How much do you get for dependents on Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

Washington doesn't give extra money for dependents on regular unemployment. Your weekly benefit amount is based only on your wages from the base period, not family size.

Really? That's disappointing. I thought most states did that.

Yeah it's frustrating. Some states give like $25-50 per dependent but Washington ESD doesn't do that.

Correct, Washington state unemployment benefits don't include dependent allowances. Your weekly benefit amount is calculated as roughly 3.85% of your total wages in your highest earning quarter during the base period, up to the maximum of $999 per week for 2025.

Ok thanks for the formula. So if I made $15,000 in my highest quarter that would be about $577 per week?

Yes, that's approximately correct. The exact calculation might vary slightly due to rounding but that's the right ballpark.

This is so frustrating trying to get through to Washington ESD to ask questions like this! I've been trying to call for days and either get busy signals or get disconnected after waiting on hold for hours.

I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com. They handle the calling and waiting for you and connect you directly to a Washington ESD agent when one becomes available. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

That sounds too good to be true. How much does it cost?

It's worth it for the time saved. No more sitting on hold for hours or getting disconnected. They handle all the waiting and just call you back when they get an agent on the line.

Wait, are you sure about no dependent benefits? I swear I read somewhere that Washington does give extra for kids.

You might be thinking of other benefit programs like TANF or food stamps. Washington ESD unemployment insurance doesn't provide dependent allowances.

Oh yeah that's probably what I was thinking of. Thanks for clarifying!

this is bullshit that they dont give extra for kids when you're already struggling to find work! How are we supposed to feed our families on the basic amount?

I feel you. It's really hard especially with inflation. You might want to look into WIC or SNAP benefits to help with food costs.

Yeah I'm already on WIC but it doesn't cover everything. Just frustrating that unemployment doesn't consider family size at all.

The reason Washington doesn't do dependent allowances is because unemployment insurance is meant to replace a percentage of your lost wages, not provide family support. That's what other programs like TANF are for.

That's a nice theory but when you're actually unemployed with kids it doesn't help much.

I understand the frustration. Just explaining the reasoning behind the policy.

I looked this up when I was on unemployment last year. Only about 13 states give dependent allowances. Most states including Washington base it purely on your past wages.

Which states do give extra for dependents? Maybe I should move lol

I think Illinois, Michigan, and a few others do. But you'd have to establish residency and work history there first.

Just to be clear - when you file your weekly claims with Washington ESD, you don't need to report your dependents or anything like that since it doesn't affect your benefit amount anyway.

Good to know, thanks. One less thing to worry about on the weekly claims.

Update: I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned and finally got through to Washington ESD! The agent confirmed no dependent allowances in Washington state. Took about 30 minutes total instead of the hours I was spending trying to call myself.

Glad it worked for you! That's exactly why I recommended it. So much easier than the traditional calling method.

Might have to try that myself. I have some questions about my claim status and can never get through.

For what it's worth, even though Washington doesn't give dependent allowances, the maximum weekly benefit of $999 is higher than a lot of other states. So it kind of balances out.

That's true, I guess. Still would be nice to get something extra for the kids though.

The $999 maximum is only for people who had very high wages though. Most people get much less than that.

my sister lives in massachusetts and she gets an extra $25 per week per kid on her unemployment. wish washington did that too

Different states have different policies. Washington focuses on having a higher base benefit amount instead of add-ons.

I'm a single mom with three kids and when I was on unemployment it was really tough. Had to apply for emergency assistance through DSHS to make ends meet. No dependent allowance definitely makes it harder.

That's exactly what I'm worried about. Did DSHS help much?

Yeah they have emergency food assistance and sometimes help with utilities. Worth applying if you're struggling.

Check if you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit when you file your taxes. It can be a big help for families with kids, especially if you had periods of unemployment.

Good point! I'll make sure to look into that when tax time comes around.

Just wanted to confirm again - Washington ESD does NOT provide dependent allowances. Your weekly benefit amount is based solely on your wages during the base period. If you need help with family expenses, look into other programs like SNAP, WIC, or TANF.

Thanks everyone for all the info! Disappointing but at least now I know what to expect.

Pro tip: if you're having trouble making ends meet on unemployment, many food banks don't require any paperwork. Just show up and they'll help. Also check 211.org for local resources.

That's really helpful, thank you. I'll bookmark that site.

Food banks were a lifesaver when I was unemployed. No shame in using them when you need help.

Does anyone know if this might change in the future? Seems like with inflation and cost of living going up, dependent allowances would make sense.

Changes to unemployment benefits require legislative action. There's no current proposal in Washington state that I'm aware of to add dependent allowances.

Maybe we should start contacting our representatives about this. Other states do it so why not Washington?

I had to use Claimyr too to get through to Washington ESD about my claim. Worth every penny to avoid the endless hold times and busy signals. The agent I spoke with was very helpful and confirmed everything people are saying here about no dependent benefits.

Right? Such a game changer compared to trying to call yourself. I probably saved 10+ hours of frustration.

Bottom line: Washington unemployment = no extra money for dependents. Benefit amount is based on your work history only. Look into other assistance programs if you need help with family expenses.

Got it. Thanks everyone for taking the time to explain this. Really appreciate all the helpful info and suggestions!

I went through this same situation last year with my two kids. It's tough that Washington doesn't offer dependent allowances, but I found a few things that helped. First, make sure you're getting all the assistance you qualify for - WIC, SNAP, and local food banks really help stretch your unemployment benefits. Also, some utility companies have assistance programs for unemployed families. The 211 helpline someone mentioned is great for finding local resources. While the lack of dependent benefits is frustrating, Washington's unemployment system does process claims pretty efficiently once you get everything set up. Hang in there!