2026 · Vermont
Vermont unemployment benefits
Vermont pays up to $757 a week for up to 26 weeks, a middle-of-the-pack maximum (#12 of 51). Estimate yours below.
Vermont's 2026 figures
| Weekly benefit range | $94 - $757 |
| Maximum duration | 26 weeks (23-26) |
| Waiting week | Yes, one unpaid week |
| How it's figured | two high quarters |
| Taxed by Vermont? | Yes |
Worked example: a $60,000 earner in Vermont
On a $60,000 prior wage, the estimate is about $577 a week (within Vermont's $94-$757 range). Over 26 weeks that's up to $15,002 in total. Vermont has an unpaid one-week waiting week, so your first payment covers the second week you claim.
Vermont against its neighbors
Across the border in Massachusetts, the weekly cap is $1,105, $348 a week more than Vermont's $757. 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: Massachusetts , New Hampshire , New York .
Questions about Vermont unemployment
How much does Vermont pay in unemployment?
Between $94 and $757 a week in 2026, based on your prior wages (two high quarters). The $757 maximum is a middle-of-the-pack maximum (#12 of 51).
How long does Vermont unemployment last?
Up to 26 weeks23-26. At the $757 weekly maximum that caps total potential benefits at $19,682. The duration and the weekly amount are set separately, Vermont sizes the check off two high quarters 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 Vermont unemployment taxed?
Federally, yes, it's ordinary income (elect 10% withholding on Form W-4V). Vermont also taxes it on the state return.
Does severance affect my Vermont unemployment?
Filing timing can matter. Some states delay or reduce unemployment while severance is being paid, and the rule varies. Vermont's treatment is not modeled here, confirm the timing with Vermont Department of Labor before you file, since it is a real-money decision. Confirm the timing with Vermont Department of Labor 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 Vermont severance page.
File with Vermont Department of Labor. This is an estimate, Vermont Department of Labor determines your actual benefit.
Your Vermont layoff toolkit
- Vermont severance tax the tax on your severance
- Runway calculator how long your money lasts
- Vermont paycheck calculator your take-home when you're back at work
- Vermont 1099 tax if you go freelance or contract
An estimate, Vermont'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.