States vary on this as well. Most states provide Unemployment Insurance for a maximum of 26 weeks. Currently only two states offer a higher maximum: Montana with 28 weeks, and Massachusetts with 30. There are a handful of states that provide less than 26 weeks. You should check with your state agency to determine the specific duration of your unemployment benefits. Those who receive benefits while working part-time may be eligible for an equivalent amount of benefits spread out over a longer period of time (52 weeks at 50% of the weekly benefit rate). The duration of benefits is for a single benefit year. At the end of the year, one may be eligible to receive benefits for a subsequent benefit year based on earnings that were not already used to qualify for benefits in the prior year.