How much do u get paid for unemployment in Washington state?
hey everyone, just wondering what the typical unemployment payment amounts are in washington? i might need to file soon and want to know what to expect. my last job was making about $45k annually. does anyone know the formula they use or what the max is? thanks
58 comments
Join the conversation
Yuki Sato
Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount (WBA) based on your highest quarter of earnings in your base period. The maximum weekly benefit is $999 in 2025. Your amount is typically around 50-60% of your average weekly wage, but it depends on your specific earnings history.
0 coins
StarStrider
•so if i was making $45k that would be around $865 per week before taxes right? so maybe like $400-500 weekly benefit?
0 coins
Yuki Sato
•That sounds about right. Keep in mind they'll withhold taxes if you elect to, and you'll need to file weekly claims to continue receiving benefits.
0 coins
Carmen Ruiz
I'm getting $743 per week right now. Was making around $65k before I got laid off. The process to actually GET the money though... that's another story. My claim was stuck in adjudication for almost a month.
0 coins
Andre Lefebvre
•ugh adjudication is the worst! how did you finally get through to them? ive been calling for weeks
0 coins
Carmen Ruiz
•Honestly I used this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual person at Washington ESD. Found it at claimyr.com and they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Saved me hours of calling and getting hung up on.
0 coins
Andre Lefebvre
•never heard of that but might be worth trying. this phone system is impossible
0 coins
Zoe Alexopoulos
The calculation is based on your base period wages. They take your highest quarter and divide by 26, then multiply by 0.0385 to get your weekly amount. But honestly, just use the benefit calculator on the Washington ESD website - it's pretty accurate.
0 coins
StarStrider
•oh theres a calculator? i didnt see that on their site. do you have a link?
0 coins
Zoe Alexopoulos
•It's buried in their website but if you search for 'benefit calculator' on esd.wa.gov you should find it. Much easier than doing the math yourself.
0 coins
Jamal Anderson
whatever you do dont expect to get paid right away. filed 3 weeks ago and still waiting. they ask for more documents every week it seems like
0 coins
Mei Wong
•That's unfortunately normal. Make sure you're responding to all requests quickly and keep filing your weekly claims even while waiting for approval.
0 coins
Jamal Anderson
•yeah im doing that but its stressful not knowing when the first payment will hit
0 coins
QuantumQuasar
I think the max is like $999 but most people dont get that unless they were making serious money. I was making $38k and get $385 per week.
0 coins
StarStrider
•ok so mine would probably be similar then. better than nothing i guess
0 coins
Yuki Sato
•Remember you can also get partial benefits if you find part-time work while looking for full-time. Washington ESD allows you to work up to a certain amount before they start reducing your benefits.
0 coins
Liam McGuire
Been on unemployment twice in the last 5 years. First time got $520/week, second time got $680/week because my wages were higher. The key is making sure all your employers reported your wages correctly. Had to fight with Washington ESD once because a previous employer didn't report properly.
0 coins
StarStrider
•how do you check if wages were reported right?
0 coins
Liam McGuire
•You can request your wage history from Washington ESD. They'll show you what each employer reported. If something's missing, you'll need to provide pay stubs or W-2s to prove your earnings.
0 coins
Amara Eze
dont forget about taxes!! they dont automatically withhold federal taxes unless you ask them to. learned that the hard way at tax time
0 coins
StarStrider
•oh crap i didnt think about that. so i should elect to have taxes taken out?
0 coins
Amara Eze
•i would. otherwise youll owe a bunch come april. they take out 10% for federal if you elect it
0 coins
Giovanni Greco
The job search requirements are no joke either. You need to do 3 job search activities per week and keep detailed records. Don't slack on this or they'll cut off your benefits.
0 coins
StarStrider
•what counts as job search activities?
0 coins
Giovanni Greco
•Applying for jobs, networking events, job fairs, informational interviews, updating your resume, online job training courses. They're pretty flexible but you need to log everything in WorkSourceWA.
0 coins
Fatima Al-Farsi
I was shocked how much paperwork is involved. They want proof of everything - your last day worked, reason for separation, any severance pay. Have all that ready before you file.
0 coins
StarStrider
•good to know. i should probably gather all that stuff now just in case
0 coins
Mei Wong
•Definitely prepare in advance. Also make sure you file your claim the week you become unemployed, not weeks later. You can't backdate benefits in most cases.
0 coins
Dylan Wright
WASHINGTON ESD IS A NIGHTMARE TO DEAL WITH. Took me 2 months to get my first payment because they kept asking for more verification. The whole system is broken.
0 coins
Sofia Torres
•I feel you. The phone system is especially terrible. Tried calling 50+ times one day and never got through.
0 coins
Carmen Ruiz
•That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr. They basically call for you and get you connected to an actual person. Worth every penny when you're dealing with urgent claim issues.
0 coins
GalacticGuardian
just remember that unemployment is temporary. the goal is to get back to work, not live on benefits forever. use the time to improve your skills or network
0 coins
StarStrider
•yeah definitely. just want to make sure i can pay rent while job hunting
0 coins
GalacticGuardian
•totally understand. that's exactly what the system is designed for - temporary support while you find your next opportunity
0 coins
Dmitry Smirnov
One thing to watch out for - if you quit your job (vs being laid off), you might not qualify for benefits. Washington ESD is strict about this. You need to have been terminated through no fault of your own.
0 coins
StarStrider
•good thing to know. i would be laid off if it happens so should be ok
0 coins
Dmitry Smirnov
•Yeah layoffs usually qualify. Just make sure you get documentation from your employer about the reason for termination.
0 coins
Ava Rodriguez
The waiting week is gone now which is nice. You can get paid for your first week of unemployment if you're approved. Used to have to wait a week before benefits started.
0 coins
StarStrider
•oh thats good. every week counts when you dont have income
0 coins
Ava Rodriguez
•Exactly. Just make sure you file your weekly claim every week even if your initial claim is still pending. You don't want to miss out on benefits you're entitled to.
0 coins
Miguel Diaz
i had to appeal my disqualification last year and actually won. dont give up if they deny your claim initially. sometimes they make mistakes
0 coins
StarStrider
•how long did the appeal take?
0 coins
Miguel Diaz
•About 6 weeks from when I filed to when I got the decision. But I got backpay for all the weeks I was waiting, so it was worth fighting for.
0 coins
Zainab Ahmed
Pro tip: if you're on standby (like seasonal work), the rules are different. You don't have to do job searches but you have to be available to return to work immediately when called back.
0 coins
StarStrider
•not my situation but good to know. this system seems really complicated
0 coins
Zainab Ahmed
•It is complicated but once you get the hang of it, it's manageable. The key is staying on top of your weekly claims and responding quickly to any requests.
0 coins
Connor Gallagher
Honestly the hardest part is getting through to someone when you have questions. I spent entire days calling and getting busy signals. There's gotta be a better way.
0 coins
AstroAlpha
•Have you tried calling right at 8am when they open? Sometimes you can get through faster.
0 coins
Carmen Ruiz
•That's hit or miss. I tried that for weeks with no luck. The Claimyr service I mentioned earlier was honestly the only thing that worked for me. They somehow get through when regular people can't.
0 coins
Yara Khoury
just want to add that if you worked in multiple states, you might need to file in the state where you earned the most wages. it gets complicated if you moved around for work
0 coins
StarStrider
•all my work has been in washington so should be straightforward
0 coins
Yara Khoury
•Yeah that makes it easier. Just file with Washington ESD and you should be good to go.
0 coins
Keisha Taylor
Make sure you understand the difference between your weekly benefit amount and your maximum benefit amount. The weekly is what you get each week, the maximum is the total you can receive during your benefit year.
0 coins
StarStrider
•how long is a benefit year?
0 coins
Keisha Taylor
•One year from when you first file your claim. And you can typically receive up to 26 weeks of benefits during that year, assuming you remain eligible.
0 coins
Paolo Longo
thanks everyone for all the info! feeling more prepared now if i do need to file. hopefully wont come to that but good to know what to expect
0 coins
Mei Wong
•Hope everything works out for you! If you do end up filing, don't hesitate to ask questions. This community is pretty helpful.
0 coins
StarStrider
•will do, thanks again everyone!
0 coins