Unemployment Benefits Estimator — Missouri

Unemployment Benefits Estimator in Missouri

Missouri pays 4% of the average of your two highest base-period quarters, capped at $320. Duration is where the state departs from most others: the maximum is a flat 20 weeks, and the total is the lesser of a third of base-period wages or 20 weekly payments, so the practical range is 8 to 20 weeks. Missouri statute contains a schedule that would tie duration to the statewide unemployment rate, but that subsection was declared unconstitutional and the Division of Employment Security administers the flat 20-week maximum instead. One unpaid waiting week applies. Missouri does not use broad-based categorical eligibility for SNAP, so the standard 130% FPL gross income limit applies. Apply at https://labor.mo.gov/

Unemployment Benefits in Missouri: Weekly Amounts and How Long They Last

Missouri pays a weekly unemployment benefit of between $35 and $320. Those are the statutory floor and ceiling, not an estimate of what you personally would receive: your weekly benefit amount is calculated from the wages in your base period, and the maximum is reached only if those wages were high enough. Missouri computes it this way — 4% of the average of your two highest base-period quarters, capped at $320.

• Weekly benefit range: $35 to $320
• Weeks payable: up to 20 weeks; the payable range runs 8 to 20 weeks, because lower base-period earnings exhaust a claim sooner
• Waiting week: yes — the first otherwise-payable week is unpaid, and you generally still have to file a weekly claim for it

How Missouri decides how many weeks you get: Missouri's cap is 20 weeks, not 26. Total benefits are the lesser of one-third of base-period wages or 20 x the weekly benefit amount, so lower earners get fewer weeks (US DOL shows an 8-20 week range). RSMo 288.060.5 contains a schedule that would tie the maximum to the statewide unemployment rate (13 weeks below 6% rising to 20 weeks at 9% or more), but that subsection was declared unconstitutional in Pestka v. State (2016) and the Division of Employment Security currently administers a flat 20-week maximum.

Source and date: these Missouri figures were verified on August 2, 2026 against Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Division of Employment Security - 'How are my benefits figured?' and 'When and for how long can benefits be claimed?' and 'What is a waiting week?'; RSMo 288.060 via revisor.mo.gov (duration schedule and its constitutional history); US DOL Significant Provisions of State UI Laws, January 2026 (minimum WBA, 8-20 week range). Benefit amounts and durations change — many states re-index once a year, and some change duration as the state unemployment rate moves — so check the agency link before relying on a figure. Only your monetary determination letter states your own weekly benefit amount and the number of weeks you can actually be paid.

SNAP Benefits in Missouri

Missouri follows standard SNAP income limits at 130% of the Federal Poverty Level. The maximum monthly SNAP benefit for a household of 4 in Missouri is $975. You can apply online at https://mydss.mo.gov/ or by calling 211.

Medicaid in Missouri

Missouri has expanded Medicaid under the ACA (State Medicaid). Adults earning up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level ($22,025/year for an individual) are eligible. Apply at https://dss.mo.gov/mhd.

Missouri Wage Information

The minimum wage in Missouri is $15/hour ($8.75/hour for tipped workers). The median household income is $64,811. Missouri has a state income tax with a top rate of 4.95%.

Tenant Rights in Missouri

Missouri requires landlords to give 10 days notice for nonpayment of rent before filing for eviction. The typical eviction process takes approximately 21 days. Free legal aid is available at https://www.lsmo.org/.

Rent in Missouri

The median rent in Missouri is approximately $1,137/month for a 1-bedroom and $1,322/month for a 2-bedroom apartment. Missouri does not have rent control.

Important Notes for Missouri Residents

The data shown above is based on publicly available information and is updated regularly. Benefit amounts, eligibility rules, and legal requirements can change. Always verify current information with your local Missouri agencies before making important decisions. This calculator provides estimates — not guaranteed outcomes.