The base period used to determine unemployment benefits is how long?

• A. Six months
• B. Twelve months
• C. Eighteen months
• D. Twenty-four months],

Answer: (B)

Unemployment benefits are calculated using earnings from a base period—the time frame used to determine eligibility and the benefit amount. In California, this base period is a 12-month window formed by the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. That gives about a year of wage history to assess your work and ensure you’ve earned enough to qualify, while still reflecting recent employment. If there aren’t enough wages in that base period, California allows alternate base periods to use more recent earnings, but the standard approach centers on roughly twelve months.