How much can u get from Washington ESD unemployment benefits in 2025?
Does anyone know what the maximum weekly benefit amount is for Washington ESD unemployment right now? I'm trying to figure out if it's worth filing or if I should just find another job ASAP. My last job paid around $55k annually but I'm not sure how they calculate the weekly payments. Also wondering about the duration - is it still 26 weeks max or did that change? Thanks in advance for any info.
42 comments
Join the conversation
Julia Hall
The maximum weekly benefit amount in Washington for 2025 is $999 per week. Your actual amount depends on your wages from the highest quarter in your base period. Generally it's about 3.85% of your total base period wages divided by 52, but there's a formula they use. Duration is typically 26 weeks but can vary based on your work history and the unemployment rate.
0 coins
Evelyn Rivera
•Thanks! So with my salary I might qualify for close to the max? That would definitely make it worth filing.
0 coins
Arjun Patel
•yeah but good luck actually getting through to them to file your claim, their phone system is a nightmare
0 coins
Jade Lopez
I've been trying to get answers about my benefit calculation for weeks. Washington ESD's website has all these confusing tables and I can't reach anyone by phone. The automated system just hangs up on me after waiting an hour. This is so frustrating!
0 coins
Tony Brooks
•I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works. Saved me so much time and stress.
0 coins
Ella rollingthunder87
•Same boat here. Been trying to call for 3 weeks straight, no luck getting through.
0 coins
Yara Campbell
Your weekly benefit amount is calculated using your highest earning quarter from your base period. For someone making $55k, you'd probably get somewhere between $650-850 per week depending on how your earnings were distributed. The exact formula is: (highest quarter wages ÷ 26) × 0.0385, but it gets capped at the maximum.
0 coins
Evelyn Rivera
•That math helps a lot, thank you! So it really depends on which quarter I made the most money.
0 coins
Isaac Wright
•wait i thought it was divided by 52 not 26?
0 coins
Yara Campbell
•No, it's 26. Common confusion. The 52 weeks is for something else in the calculation.
0 coins
Arjun Patel
honestly the amount doesn't matter if you can't even file your claim in the first place. washington esd is impossible to reach and their online system crashes half the time
0 coins
Maya Diaz
•This! I've been trying to file for 2 weeks and keep getting error messages.
0 coins
Julia Hall
•The online system works better early morning or late evening when there's less traffic. Try around 6 AM or after 8 PM.
0 coins
Tami Morgan
I just got approved last month after being laid off from a $58k job. My weekly benefit is $847. The process took about 3 weeks total including the waiting week. You have to file weekly claims and do job searches - 3 per week minimum.
0 coins
Evelyn Rivera
•That's really helpful to know a real example. How many job searches do you actually have to do?
0 coins
Tami Morgan
•Three job search activities per week. Can be applications, networking, job fairs, interviews, etc. You log them in WorkSourceWA.
0 coins
Rami Samuels
•wait they actually check those job search logs? i thought it was just honor system
0 coins
Tami Morgan
•They do spot checks and audits. Better to be honest because if they catch you lying it's fraud.
0 coins
Ella rollingthunder87
The whole system is broken IMO. Even when you qualify for the max amount, actually getting it is another story. I qualified for $920/week but my claim has been in adjudication for over a month.
0 coins
Haley Bennett
•Adjudication hell is real. Have you tried calling to check on it?
0 coins
Ella rollingthunder87
•LOL tried calling? I've called probably 200 times. Never get through.
0 coins
Douglas Foster
•I was stuck in adjudication too until I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Got connected to an agent same day and they cleared up my issue in 10 minutes. Worth every penny honestly.
0 coins
Nina Chan
Don't forget about taxes! The unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can have them withhold 10% for federal taxes but you might still owe more at tax time.
0 coins
Evelyn Rivera
•Good point, I hadn't thought about taxes. So the weekly amount isn't what you actually take home.
0 coins
Ruby Knight
•Yeah I learned that the hard way last year. Owed like $2000 in taxes because I didn't have enough withheld.
0 coins
Diego Castillo
The maximum changes every year based on the state's average wage. In 2024 it was $929, now it's $999 for 2025. Your individual amount depends on your wage history in what they call your 'base period' - usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file.
0 coins
Evelyn Rivera
•So timing of when you file matters for which quarters they look at?
0 coins
Diego Castillo
•Exactly. If you file in January 2025, they'd typically look at Q1 2024 through Q4 2024 for your base period wages.
0 coins
Logan Stewart
idk why everyone complains about calling washington esd... just call right at 8am when they open and you'll get through eventually
0 coins
Mikayla Brown
•" Eventually being the key word there. I called at 8:01 AM and was still on hold for 90 minutes before givingup.
0 coins
Sean Matthews
•90 minutes? Amateur hour. I once waited 4 hours just to get disconnected when they transferred me.
0 coins
Ali Anderson
•That's exactly why services like Claimyr exist. They do all that waiting for you so you don't have to waste your whole day on hold.
0 coins
Zadie Patel
For what it's worth, I think the benefit calculation is fair. My husband made $48k and gets $710/week, I made $62k and get $891/week. It's roughly proportional to what you earned.
0 coins
Evelyn Rivera
•Those numbers sound about right based on what others have said. Thanks for sharing real examples.
0 coins
A Man D Mortal
•Did you both file at the same time? Wondering if there are any differences in processing times.
0 coins
Zadie Patel
•We filed about a week apart. His went through faster, mine took longer because they needed to verify some employment dates.
0 coins
Declan Ramirez
Just remember you have to be actively looking for work and available to accept suitable employment. The job search requirement isn't just busywork - they really do check on it sometimes.
0 coins
Emma Morales
•What counts as 'suitable employment'? Can they make you take any job?
0 coins
Declan Ramirez
•Generally has to be in your field or pay at least 80% of your previous wage, but the standards get looser the longer you're unemployed.
0 coins
Katherine Hunter
Bottom line OP - with your salary you'll probably get $700-900/week for up to 26 weeks. Definitely worth filing if you qualify. Just be prepared for the bureaucracy and phone system frustrations.
0 coins
Evelyn Rivera
•Thanks everyone for all the info! Sounds like I should definitely file. Now I just need to figure out how to actually get through to them...
0 coins
Lucas Parker
•Good luck! And seriously consider that Claimyr thing if you get stuck trying to reach them. Wish I had known about it sooner.
0 coins