New Jersey
$905
max weekly · rank #5
- Max weeks
- 26
- Max total
- $23,530
Exempt from state tax
2026New Jersey vs Illinois Unemployment Benefits
New Jersey has the higher maximum total by $1,196. Compare weekly maxima, duration, salary examples, tax treatment, eligibility, and filing considerations for both states.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
Higher maximum total
New Jersey is higher
$23,530 vs $22,334, a $1,196 difference at the weekly maximum for the full modeled duration.
Side-by-side unemployment benefits scoreboard
Illinois
$859
max weekly · rank #6
- Max weeks
- 26
- Max total
- $22,334
Taxed by state
Benefit metric comparison
Rankings use published maxima. A higher weekly maximum with a shorter duration can still lose on maximum total benefits.
| Metric | New Jersey | Illinois | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max weekly | $905 | $859 | $46 |
| Min weekly | $120 | $51 | $69 |
| Max weeks | 26 | 26 | 0 |
| Max total | $23,530 | $22,334 | $1,196 |
| Weekly rank | #5 | #6 | #1 highest |
| State tax on UI | Exempt from state tax | Taxed by state | Federal always |
New Jersey leads on maximum weekly benefit by $46.
Estimated weekly benefits at common salary levels
Illustrative estimates assume high-quarter wages ≈ annual salary ÷ 4, then apply the shared high-quarter ÷ 26 approximation clamped to each state's min/max. High earners often hit both caps.
| Scenario | New Jersey weekly | Illinois weekly | New Jersey total | Illinois total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 prior salary | $480 | $480 | $12,480 | $12,480 |
| $75,000 prior salary | $721 | $721 | $18,746 | $18,746 |
| $100,000 prior salary | $905 | $859 | $23,530 | $22,334 |
$50,000 prior salary
New Jersey$480/wk
Illinois$480/wk
$75,000 prior salary
New Jersey$721/wk
Illinois$721/wk
$100,000 prior salary
New Jersey$905/wk
Illinois$859/wk
Worked example: $100,000 prior salary
Same high-quarter assumption ($25,000) in both states. The difference comes from each state's min/max clamp and maximum weeks.
How the comparison is built
- 1.Start with the same $25,000 high-quarter wages in both states.
- 2.Estimate raw weekly benefits as $25,000 ÷ 26 ≈ $961.
- 3.Clamp to New Jersey's $120–$905 range and Illinois's $51–$859 range.
- 4.Multiply by 26 weeks in New Jersey and 26 weeks in Illinois.
Modeled result
- New Jersey weekly / total
- $905 / $23,530
- Illinois weekly / total
- $859 / $22,334
- Total difference
- $1,196
Educational estimate only. Exact agency formulas, dependents, and eligibility can change the result.
State rules explained
Why New Jersey and Illinois produce different unemployment results
The gap is not only one weekly number. Duration, tax treatment, and eligibility notes can change which state looks better for a given worker.
New Jersey rules
High max weekly benefit including dependents; UI exempt from state income tax.
Max WBA reflects the published maximum including dependents.
NJ exempts unemployment compensation from state income tax. Federal income tax still applies.
Typically requires sufficient base-period wages, unemployment through no fault of your own, and that you are able, available, and actively seeking work. Exact monetary and non-monetary rules are set by the state agency.
- Max weekly
- $905
- Max weeks
- 26
Illinois rules
High max weekly benefit including dependents and a full 26-week duration.
Max WBA reflects the published maximum including dependents.
IL generally taxes unemployment benefits as ordinary state income. Federal income tax also applies.
Typically requires sufficient base-period wages, unemployment through no fault of your own, and that you are able, available, and actively seeking work. Exact monetary and non-monetary rules are set by the state agency.
- Max weekly
- $859
- Max weeks
- 26
When the higher-benefit state can change
The maximum-total winner is a useful benchmark, not a guarantee for every claimant. Review these factors before concluding that one state always pays more.
Your actual wages
Lower earners may land between each state's min and max. New Jersey floors at $120; Illinois floors at $51.
Duration vs weekly amount
New Jersey models 26 weeks and Illinois models 26 weeks. A shorter duration can erase a higher weekly maximum.
Taxes on UI
Federal tax applies in both. State treatment: exempt from state tax in New Jersey vs taxed by state in Illinois.
Eligibility and disqualifications
Misconduct, quitting without good cause, refusing suitable work, or failing work-search rules can reduce or deny benefits in either state.
Dependents and special allowances
Where published, max WBA may include dependency allowances. Confirm whether your household qualifies.
Part-time earnings
Partial benefits while working can change weekly amounts differently under each state's earnings disregard.
Moving between New Jersey and Illinois while unemployed
Unemployment claims are generally tied to where you earned covered wages, not only where you live after a layoff. Moving to the higher-maximum state usually does not rewrite the paying state's weekly benefit.
Questions to resolve
- Which state(s) paid your covered wages in the base period—New Jersey, Illinois, or both?
- Will you file a regular claim, interstate claim, or combined-wage claim?
- Where will you seek work and certify each week?
- Does either state require in-person reporting or local work-search rules after a move?
- How will tax withholding and 1099-G reporting work after relocation?
Practical takeaway
Use this page to compare published maxima and tax treatment. File with the correct paying state agency for an official determination. Interstate claim logistics are handled by the state unemployment systems—not by changing your mailing address alone.
Checklist before comparing a real claim
Confirm base-period wages
Identify which employers and states paid covered wages that New Jersey or Illinois can count.
Estimate both weekly amounts
Use high-quarter wages in the calculator for each state instead of relying only on the published maximum.
Compare duration and taxes
Model 26 vs 26 weeks and whether state tax applies after federal tax.
Review separation reason
Layoff, discharge, and quit rules differ. A denial in one state does not automatically transfer.
Plan certifications
Weekly or biweekly certifications, work-search logs, and able/available status still control payment.
Keep tax documents
Save claim confirmations and Form 1099-G. Federal tax applies even when a state exempts UI.
Max weekly is a ceiling
Most claimants earn less than $905 in New Jersey or $859 in Illinois.
Duration multiplies the gap
A 0-week difference can outweigh a modest weekly gap over a full claim.
Federal tax is nationwide
UI is taxable federally in both states. State tax treatment is the variable layer.
Compare a different pair
Compare any two states
Max weekly benefit, duration, total benefits, and state tax treatment.
Related tools
Estimate your weekly benefit
Use high-quarter wages for a personalized estimate in either state.
New Jersey vs Illinois unemployment FAQs
New Jersey has the higher maximum total benefits by $1,196. Max weekly amounts are $905 in New Jersey and $859 in Illinois.
New Jersey has the higher maximum weekly benefit by $46.
New Jersey models up to 26 weeks and Illinois up to 26 weeks. Some states shorten or lengthen duration with the unemployment rate.
Federal income tax applies in both states. State treatment: New Jersey — exempt from state tax; Illinois — taxed by state. NJ exempts unemployment compensation from state income tax. Federal income tax still applies. IL generally taxes unemployment benefits as ordinary state income. Federal income tax also applies.
No. Most claimants receive less than the state maximum. Weekly amounts usually depend on base-period wages and are clamped between the state minimum and maximum.
The modeled gap is $1,196 ($23,530 vs $22,334).
Claims are generally filed with the state where you earned covered wages. Moving after a layoff usually does not rewrite the paying state's weekly maximum. Interstate and combined-wage claims have separate agency rules.
Both comparisons use a shared high-quarter ÷ 26 approximation clamped to each state's min/max. New Jersey clamps between $120 and $905; Illinois clamps between $51 and $859.
New Jersey has the higher modeled maximum total, but eligibility, actual wages, taxes, and living costs still matter.
You generally cannot collect duplicate weeks for the same unemployment from two states at once. Wage credits may be combined across states under combined-wage claim rules when eligible.
Related unemployment benefit comparisons
Estimates are educational. Actual weekly benefits and eligibility are determined by the paying state unemployment agency.