How much are unemployment benefits in Washington state?

Washington unemployment benefits are calculated based on your highest earning quarter in your base period. The maximum weekly benefit amount is currently $999 per week. Your benefit amount depends on your wages during the base period, which is typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim.

Washington unemployment benefits are calculated based on your highest earning quarter from the past year. The maximum weekly benefit amount for 2025 is $999 per week, but most people get somewhere between $300-700 depending on their previous wages. They take your highest quarter earnings, divide by 26, then you get about 50% of that amount weekly.

I was making about the same and got $487 per week when I filed last year. But it took forever to get through to Washington ESD to verify my claim details.

The waiting is the worst part honestly. I've been trying to reach Washington ESD for two weeks about my benefit amount calculation and can never get through. I found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to ESD agents - check out claimyr.com. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Just went through this process last month. The calculation can be confusing but Washington ESD has a benefit estimator tool on their website that's pretty accurate. You'll need your wage info from the past 18 months. One thing to know is that you won't get the full amount right away - there's usually a waiting week.

Just to clarify the calculation - Washington uses your two highest quarters of earnings in your base period. They add those together, divide by 2, then multiply by 0.0385 to get your weekly benefit amount. The minimum is $295 and maximum is $999 per week as of 2025.

don't forget about taxes!! unemployment benefits are taxable income so you'll owe on it at the end of the year unless you have them withhold

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks to ask about my benefit calculation because the amount seems wrong. Their phone lines are always busy and I can never get anyone on the line. So frustrating when you need answers about your claim.

The amounts seem decent but the system is so confusing. I made $48k last year and got $412 weekly. But then I had issues with my job search requirements and almost lost benefits. Washington ESD is strict about the work search rules.

The benefit amount also depends on whether you have any dependents. If you have dependent children under 18, you can get an additional amount added to your weekly benefit. I think it's like $25 per dependent child but don't quote me on the exact number.

I'm getting $623 weekly but I was making $72k before I got laid off. The calculation seems fair based on what I paid into the system over the years.

One thing people don't realize is that unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld from your weekly payments or you'll owe when you file your tax return. I learned this the hard way and ended up owing a big chunk at tax time.

Your benefit amount also depends on how long you've been working. You need to have earned a certain minimum amount in your base period to qualify. I think it's like $5,000 total earnings in your base period but the exact requirements are on the Washington ESD website.

Quick question - do part-time wages count toward the benefit calculation? I had a part-time job for 6 months before my full-time position.

I got laid off in December and my weekly benefit amount is $445. I was making about $48k annually. The calculation seemed pretty accurate based on what others have described here. The hardest part was actually getting through the initial application process - so many technical glitches on their website.

The system crashed on me 3 times trying to file my weekly claim yesterday. Anyone else having tech issues with the Washington ESD website?

The benefit calculator on Washington ESD's website is pretty accurate. I used it before filing and my actual weekly amount was within $10 of the estimate. Just make sure you have your wage information handy - you'll need pay stubs or tax documents.

For anyone still struggling to get through to Washington ESD by phone, I had success with Claimyr last month. It's a callback service that gets you connected to an actual ESD agent without waiting on hold forever. Really saved me a lot of frustration when I needed to resolve a claim issue.

Does anyone know if the benefit amounts change each year? I'm wondering if I should expect the same amount if I have to file again next year.

Don't forget that you have to file weekly claims to actually receive your benefits. The benefit amount is just what you're eligible for - you won't get paid unless you certify each week that you're still unemployed and looking for work. Miss a week and you don't get paid for that week.

I was shocked how much paperwork there is. The monetary determination letter is confusing and I couldn't figure out if my amount was right. Ended up having to call Washington ESD to verify.

Been on unemployment for 4 weeks now. The payments are consistent once you get into the routine of filing weekly claims. Just make sure you file on time - there's no grace period if you miss your week.

Washington ESD also has a waiting week - your first week of unemployment doesn't get paid even if you're eligible. Just something to keep in mind when budgeting.

The benefit calculator on the Washington ESD website is pretty accurate if you have your wage information handy. Helped me estimate before I filed.

Remember you can work part-time and still collect partial benefits if your earnings are low enough. Washington has a formula for that too - they don't just cut you off completely.

Just want to mention that if you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD, there's a service called Claimyr that can help get you connected to agents quickly. I used it when I needed clarification on my benefit amount and it worked great - saved me hours of calling.

One more thing - if you disagree with your benefit amount determination, you can appeal it. But you need to do it quickly after you get your monetary determination letter.

The whole process seems overwhelming but once you get started it's not too bad. The hardest part is getting accurate information upfront about what to expect.

I've been on unemployment for 8 weeks now and the payments have been consistent once everything got set up. The direct deposit usually hits my account on Tuesdays if I file my weekly claim by Sunday. The system works pretty well once you get past the initial setup phase.

Just a heads up that if you're collecting unemployment, you're required to actively search for work and keep records of your job search activities. They can audit you and ask for proof, so make sure you're actually applying to jobs and keeping documentation.

Worth mentioning that if you find part-time work while collecting unemployment, you can sometimes still receive partial benefits. They have a formula for calculating reduced benefits based on how much you earn. It's not dollar-for-dollar reduction.

I had issues with my benefit calculation and spent hours trying to reach Washington ESD by phone. Finally used Claimyr to get through and they were able to fix the error in my base period wages. The agent explained that a previous employer had reported my wages incorrectly. Without being able to actually talk to someone, I never would have gotten that resolved.

Also remember that unemployment benefits are temporary - there's a maximum number of weeks you can collect. In Washington it's typically 26 weeks of regular unemployment, though that can be extended during economic downturns. Plan accordingly and use the time to actively job search.