How much can I get for unemployment benefits in Washington state?

Thanks! So they look at quarters not annual salary? That makes more sense now.

yeah but remember you also have to meet the minimum earnings requirement across all quarters in your base period

Thanks! So if I'm making $52k annually, that's about $1000 per week. Does that mean I'd get around $600-700 weekly?

That's in the right ballpark, but Washington ESD uses a specific formula based on your quarterly earnings. You'll need to look at your actual wage history to get the exact amount.

Do I need to wait for that letter to know my amount or can I estimate it myself?

You can estimate using the formula but the official amount comes in the monetary determination. Usually takes a few days after filing.

Ugh, that's what I was afraid of. The phone lines are always busy when I try calling Washington ESD.

I used Claimyr.com to get through to Washington ESD when I couldn't reach them. They handle the calling for you and it actually worked. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

I don't have any kids, so I guess that doesn't apply to me.

Then it's just based on your earnings. The dependent allowance is $25 per child up to 5 kids, so that can add up.

Same problem here! I've called probably 50+ times and never get through. It's so frustrating when you need answers about your claim.

Try calling right at 8am when they open, that's usually your best bet. But even then it's hit or miss.

I actually found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to Washington ESD. You can check them out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Basically they handle the calling for you and connect you when an agent is available.

Good to know! I might do some freelance work so that's important.

Actually it's not dollar for dollar immediately. You can earn up to 1.5 times your weekly benefit amount before they start reducing it significantly.

That's helpful context, thanks! My income has been pretty steady so hopefully similar.

did you have to wait long for your first payment? i filed 2 weeks ago and still nothing

It took about 3 weeks for my first payment, but that included the waiting week they used to have. Not sure if that's still a thing in 2025.

Oh that's good news about no waiting week!

Yeah the waiting week elimination was a huge help. Made a big difference when I was laid off last year.

Oh wow, I didn't know they were taxable. Should I have them withhold taxes then?

It's up to you. If you don't have them withhold, just make sure you set aside money for taxes. Washington ESD will send you a 1099-G form at the end of the year.

I made the mistake of not withholding taxes and owed like $1800 when I filed. Definitely recommend having them take out the 10% federal tax.

The minimum weekly benefit amount in Washington is $295 as of 2025. So even if your calculation is lower, you'll get at least that much.

wow $295 minimum is actually pretty decent compared to other states

What counts as a job search activity? Just applying to jobs?

Applying to jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, skills training, even some online job search activities count. They have a list on the Washington ESD website.

make sure you keep track of everything in your job search log or they can disqualify you

What counts as a job search contact? Just applying for jobs?

Applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, informational interviews. There's a whole list on the Washington ESD website of what qualifies.

I was laid off so hopefully that won't be an issue for me.

Being laid off is usually straightforward. It's the quit cases that get complicated and take forever to resolve.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr. I was in adjudication hell for weeks and couldn't get through to anyone. Once I got connected through their service, the agent was able to explain what documents they needed and got it resolved in a few days.

How does that work exactly? Do they just keep calling for you?

Yeah basically. You give them your info and they handle all the calling and waiting. When they get an agent on the line, they connect you. Way better than spending hours trying to call yourself.

26 weeks should be enough time to find something new. Hopefully it doesn't take that long.

Yeah, that's about 6 months. Just make sure you're actively looking and documenting your job search activities.

The chat is pretty limited. They can answer basic questions but anything complex they tell you to call. And good luck with that lol

I tried the chat for a simple question about my payment date and even that took 45 minutes to get connected. Not worth it.

That's exactly why I started using Claimyr. They call Washington ESD for you and get you connected to an actual agent. Saved me hours of trying to call myself.

Is that legit? I'm skeptical of third-party services but I'm desperate to get answers.

Yeah it's legitimate. They don't ask for your personal info or anything sketchy. Just helps you get through the phone system. Check out their demo video to see how it works.

That's reassuring! I'll try to calculate it myself while waiting for the official determination.

Just make sure you're using the right quarters for your base period. That's where most people mess up the calculation.

Good point about taxes. I'll probably have them withhold it to avoid a big bill later.

yeah learned that the hard way. Owed like $2000 in taxes on my unemployment benefits when I filed my return

The appeal process is another area where getting an agent on the phone helps. They can explain exactly what evidence you need for your hearing.

I had to appeal a disqualification last year and Claimyr helped me get through to discuss my case before the hearing. Having that conversation made a huge difference in preparing my argument.

Yeah that's about what I was hoping for. Should cover my basic expenses while I look for something new.

Make sure to apply as soon as possible after your last day of work. There's no benefit to waiting and you might miss out on money.

My company said they'd give me 2 weeks severance. How does that work with unemployment?

You'd need to report the severance when you file your claim. Washington ESD will tell you how it affects your benefits. It might delay when you can start collecting.

What's the waiting week?

The first week of your claim is unpaid - it's called the waiting week. So even if you're approved immediately, you won't get paid for that first week.

Actually, I think Washington eliminated the waiting week a few years ago. You should get paid for the first week now.

I've been at my current job for 3 years, so I should be fine on that front.

Yeah, 3 years is plenty. You need to have earned at least $1,000 in your base year and meet some other wage requirements, but you should easily qualify.

Good point. I should gather that information now before I actually need to file.

Exactly. Having everything ready makes the filing process much smoother. Also keep any documentation about your job separation.

I tried using that too but got confused by all the quarterly earnings stuff.

The estimator tool is garbage. I ended up calling Washington ESD directly, but had to use Claimyr to actually get through to someone who could help me calculate my benefits.

How much can you earn before it affects your benefits?

In Washington, you can earn up to your weekly benefit amount minus $5 before they start reducing your benefits. So if your weekly benefit is $500, you can earn up to $495 without any reduction.

That makes sense. I was wondering if I should use my salary before or after taxes and deductions.

Definitely use your gross pay. Washington ESD looks at what your employer reported to them, which is your gross wages.

What if I want to go back to school while collecting unemployment?

There are some programs that allow you to collect unemployment while in approved training programs, but you'd need to get approval from Washington ESD first.

The Training Benefits program is what you're thinking of. But you have to get approved before you start school, not after.