Vermont unemployment benefits pay wages in your two highest quarters divided by 45. — up to $757 per week for up to 23-26 weeks, for the period January 1, 2026 (DOL table); this state resets each July, so the July 2026 adjustment may not be in this figure.
This guide gives the exact Vermont unemployment benefits figures with the date we verified them, shows how your own weekly amount is calculated with a worked example, and explains when the first payment arrives and how it is taxed.
Figures are from the United States Department of Labor’s state-law tables effective January 1, 2026, read October 2026; confirm the current amount with Vermont Department of Labor before you rely on it.
Vermont Unemployment Benefits at a Glance
| Maximum weekly benefit | $757 (January 1, 2026 (DOL table); this state resets each July, so the July 2026 adjustment may not be in this figure) |
| Minimum weekly benefit | $94 |
| How the amount is set | Wages in your two highest quarters divided by 45. |
| Duration | up to 23-26 weeks |
| Waiting week | Yes — first eligible week unpaid |
| Base period | The first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before the week you file. |
| Statute | 21 V.S.A. ch. 17 |
In This Vermont Unemployment Benefits Guide:
How Much Are Vermont Unemployment Benefits?
Wages in your two highest quarters divided by 45. The minimum weekly payment is $94 and the maximum is $757. Those are the numbers that matter: most claimants land between them, and nobody is paid above the cap no matter how much they earned.
Want an estimate for your own wages in Vermont?
Vermont Unemployment Benefits at a Glance
Figures are from the United States Department of Labor’s state-law tables effective January 1, 2026, read October 2026; confirm the current amount with Vermont Department of Labor before you rely on it. The statute column is where to check it yourself.
| Maximum weekly benefit | $757 |
| Effective period | January 1, 2026 (DOL table); this state resets each July, so the July 2026 adjustment may not be in this figure |
| Minimum weekly benefit | $94 |
| Formula | Wages in your two highest quarters divided by 45. |
| Duration (weeks) | 23-26 |
| Waiting week | Yes |
| Base period | The first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before the week you file. |
| Alternate base period | Yes |
| To qualify | Base-period wages of 1.4 times the high quarter and $3,739 in the high quarter. |
| Partial-week earnings | 50% of gross wages |
| Agency | Vermont Department of Labor |
| File online | https://labor.vermont.gov/unemployment-insurance |
| Statute | 21 V.S.A. ch. 17 |
How Vermont Unemployment Benefits Are Calculated
Vermont adds up the wages from the two highest-paid quarters of your base period and divides that total by 45 to get the weekly benefit amount (21 V.S.A. § 1338(e)). The result cannot be higher than the state maximum, which is reset each July. Vermont does not add an allowance for dependents. Confirm your figure with the Vermont Department of Labor.
Base-period wages of 1.4 times the high quarter and $3,739 in the high quarter.
Vermont Unemployment Benefits: A Worked Example
Say a worker earned 9000 in each of their two highest base-period quarters. That is 18000 in total, and 18000 divided by 45 gives a weekly amount of 400. This only shows how the formula works and is not anyone’s actual award. The estimate is illustrative; Vermont Department of Labor computes the official amount from your wage records.
How Long Vermont Unemployment Benefits Last
Regular Vermont unemployment benefits run up to 23-26 weeks in a benefit year. Regular state benefits only. Vermont triggered off the federal-state Extended Benefits program in December 2020, and no current trigger-on notice for Vermont was found. Confirm with the Vermont Department of Labor. The first eligible week is a waiting week: you file for it but it is not paid.
Working Part-Time While Claiming Vermont Unemployment Benefits
If you work part time, Vermont ignores part of your weekly pay and counts only the earnings above that disregard (21 V.S.A. § 1338a). Your weekly payment then drops by the amount of those counted earnings, and you may still get a partial payment as long as total earnings stay below your weekly benefit amount (21 V.S.A. § 1339).
50% of gross wages Report every dollar on the weekly claim — unreported earnings are the most common route to an overpayment.
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Under 21 V.S.A. § 1344(a)(5), Vermont generally disqualifies you from benefits for any week you receive pay in lieu of notice, vacation pay, severance, or back pay. A pension that a base-period employer paid into can also reduce or stop benefits in some cases. You must report vacation pay when it is paid out and keep filing weekly claims, because the offset applies only to the weeks you file.
When and How Vermont Unemployment Benefits Are Paid
The first payment usually arrives two to four weeks after filing, once the monetary determination is issued and the first weekly claim is processed. Vermont pays by direct deposit or paper check. No state debit card was found. You can sign up for direct deposit through the Claimant Applications link on labor.vermont.gov or by phone on the weekly claims line.
Paper checks are generally mailed on Thursdays, while direct deposits go out every business day. Benefit weeks end on Saturday. Most claimants file the weekly claim online or by the automated phone line starting that Sunday, and filing on Sunday or Monday may get the payment out sooner.
If you file late in the week, especially around a state holiday, the next week’s claim may be delayed until as late as Thursday. Confirm late-filing limits with the agency.
Taxes on Vermont Unemployment Benefits
Unemployment benefits are taxable income for both federal and Vermont tax purposes. When you enroll, you can choose to have federal and state income tax withheld. Each January the Vermont Department of Labor sends Form 1099-G, which shows your benefits in Box 1, federal tax withheld in Box 4, and state tax withheld in Box 11.
The text of 21 V.S.A. § 1338(e) includes a conditional amendment that would add 25 to the weekly amount. It takes effect only if certain conditions are met, and it has not been confirmed as in effect. A separate 25-per-week supplement passed in 2021 (Act 51) was blocked by the U.S. Department of Labor and was never paid. Confirm with the agency before counting on any add-on.
Next step: the amount only matters if you qualify. Our Vermont eligibility guide covers the fired-vs-quit rules and the work-search count, and the application guide walks through filing.
Vermont — the bottom line
- The Vermont unemployment benefits amount is a share of your base-period wages up to a dated cap — check the period on the figure before you trust it.
- Vermont unemployment benefits are paid weekly for a set number of weeks; a missed weekly claim is a lost week.
- Part-time earnings reduce Vermont unemployment benefits but rarely erase them — report everything and keep claiming.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is unemployment in Vermont?
The weekly amount is Wages in your two highest quarters divided by 45. The current maximum is $757 for the period January 1, 2026 (DOL table); this state resets each July, so the July 2026 adjustment may not be in this figure.
How long does unemployment last in Vermont?
Regular benefits run up to 23-26 weeks in a benefit year, depending on your base-period wages. Extended benefits only switch on when the state unemployment rate crosses a trigger.
Does Vermont have a waiting week?
Yes — the first eligible week is not paid, but you must still file for it.
Are Vermont unemployment benefits taxable?
Unemployment benefits are taxable income for both federal and Vermont tax purposes. When you enroll, you can choose to have federal and state income tax withheld. Each January the Vermont Department of Labor sends Form 1099-G, which shows your benefits in Box 1, federal tax withheld in Box 4, and state tax withheld in Box 11.
Official Vermont Sources & Resources
- Vermont Department of Labor: https://labor.vermont.gov/unemployment-insurance
- Vermont unemployment statute: 21 V.S.A. ch. 17
- U.S. Department of Labor — Unemployment Insurance: dol.gov
- DOL Significant Provisions of State UI Laws (Jan 2026): https://oui.doleta.gov/unemploy/content/sigpros/2020-2029/January2026.pdf
- DOL Comparison of State UI Laws — Appeals: https://oui.doleta.gov/unemploy/pdf/uilawcompar/2023/appeals.pdf
- DOL Comparison of State UI Laws — Monetary Entitlement: https://oui.doleta.gov/unemploy/pdf/uilawcompar/2021/monetary.pdf
- CareerOneStop (DOL) — state benefit finder: careeronestop.org
- IRS — Form 1099-G: irs.gov
This Vermont unemployment benefits guide was last verified against official Vermont sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current figure with the state agency or a licensed attorney.
More Vermont Unemployment Guides
- Vermont Unemployment Eligibility: Who Qualifies
- How to Apply for Unemployment in Vermont
- Vermont Unemployment Appeal: Deadline and Hearing
- Unemployment Guides for All 50 States
Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. My Unemployment Rights is an independent educational resource, not a government agency and not a law firm. Unemployment benefit amounts, deadlines and rules change — every figure here carries the date we verified it. Confirm the current figure and any deadline with your state unemployment agency before you act.