Does unemployment pay weekly in Washington state?

Yes, Washington state unemployment pays weekly if you're eligible that week. You file your weekly claim and if approved, the payment is processed within 2-3 business days typically. Your neighbor might be confusing it with something else.

Thanks! So I should expect a payment every week as long as I file my weekly claim on time?

Exactly, as long as you meet the weekly requirements like being able and available for work and doing your job search activities.

The weekly benefit amount is calculated when your claim is initially processed. Washington ESD looks at your highest earning quarter and divides by 26 to get your weekly benefit amount. Then you get that amount each week you're eligible.

Is there a maximum weekly amount in Washington? I heard it was around $800 something but I'm not sure if that's current.

For 2025, the maximum weekly benefit amount in Washington is $929. But most people don't get the max - it depends on your previous earnings.

Just make sure you file your weekly claim every week even if you worked some hours. I made the mistake of not filing one week because I worked a few hours and it messed up my whole claim timeline.

Good to know! What happens if you work part time hours during a week?

You still file and report the hours worked. Washington ESD will reduce your benefit amount based on how much you earned, but you might still get a partial payment.

Yeah the partial payment calculation is tricky. I think you can earn up to a certain amount before they start reducing your benefits.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks to ask about my payment schedule but their phones are always busy. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there?

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents by phone. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

Is that legit? I'm desperate at this point but don't want to get scammed.

It's totally legitimate. They don't ask for your personal info or login details, they just help you get connected to an actual Washington ESD agent when you need to talk to someone.

The payments usually hit my account on Tuesday or Wednesday after I file my weekly claim on Sunday. Washington ESD processes them pretty quickly once you submit.

That's good to hear! Do you use direct deposit or the debit card?

Direct deposit. The debit card option is there too but I prefer having it go straight to my bank account.

One thing to remember is that there's a one week waiting period when you first file. So you won't get paid for your first week even if you're eligible. After that it's weekly payments.

Wait, so the first week you file you get nothing? That seems harsh when people are already struggling financially.

Yeah it's frustrating but that's how Washington state does it. The waiting week is basically to make sure your claim is legitimate and processed correctly.

At least it's only one week. Some states have longer waiting periods I think.

Make sure you keep doing your job search requirements every week too. Washington ESD requires you to make contact with at least 3 employers per week and keep a log of your job search activities.

Do they actually check the job search log or is it just something you have to keep in case they ask?

They can audit you at any time and ask for your job search records. If you can't provide them, they'll disqualify you and make you pay back benefits. So definitely keep detailed records.

The weekly filing deadline is important too. I think you have until the end of the week to file but it's better to do it as early as possible to avoid any issues.

I always file mine on Sunday morning right when the system opens up the new week. Becomes a routine after a while.

Good habit. I missed a deadline once and had to call Washington ESD to reopen my claim. That was a nightmare with their phone system.

Has anyone had issues with their weekly payments being delayed? Mine was supposed to come yesterday but nothing yet.

Sometimes there are processing delays, especially around holidays. Check your account online to see if there are any issues with your claim.

I checked and it just says 'paid' but no money in my account yet. Maybe it's just a bank processing delay.

If you're using the state debit card, sometimes those take an extra day to process compared to direct deposit.

For anyone new to this, the Washington ESD website has a good breakdown of the weekly claim process and payment schedule. Worth reading through if you're confused about anything.

Their website is actually pretty helpful once you figure out how to navigate it. The claim status page shows exactly where you stand with payments.

True, though sometimes the website is down for maintenance which is annoying when you need to file your weekly claim.

Just to clarify for everyone - yes Washington unemployment pays weekly, but you have to file your weekly claim every single week to get paid. Miss a week and you lose that week's benefits permanently.

That's a good point. You can't go back and file for missed weeks later, so definitely stay on top of the weekly filing schedule.

Unless there's a good cause reason for missing the deadline, but that's rare and you'd have to appeal it.

I've been on unemployment for two months now and the weekly payments have been consistent. As long as you follow the rules and file on time, Washington ESD is pretty reliable with getting payments out.

That's reassuring to hear! Thanks everyone for all the helpful information.

No problem! This stuff can be confusing at first but you'll get into a routine quickly.

One thing that helped me when I started was setting up a calendar reminder for Sunday mornings to file my weekly claim. Washington ESD opens the system at 6 AM on Sundays for the new week, so I just make it part of my Sunday routine. Also, if you're worried about missing the payment timeline, you can sign up for text alerts through your account - they'll remind you when it's time to file and when payments are processed.