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I think that lots of people misconceive how state level UI replacement rates are calculated. It's not the case that states are currently just setting replacement rates at 45% and we can just change the variable.
Here's @USDOL's table of how each state calculates UI: https://oui.doleta.gov/unemploy/content/sigpros/2020-2029/January2020.pdf
Alabama: Find the 2 highest income quarterly earnings, average them, divide by 26. Weekly minimum of $45, weekly maximum of $275.
Alaska: Get between 0.9% and 2.2% of your annual wage (based on what?). Add $24 for each dependent. Minimum is between $56 and $128, maximum is between $370 and 442 (again, based on what?).
Arizona: You get 1/25 of your income in your highest recorded quarter. Min $126, max $240.
Arkansas: Take wages in the last 4 quarters, average them, and divide by 26. Min/max - $126, $240.
That's just the A's.
They have different definitions of baseline period. Use different divisors to move from quarter to week.
They have different definitions of baseline period. Use different divisors to move from quarter to week.
Here is a list of states that DOL says sometimes change their base period calculation "under certain conditions":
AK, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, GA, HI, ID, IL, IA, KS, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH,
OK, OR, PR, RI, SC, SD, UT, VT, VA, VI, WA, WV, and WI.
AK, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, GA, HI, ID, IL, IA, KS, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH,
OK, OR, PR, RI, SC, SD, UT, VT, VA, VI, WA, WV, and WI.
West Virginia is fun - 55% of 1/52 of median wages in
workerâs wage class.
workerâs wage class.
Here's a table with all 254 wage classes: http://www.wvlegislature.gov/wvcode/ChapterEntire.cfm?chap=21A&art=6§ion=10
Colorado:
Higher of:
- 60% of 1/26 of 2 consecutive HQW, capped by 50% of State avg weekly earnings or
- 50% of 1/52 BP earnings capped by 55% of State avg weekly earnings
Higher of:
- 60% of 1/26 of 2 consecutive HQW, capped by 50% of State avg weekly earnings or
- 50% of 1/52 BP earnings capped by 55% of State avg weekly earnings
Rhode Island:
- 3.85% of average wages in the two quarters with high earnings the previous four quarters, plus maximum($15, 5% of the weekly benefit rate per dependent) capped at maximum($50, 25% of weekly benefits).
- 3.85% of average wages in the two quarters with high earnings the previous four quarters, plus maximum($15, 5% of the weekly benefit rate per dependent) capped at maximum($50, 25% of weekly benefits).
Louisiana - The formula used to determine your weekly benefit amount is to first take 1/25th of the average of your total covered employment wages in the base period. That number is multiplied by 1.05, and then multiplied again by 1.15.
(ed: Or just multiply by 1.2075!)
(ed: Or just multiply by 1.2075!)
Utah: 1/26 of your earning in the highest quarter, minus $5 (that's just rude!).
Pennsylvania:
- (4% of your highest quarterly earning + $2) multiplied by 0.98. Add $5 for your first dependent, and $3 for your second dependent.
This offsets 0.000000000001% of the cost of having kids.
- (4% of your highest quarterly earning + $2) multiplied by 0.98. Add $5 for your first dependent, and $3 for your second dependent.
This offsets 0.000000000001% of the cost of having kids.
