Current Minimum and Maximum Benefit Amounts in Minnesota

In Minnesota, the minimum benefit is $31 per week, and the maximum benefit is $820 per week.

Pandemic Unemployment Benefits Have Expired

Although additional money -- $300 extra per week -- was available under the federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program, that program expired on September 6, 2021. For weeks of unemployment starting on September 6 or later, these extra benefits will no longer be paid. 

A different federal program -- Pandemic Unemployment Assistance -- made benefits available temporarily to workers who were not eligible for traditional unemployment benefits, including freelancers, gig workers, and other contractors. That program also expired on September 6, 2021. 

How Minnesota Determines Benefit Amounts

Each state determines how much it will pay in unemployment benefits. Generally, the weekly benefit amount is some fraction or percentage of your earnings in the base period or your highest paid quarter of the base period.

Your weekly benefit amount in Minnesota will be the higher of:

• 50% of your average weekly wages during the entire base period, up to a maximum of two-thirds of the state's average weekly wage, or
• 50% of your average weekly wage during the highest paid quarter of the base period, up to a maximum of 43% of the state's average weekly wage. 

To make sure these amounts are still current when you apply for benefits, contact the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, Unemployment Insurance Program.