How much can you get for unemployment in Washington state?

Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your highest earning quarter in your base year. For 2025, the maximum weekly benefit is $929 plus a $25 dependency allowance if you have dependents. The minimum is $295 per week. Your exact amount depends on your work history and earnings.

The formula is your highest quarter earnings divided by 26, but there's also a cap. If you made $37k annually, you'd likely get somewhere between $450-$550 weekly depending on how your earnings were distributed across quarters. You can use the Washington ESD benefit calculator on their website to get a more accurate estimate.

I've been getting $487 per week since I got laid off in December. The process wasn't too bad once I figured out how to navigate the Washington ESD website. Just make sure you file your weekly claims on time every week or you'll lose those benefits.

Been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks to check on my benefit amount calculation. Their phone system is absolutely terrible - either busy signals or I get disconnected after waiting on hold forever. Anyone found a better way to reach them?

just remember that unemployment is taxable income so don't spend it all thinking you're getting free money. you'll owe taxes on it next year unless you have them withhold it

The amount varies SO much depending on your work history. I was making $25/hour and only getting $623/week because I had a gap in employment the year before. The base year calculation really matters - they look at the first four of the last five completed quarters before you file.

DON'T FORGET about the job search requirements!!! You have to apply for 3 jobs per week and keep a log or they'll cut off your benefits. I learned this the hard way when they disqualified me for not meeting the work search requirements.

I've been on unemployment for 4 months now and honestly the weekly amount isn't enough to cover all my bills but it definitely helps. Getting around $445/week which covers my rent at least. The key is filing consistently and not missing any weekly claims.

For retail workers like yourself, you should definitely apply! The benefits are designed to replace about 50% of your average weekly wages up to the maximum. Even if you get the lower end, it's better than nothing while you're job hunting.

Washington state has some of the higher unemployment benefits in the country, so you're in a good position. I moved here from Texas where the max was like $535/week. Here I'm getting $740/week which actually makes a difference.

One thing to watch out for - if you have any issues with your claim going into adjudication, it can take FOREVER to resolve. I've been waiting 8 weeks for them to decide on my eligibility issue. Tried calling dozens of times but can never get through.

The Washington ESD website has a benefit calculator that's pretty accurate. Just plug in your quarterly earnings and it'll give you an estimate. Way easier than trying to do the math yourself or wait on hold for hours to ask someone.

Been getting unemployment for 2 months now and the weekly amount has been consistent at $567. The key things are: file immediately after job loss, do your weekly claims religiously every Sunday, keep detailed job search records, and be patient with the initial processing time.

For your income level, you're probably looking at somewhere around $450-550 per week based on what others have shared. That's actually decent compared to what some states pay. The Washington ESD system isn't perfect but the benefit amounts are reasonable.

Just a heads up - they recently updated some of the job search requirements so make sure you're looking at current info on the Washington ESD website. The rules change sometimes and you don't want to get caught off guard.