[header] How to calculate california unemployment [title] Learn the details about your base-period wages. [step] Base-period wages cover the first four of the last five calendar quarters you have worked. These amounts earned will determine your maximum and weekly benefits. 
This period begins from the day you apply, not the date you became unemployed. Your base-period wage will determine your : [substeps] Weekly benefit allowance (wba) maximum benefit amount (mba) you may qualify for an alternative base-period if you do not have enough funds in your standard base-period.