Does excessive earnings mean I won't get Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

Your previous earnings don't disqualify you from unemployment benefits in Washington. Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your earnings during your base period, but there's no such thing as 'excessive earnings' that would make you ineligible. The maximum weekly benefit amount for 2025 is around $999, so you'll likely get close to that.

wait so theres no income limit at all? that seems weird, like wouldnt rich people just collect unemployment forever?

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks to ask similar questions about my claim but their phone lines are always busy. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there? I keep getting the busy signal or getting disconnected after waiting forever.

The Washington ESD system is so confusing! I thought there might be income limits too because other government programs have them. But unemployment is different - it's insurance you paid into while working.

What you need to worry about more is making sure you meet the work search requirements. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week, and they're pretty strict about that documentation.

so basically as long as you worked enough hours and paid into the system you can get benefits regardless of how much you made before?

I think people get confused because some other assistance programs like food stamps have income limits. But unemployment insurance works differently - it's based on your work history, not your need level.

Update: I tried that Claimyr service someone mentioned and it actually got me through to Washington ESD! The agent confirmed that my previous salary doesn't affect my eligibility at all. Worth checking out if you're having trouble reaching them.

The only time earnings might affect your unemployment is if you're working part-time while collecting benefits. Then you have to report those earnings and they might reduce your weekly benefit amount.

Washington ESD really needs to make this information clearer on their website. So many people probably worry about this same thing unnecessarily.

Just focus on filing your weekly claims on time and keeping up with the job search requirements. Your previous earnings are actually a good thing - means you'll get a higher weekly benefit amount.

this has been really helpful to read through, i was worried about the same thing with my previous job paying well

For anyone still having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to verify their eligibility or ask questions about their claim, definitely check out Claimyr. It's made such a difference in being able to get real answers from actual agents instead of guessing based on the website.

The key thing to remember is that unemployment insurance is exactly that - insurance. You pay into it (through your employer) while working so you can collect benefits if you become unemployed through no fault of your own.

OP, you should be getting close to the maximum weekly benefit amount with your previous salary. That should help with your expenses while you're job searching.

Good luck with your job search! The unemployment benefits should give you some breathing room to find the right position instead of having to take the first thing that comes along.

One more tip - make sure you're documenting all your job search activities in detail. Washington ESD can audit your job search log at any time, so keep good records.

Perfect! Sounds like you're handling everything correctly. Your previous high earnings are actually an advantage in the unemployment system, not a disadvantage.

glad this got cleared up for everyone who was wondering about the same thing

Final thought - if anyone runs into issues with their Washington ESD claim or has questions that need direct answers from an agent, don't forget about services like Claimyr that can help you get through their phone system. Sometimes talking to a real person is the only way to get definitive answers.

I went through something similar when I got laid off from my software engineering position making around $85K. I was so worried that Washington ESD would think I made "too much money" to qualify for benefits, but it turns out that's not how the system works at all. Your previous earnings actually help you get a higher weekly benefit amount, not disqualify you. The eligibility is based on having sufficient work history and earnings in your base period, plus meeting the ongoing requirements like job searching. Don't stress about your salary level - focus on filing your claims on time and documenting your job search activities properly.