2026 · New Hampshire
New Hampshire unemployment benefits
New Hampshire pays up to $427 a week for up to 26 weeks, a middle-of-the-pack maximum (#38 of 51). Estimate yours below.
New Hampshire's 2026 figures
| Weekly benefit range | $32 - $427 |
| Maximum duration | 26 weeks (uniform 26) |
| Waiting week | Yes, one unpaid week |
| How it's figured | annual wages |
| Taxed by New Hampshire? | No, state-tax-free |
Worked example: a $60,000 earner in New Hampshire
On a $60,000 prior wage, the estimate is about $427 a week that hits New Hampshire's maximum. Over 26 weeks that's up to $11,102 in total. New Hampshire has an unpaid one-week waiting week, so your first payment covers the second week you claim.
New Hampshire against its neighbors
Across the border in Massachusetts, the weekly cap is $1,105, $678 a week more than New Hampshire's $427. That gap doesn't mean you can shop for a better rate: benefits come from the state where your wages were reported, not where you live now.
Worked in a bordering state? Its rules apply instead: Maine , Massachusetts , Vermont .
Questions about New Hampshire unemployment
How much does New Hampshire pay in unemployment?
Between $32 and $427 a week in 2026, based on your prior wages (annual wages). The $427 maximum is a middle-of-the-pack maximum (#38 of 51).
How long does New Hampshire unemployment last?
Up to 26 weeksuniform 26. At the $427 weekly maximum that caps total potential benefits at $11,102. The duration and the weekly amount are set separately, New Hampshire sizes the check off annual wages but counts weeks on its own rules, so low earners may qualify for fewer weeks, and two people with the same weekly benefit can exhaust at different times.
Is New Hampshire unemployment taxed?
Federally, yes, it's ordinary income (elect 10% withholding on Form W-4V). New Hampshire does not tax it, it's state-tax-free.
Does severance affect my New Hampshire unemployment?
Filing timing can matter. Some states delay or reduce unemployment while severance is being paid, and the rule varies. New Hampshire's treatment is not modeled here, confirm the timing with New Hampshire Employment Security (NHES) before you file, since it is a real-money decision. Confirm the timing with New Hampshire Employment Security (NHES) before you file rather than after, a difference of one week in when the claim starts can change whether a severance payment offsets the benefit. The tax side of the severance itself is on the New Hampshire severance page.
File with New Hampshire Employment Security (NHES). This is an estimate, New Hampshire Employment Security (NHES) determines your actual benefit.
Your New Hampshire layoff toolkit
- New Hampshire severance tax the tax on your severance
- Runway calculator how long your money lasts
- New Hampshire paycheck calculator your take-home when you're back at work
- New Hampshire 1099 tax if you go freelance or contract
An estimate, New Hampshire's agency determines your actual benefit. Figures from the verified 2026 dataset, last verified 2026-07-24. Nothing you enter is stored. Not tax or legal advice.