How much can you get unemployment benefits from Washington ESD in 2025?

So if I made like $14,000 in my best quarter, that would be around $538 divided by 26... wait that doesn't sound right?

No, you divide the $14,000 by 26 first to get about $538, then multiply by 0.0385 to get roughly $207 per week. The math is confusing but that's how Washington ESD does it.

Thanks! That makes more sense. So if my two best quarters were $13,500 and $14,200, that's $27,700 divided by 52 = about $532 weekly wage. Half of that would be around $266 per week?

Exactly! That sounds about right for your income level. Remember you can only collect for up to 26 weeks in most cases.

Never heard of that before. Did it actually work for you?

Yeah, got connected to a Washington ESD rep within like 20 minutes instead of spending all day trying to call. They were able to explain exactly how my benefits were calculated.

Interesting, I might have to check that out. I've been trying to reach them for weeks about my claim status.

Oh no, I didn't even think about taxes. How much extra should I expect to owe?

Depends on your tax bracket but unemployment is taxed as regular income. I'd suggest having them withhold 10% just to be safe.

I agree it's needlessly complex. Most other states have benefit calculators on their websites but Washington ESD doesn't seem to have one that works reliably.

Yeah I tried looking for a calculator online but couldn't find anything official from Washington ESD.

I don't have any dependents, just me. Good to know though.

The dependent allowance is like $33 per week per dependent I think, up to 5 dependents max.

How do you check if your wages were reported correctly?

You can request your wage history from Washington ESD once you start your claim. Compare it to your pay stubs to make sure everything matches up.

This is really important advice. Wage discrepancies can delay your claim for weeks while they investigate.

Yes, the maximum went up to $999 for 2025. They adjust it every year based on the average wage in Washington state.

Wow that's a big jump from last year! Though I doubt many people actually qualify for the maximum.

How many jobs do you have to apply for each week?

I think it's 3 job search activities per week minimum, but check the requirements when you file. They're pretty strict about documenting everything.

I got laid off due to company downsizing, so I think I should be okay on that front.

Layoffs usually qualify, but sometimes there can be issues if they contest your claim. Hopefully yours goes smoothly!

How much does something like that cost though?

Honestly didn't even care about the cost at that point, I just needed answers. The time I saved was worth it alone.

26 weeks should hopefully be enough time to find something new. The job market seems pretty good right now.

Yeah but sometimes it takes longer than you think, especially if you're picky about the type of work you'll accept.

What do you mean by base period? I thought it was just based on your recent earnings.

The base period is the first 4 quarters of the last 5 completed quarters before you file. So if you file in January 2025, your base period would be from July 2023 to June 2024, not your most recent work.

This is crucial information! Many people don't realize there's a lag in which earnings count toward their benefit calculation.

Good to know. I might pick up some part-time work while I'm looking for something full-time.

I think you can earn up to like 30% of your weekly benefit without any reduction, then after that they start deducting. But double-check that with Washington ESD.

I wouldn't trust third-party calculators. The Washington ESD website should have official information, or better yet, call them directly to get an accurate estimate.

Good luck getting through on the phone though. I tried for weeks before giving up and just filing my claim to see what happened.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr - couldn't get through any other way. Sometimes you just need to talk to an actual person to get real answers.

How long does it usually take to get your first payment?

If everything goes smoothly, maybe 2-3 weeks after you file. But if there are any issues or they need additional information, it can take much longer.

That's frustrating but I guess it makes sense if the calculations are based on different time periods.

Yeah the base period thing can really work for you or against you depending on when you file and what your earnings history looks like.

Good point. I was laid off last Friday so I should probably get my claim started this week.

Definitely don't wait. Every week you delay is a week of potential benefits you're losing out on.

Thanks for all the advice everyone! This has been really helpful. I feel much more prepared to file my claim now.

Good luck! Hope your claim goes smoothly and you find a new job soon.