Unemployment benefit calculator · Australia 2026

Unemployment benefit in Australia 2026: how much, and for how long

Unemployment benefit replaces part of your pay when you lose your job, if you were insured long enough. The calculator above estimates the amount and how long it is paid, from your salary and age, with the 2026 rules.

The rules in brief

• JobSeeker Payment: Unemployment support is a flat, means-tested payment, not linked to your previous pay: $824.90 a fortnight for a single person without children (from 20 September 2026). Liquid assets and redundancy pay can delay the first payment by up to several weeks, and leaving a job voluntarily can bring a non-payment period.

Single person aged 35 without children; 9.8 years of service.

Frequently asked questions

How much unemployment benefit do I get on A$8,000 gross a month?
A$824.90 a fortnight JobSeeker Payment, shown for 6 months (means-tested; redundancy pay and savings can delay the start): A$10,724 in total, if you are single and aged 35.

Are these amounts exact?
They are estimates under the 2026 rules. The public employment service decides the actual amount.

Rules and official sources: see “Rules applied (2026)” in the calculator. Last checked: October 2026. Estimates for information, not financial advice.