How much do people make on unemployment in Washington - what's the actual weekly benefit amount?

Washington unemployment benefits are calculated based on your earnings during your base period, which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed. The weekly benefit amount ranges from $295 minimum to $1015 maximum as of 2025. Your exact amount depends on your quarterly wages during the base period.

i was making like $45k a year and got $487 per week from washington esd. not great but better than nothing i guess

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to check on your benefit calculation or claim status, I had good luck using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have this service that helps you actually reach an agent instead of getting stuck in phone tree hell. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made the whole process way less stressful for me.

The amount also depends on whether you qualify for any additional benefits or if you have dependents. Washington ESD adds money for dependent allowances in some cases. Plus there might be federal additions depending on economic conditions, though those change.

ugh the whole system is so confusing! I applied 2 months ago and still don't know exactly how much I'm supposed to get. My claim is stuck in adjudication and nobody at washington esd will tell me anything useful when I finally get through

From what I understand, if you were working part-time at $18/hour, your benefit amount might be on the lower end unless you were working a lot of hours consistently. Washington ESD looks at your total quarterly earnings, not just your hourly wage.

Whatever you do, make sure you file your weekly claims on time every week once you're approved. Missing even one week can mess up your whole claim and then you have to start over with the phone calls to fix it.

The job search requirements are probably more important to think about than just the money. You have to apply for jobs and keep a log or they'll cut off your benefits even if you're getting a decent amount.

Just to give you another data point - I was making about $50k salary and got $520 per week from Washington ESD. It covered most of my rent which was huge when I was out of work for 4 months.

THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN AND THEY DONT CARE ABOUT WORKING PEOPLE! I applied in November and still haven't gotten a single payment because of their stupid adjudication process. Meanwhile bills keep coming...

Does anyone know if the amounts have gone up recently? I got unemployment like 3 years ago but wondering if they've increased the maximum benefit amount since then.

One thing to keep in mind is that unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can have taxes withheld or pay quarterly, but don't forget about it come tax time!

honestly the hardest part isn't figuring out how much you'll get, it's actually getting through the application process without going insane from all the phone calls and waiting

If you do file, make sure you have all your employment history ready. Washington ESD will ask for employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and reason for separation for every job in the past 18 months.

My advice is just file and see what happens. Even if the amount isn't huge, having some income while job hunting is better than nothing. Plus you've been paying into the system through your paychecks, so you might as well use it when you need it.

Based on your part-time work at $18/hour for 25-30 hours weekly, you'll probably qualify for a decent benefit amount. I was in a similar situation - worked part-time retail and got around $340/week from Washington ESD. It's definitely worth filing since you've been consistently employed. The calculation uses your highest earning quarters, so if you've been working those hours regularly, you should be fine. Just make sure to apply as soon as possible since there's usually a one-week waiting period before benefits start.