How much do I get with Washington ESD unemployment benefits - weekly amount calculation?

Thanks! So they look at my best quarter, not my average over the whole year? That's actually better than I thought.

Yeah the highest quarter thing helps a lot if you had overtime or a raise recently. Just make sure all your wages are reported correctly when you file.

That's helpful math, thanks. I think my best quarter was probably around $9,600 so that would put me at about $370 weekly.

Just remember that's before taxes if you elect to have them withheld. I always recommend having the 10% federal tax taken out so you don't owe at the end of the year.

I had the same problem last month! I ended up using claimyr.com to get through to an actual person at Washington ESD. It's a service that calls for you and waits on hold, then connects you when someone picks up. Saved me hours of redialing. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Really? That actually sounds useful. How long did it take them to get you connected?

About 45 minutes on average, but I could do other things while they waited. Way better than sitting on hold myself for hours.

You're thinking of the base year requirements. You need to have worked in at least 2 quarters during your base year and earned at least $4,400 total to qualify. But once you qualify, your weekly amount is based on that highest quarter calculation.

ok good cause i was worried id get less since im pretty new to the workforce

Yes, all wages reported on your W-2 count including bonuses, overtime, and commissions. That Christmas bonus should definitely help your benefit calculation if Q4 2024 ends up being your highest quarter.

That's great news! My bonus was like $2,800 so that could really help my weekly amount.

I agree the process could be clearer. But at least Washington has decent benefit amounts compared to some states. My cousin in Florida maxes out at like $275 per week.

Yeah we're definitely better off here. I was getting $680 per week when I was on unemployment last year, which actually covered most of my bills.

I didn't know about the benefit year thing. So if I find a job in 2 months but get laid off again in 6 months, I could still use the same claim?

Exactly, as long as it's within that 52-week period and you haven't used up all 26 weeks of benefits. You'd just reopen the existing claim rather than filing a new one.

You should get your determination letter within about a week of filing. That'll show your weekly benefit amount and how many weeks you're eligible for. Hang in there!

If you need to speed up getting information about your claim status, I had good luck with Claimyr when I was waiting on my determination. They got me through to someone at Washington ESD who could tell me what was happening with my claim.

Yes, it increased from $929 to $999 per week for 2025. They adjust it annually based on the state average weekly wage. The minimum also went up to $295.

That's a decent increase! Good to know they're keeping up with inflation somewhat.

That's actually pretty close to what I calculated for myself. Thanks for sharing - it helps to hear from someone in a similar situation.

How long did it take you to find another job if you don't mind me asking?

About 14 weeks, but I was being pretty picky about the job. Could have found something sooner if I'd been less selective about the company and pay.

Good point! I'll definitely set that up when I file. How long does the first payment usually take?

If everything goes smoothly and there's no adjudication issues, usually about 2-3 weeks after you file for your first payment. But make sure you file your weekly claims on time every week.

Yeah their website tools are pretty hit or miss. I've had better luck just calling when I need specific information, though getting through can be a challenge.

That's when services like Claimyr come in handy. I used them twice when I couldn't get through on my own and it was worth it to actually talk to someone instead of guessing.

Yeah I read about that requirement. Do online applications count as contacts or do you need to do something more?

Online applications definitely count! You just need to keep track of the employer name, date, position applied for, and method of contact. Pretty straightforward.

Also attending job fairs or networking events can count toward your work search requirements. There are usually several options each week to meet the requirement.