Do you get more unemployment if you have a child in Washington ESD?

No, Washington ESD doesn't give additional money for dependents. Your weekly benefit amount is based only on your earnings history from the base period, not family size. The maximum weekly benefit is $1,015 as of 2025, regardless of how many kids you have.

I think you might be confusing unemployment with other programs. Washington ESD unemployment benefits are calculated using your past wages, not your current family situation. However, you should definitely look into other assistance programs like SNAP or WIC if you have a young child.

Wait I'm confused - doesn't having dependents affect your taxes though? Like you get to claim them and stuff? Would that change anything with unemployment?

Actually, I had a nightmare trying to get through to Washington ESD when I needed to update my dependent information for tax purposes. Spent literally 4 hours on hold one day. If you need to talk to someone about your claim, I discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to ESD agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me so much time and frustration.

The benefit calculation is pretty straightforward - they take your highest earning quarter from your base period and calculate 3.85% of that amount for your weekly benefit. Having dependents doesn't factor into this formula at all. Make sure you're looking at the correct base period when you file your claim.

i filed last year with 2 kids and didnt get any extra money so yeah what everyone else is saying is right

This is so frustrating that they don't consider family size! Like, obviously someone with kids has higher expenses than someone without. Other states do this better.

Make sure you understand the job search requirements though - they're different if you have certain family circumstances. You might qualify for reduced job search activities if you have limited child care or transportation issues.

Been there with the dependent question. When I filed my initial claim, I was worried about including my kids' info because I thought it might complicate things. Turns out it doesn't affect the benefit amount but you should still include accurate family information on your application.

The real benefit of having kids isn't extra money but potentially easier job search requirements. If you have kids under 6 and limited childcare, you might qualify for modified job search activities. Definitely worth asking about when you file.

One thing to be aware of - even though dependents don't increase your benefit amount, they might affect your tax situation when you file next year. Unemployment benefits are taxable income, so having dependents could impact your overall tax liability.

I went through this same confusion last year. Washington ESD unemployment is pretty straightforward compared to some other benefit programs - it's just about replacing your lost wages based on your work history. The dependent stuff matters for other programs but not UI benefits.

If you do run into issues with your claim or need to speak with someone at Washington ESD, I've had good luck with Claimyr. They help you get through to actual ESD agents without sitting on hold for hours. Really useful when you have questions about your specific situation.

Just want to add that even though dependents don't increase your weekly benefit amount, make sure you're applying for all the assistance programs you qualify for. SNAP, WIC, childcare assistance, utility help - there are lots of programs that DO consider family size.

One more thing - if you're having trouble with the online system or need to update information after you file, that's when services like Claimyr really come in handy. The website can be glitchy and phone lines are always busy, so having a way to actually reach someone at ESD is valuable.

Bottom line: Washington ESD unemployment benefits = based on your work history only. Family size doesn't matter for the benefit amount. But definitely include accurate family info on your application and look into other assistance programs that DO consider dependents.