wks
Weeks of benefits
Waiting Period
1 week
Before first payment
Replacement Rate
Schedule-based
Of avg weekly wage
🧮 New Hampshire Layoff Runway Calculator
Your New Hampshire unemployment benefit is pre-filled below based on state data. Enter your salary, savings, and expenses to see exactly how long your money lasts — month by month.
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New Hampshire Unemployment Benefit
Up to $427/week · 26 weeks max · 1 week waiting period
See Your Full Financial Runway After a Layoff in New Hampshire
Unemployment benefits are just one piece. Enter your savings, severance, and expenses to get a month-by-month breakdown of exactly how long your money lasts.
How New Hampshire Unemployment Benefits Are Calculated
Base period: first 4 of last 5 completed quarters. Benefit = 1/26 of wages in two highest quarters, capped at $427. New Hampshire uses the two highest quarters of the base period rather than just the single highest quarter, pays no dependent allowance, and doesn't tax your benefits at the state level (New Hampshire has no broad state income tax).
Prior Annual Salary
Est. Weekly Benefit
Est. Monthly Benefit
Total (max duration)
$40,000/year
$346
$1,499
$9,000
$60,000/year
$427
$1,849
$11,102
$80,000/year
$427
$1,849
$11,102
$100,000/year
$427
$1,849
$11,102
$150,000+/year
$427 (capped)
$1,849
$11,102
Estimates based on New Hampshire’s actual benefit formula (Schedule-based, capped at $427/week). Actual benefit determined by your specific wage history and state review.
Eligibility Requirements in New Hampshire
To qualify for unemployment benefits in New Hampshire, you must meet all of these conditions:
Unemployed through no fault of your own — laid off, position eliminated, or company closed. Voluntary resignation or termination for cause generally disqualifies you.
Earned sufficient wages during the base period — New Hampshire looks at your earnings in the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed.
Able and available to work — you must be actively seeking employment and available to accept suitable work if offered.
Registered with New Hampshire workforce services — most states require you to register with their job search system as a condition of receiving benefits.
File immediately — every day costs you money
New Hampshire has a 1-week waiting period before your first payment — but that clock starts on the day you file. File at nhes.nh.gov the same day you are laid off, or the next morning at the latest. Every day you delay is potentially lost benefits you cannot recover.
How Much You Can Earn While Still Collecting in New Hampshire
You can earn up to 30% of your weekly benefit amount without a reduction. Earnings above that reduce your benefit dollar-for-dollar. Example, confirmed against NHES rules directly: at the $427 maximum, you can earn up to $128 in a week before any reduction kicks in.
How to File for Unemployment in New Hampshire
File online at nhes.nh.gov — this is the fastest method and available 24/7.
Have ready: your Social Security number, employer name and address, start and end dates of employment, and reason for separation.
Report your severance — if you received severance pay, you must report it. New Hampshire may treat it as wages which could delay the start of your benefits.
Certify weekly — after filing, you must certify your job search activity every week to continue receiving payments. Missing a certification week can pause your benefits.
Report any income — if you earn money through freelancing, part-time work, or gig work while collecting benefits, you must report it. Most states reduce your benefit by the amount earned over a small threshold.
Taxes on unemployment benefits
Unemployment benefits are taxable as ordinary income at the federal level. You can request 10% federal withholding when you file — highly recommended. If you don't withhold, you will owe the taxes when you file your return, which can be a painful surprise when you are already financially stretched.
What's Different About Filing in New Hampshire
A few things are distinctly New Hampshire:
Your benefit is based on two quarters combined, not one. Most states use only your single highest-earning quarter; New Hampshire adds your two best quarters together.
No dependent allowance at all — your benefit is based solely on your own wage history, regardless of family size.
No state income tax — New Hampshire doesn't tax wages or unemployment benefits, though you'll still owe federal tax.
Disqualified? You need 5 weeks of real re-earning. After a disqualification, you must earn at least 20% more than your weekly benefit amount in each of 5 separate weeks before you can requalify — not just a single new paycheck.
Extended Benefits can add up to 13 weeks beyond the standard 26 if New Hampshire's unemployment rate triggers the federal-state EB program.
How New Hampshire Compares to Other States
New Hampshire has one of the less generous unemployment programs in the US. At $427 maximum weekly benefit, many workers will find that benefits cover a relatively small portion of their prior income. Careful financial planning and aggressive job searching are especially important for New Hampshire workers after a layoff.
Unemployment benefits are one part of your survival plan. Our free calculator combines your New Hampshire unemployment estimate with your savings, severance, and COBRA costs to show you month-by-month how long your money lasts.
Unemployment benefit data verified against NH Employment Security (nhes.nh.gov) and RSA 282-A, September 2026. Benefit amounts are estimates — actual amounts are determined by your specific wage history and NHES's review. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial or legal advice.