How much do you get for unemployment benefits in Washington - what's the weekly amount?

Thanks! So if I made around $12,600 in my highest quarter, that would be about $485 per week? That's actually better than I expected.

Yeah that sounds about right. Just remember you'll need to file your weekly claims every week and meet the job search requirements to keep getting benefits.

They adjust it annually based on average wages. It went up from $929 to $999 for 2025.

good to know, thanks for the update

That's actually higher than I expected! So they look at my best quarter, not my total annual income?

Exactly - they take your highest earning quarter and divide by 13 weeks, then calculate about 50% of that amount for your weekly benefit.

I had the same problem until I found claimyr.com - they help you get through to Washington ESD agents. Costs a bit but saved me literally days of calling. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

Interesting, I'll check that out. At this point anything is better than the endless busy signals.

I used Claimyr too when my claim got stuck in adjudication. Worth every penny to actually speak to a real person at Washington ESD instead of the automated system.

Oh wow I didn't think about that. Can you have them withhold taxes from the weekly payments?

yeah you can elect to have 10% withheld when you file your weekly claim. I'd recommend it

Did you have any trouble getting approved or did it go smoothly?

took about 3 weeks to get my first payment but no major issues. just had to do the job search stuff every week

Never heard of that before - does it actually work or is it just another scam?

It's legit - basically automates the calling process so you don't have to sit on hold for hours. Saved me tons of time when I needed to talk to someone about my adjudication.

Actually I think you might be mixing up the calculation method - they do use the highest quarter approach for the weekly benefit calculation.

You're right, I was thinking of the total benefit amount calculation. The weekly amount is indeed based on highest quarter earnings.

This is getting confusing - so many different rules! Maybe I should just apply and see what they give me.

It's actually your weekly benefit amount divided by 4. So if your weekly benefit is $400, you can earn up to $100 before they reduce your benefits.

thanks for the correction, I was way off on that number

I feel you on this. The weekly amounts barely cover rent let alone everything else.

What are the job search requirements like? Is it hard to meet them?

Good to know about the dependent allowance - I have two kids so that extra $25 would help.

Wait is it $25 total or $25 per dependent? I thought it was per kid.

It's $25 total regardless of how many dependents you have, not per child.

So if I get $485 per week, my maximum would be around $12,610 for the whole year?

Exactly. And once you hit that maximum, your benefits stop even if you haven't found work yet.

How long does the whole process take from application to first payment?

if everything goes smooth maybe 2-3 weeks. but if they have to do adjudication or verify stuff it can take way longer

Standby is for people who expect to return to their job within a specific timeframe. The benefit amount is calculated the same way, but you don't have to do job searches since you're expecting to go back to work.

ah ok that makes sense, thanks

That's helpful to know. Did you have any issues with the initial claim or did it go through smoothly?

Mine went through pretty quick, about 2 weeks from filing to first payment. But I know some people get stuck in adjudication for months.

I feel your pain. When I was stuck in adjudication I used Claimyr to get through to an agent who could explain what was holding up my claim. Turned out they needed additional documentation that I had no idea about.

Maybe I should try that. I'm desperate at this point.

That's a huge difference! Makes me wonder if there are strategies to maximize your benefit amount.

The timing of when you file can definitely affect which quarters they use for your base period calculation.

With partial unemployment, your weekly benefit amount stays the same but they'll reduce your payment based on how much you earn that week. So if you're approved for $400/week but earn $150 in wages, you'd get $250 in benefits.

Got it, so the calculation is the same but the actual payment varies. Thanks!

Yeah I was laid off so that shouldn't be an issue. Company is downsizing unfortunately.

Good then you should be fine. Just make sure you have all your employment documentation ready when you apply.

That's reassuring. I'm mostly worried about making my mortgage payments but it sounds like the benefits should cover most of my basic expenses.

Yeah, it's not luxury living but it's enough to keep you afloat while job hunting.

I did get 2 weeks severance. Will that delay my benefits?

probably. they usually count severance as earnings for the weeks it covers, so your benefits would start after that period ends

I tried that calculator but it keeps timing out or giving me error messages. That's why I need to talk to someone directly.

Yeah their website has been having issues lately. Calling is definitely the way to go if you need accurate info.

Yes that's my gross monthly income. Good point about clarifying that.

That's good to know! So I should file as soon as possible after my last day of work?

Definitely. The sooner you file, the sooner your benefits can start. Don't wait thinking you might find a job quickly.

That's a good example of how the partial unemployment system works. It encourages people to take part-time work while still looking for full-time employment.

That sounds really helpful. Do you have to use WorkSource or can you do your job searches independently?

You can do your job searches however you want, but WorkSource has good resources if you need help. Plus they can verify your job search activities if Washington ESD ever audits your claim.

Good to know it's consistent. What happens if you miss filing a weekly claim?

You can usually file late but you might not get paid for that week. It's better to just set a reminder and file every Sunday when the system opens up the new week.

I tried calling Washington ESD like 50 times last week and never got through. Might have to try this Claimyr thing.

Yeah that's exactly why I started using it. The regular phone system is basically impossible to get through on.

Oh man I didn't even think about taxes. Can you have them withhold taxes automatically?

Yes you can elect to have 10% withheld for federal taxes when you set up your claim or change it later online.

8 months? I thought unemployment only lasted like 6 months max.

regular unemployment is up to 26 weeks but i qualified for extended benefits because unemployment rate is high in my area

This is exactly why I'm scared to apply. Seems like they're just looking for reasons to deny people or claw money back.

While the system has issues, most people who follow the rules don't have major problems. Just be accurate and honest on all your filings.

No, the calculation is purely based on your wage history regardless of job type. A warehouse worker and an office worker making the same salary would get the same benefit amount.

That's good to know - I was worried they might have different rules for different industries.

How would I know if they're contesting it? And what can I do if they are?

Washington ESD will notify you if there's a dispute. You'll have to provide documentation and possibly attend a hearing to prove you're eligible.

OK you've convinced me to try it. The regular phone system is absolutely useless.

Good to have that option available. Hopefully I won't need it but nice to know it exists.

What if you just do like DoorDash once in a while? Do you have to report that too?

Yes, ANY income from any source needs to be reported, including gig work. They have ways of cross-checking with tax records.

True, I guess I should just bite the bullet and apply to see what happens. Thanks everyone for all the info!

Good luck with your claim! Hope it goes smoothly for you.

Thanks! I'll start the application this weekend when I have time to gather all my employment info.

And remember if you hit any snags during the process, that Claimyr service can help you get through to Washington ESD agents who can walk you through whatever issues come up.

Good tip! I definitely want to avoid extra fees if possible.

The debit card fees are ridiculous. Direct deposit is definitely the way to go.