How much do you get from unemployment benefits in Washington ESD?

Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount (WBA) based on your highest earning quarter in your base period. It's not exactly half your wages - they take your total wages from that quarter and divide by 26. For 2025, the maximum weekly benefit is $999 and minimum is $295. So if you were making $22/hour full time, you're probably looking at somewhere around $600-700 per week depending on your exact earnings history.

The exact formula is confusing but basically they look at your wages from 5 quarters ago through 2 quarters ago (that's your base period). Then they take your highest earning quarter from that period and divide by 26. There's also a thing where if your benefit would be really low, they might use an alternate base period that includes more recent work.

I went through this same thing earlier this year when my company downsized. One thing that really helped me was using Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD when I had questions about my benefit calculation. I couldn't get through on the phone for weeks trying to call myself, but their service got me connected to an actual agent who explained exactly how my WBA was calculated. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

whatever you do dont believe the first amount they tell you!!! i got screwed over because they calculated mine wrong initially and it took MONTHS to get it fixed. always double check their math and make sure they're using the right quarters

For someone making $22/hour full time, assuming you worked a full quarter at that rate, your quarterly wages would be around $11,440. Divide that by 26 and you get about $440 per week. But if you had overtime or worked more than 40 hours regularly, it could be higher. The $999 maximum is pretty hard to hit unless you were making really good money.

I'm so confused by this whole base period thing. Like why do they make it so complicated? Why can't they just look at your last few paychecks and base it on that?

One thing to keep in mind is that unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld from your weekly payments or pay them later when you file your tax return. I always recommend having them withheld - it's 10% federal tax, and you don't want to get hit with a big tax bill next year.

The calculation isn't too bad once you understand it, but dealing with Washington ESD when you have questions is the real nightmare. I spent literally days trying to get through to someone when my benefit amount seemed wrong. Finally used one of those callback services - I think it was Claimyr - and got connected to an agent in like 20 minutes. Turns out they had missed some of my wages from a previous employer.

Also keep in mind that if you do any part-time work while collecting unemployment, it affects your weekly benefit amount. They have a formula for that too - you can earn up to a certain amount before they start reducing your benefits. I think it's like 1.5 times your weekly benefit amount or something like that.

just applied for benefits myself after getting laid off from retail. the whole process is so stressful when you're already worried about money. at least knowing roughly what to expect helps with planning

One more tip - make sure you apply as soon as possible after losing your job. There's a waiting week before benefits start, and delays in applying just push everything back further. The sooner you get your claim in, the sooner you'll know your exact benefit amount.

The benefit amounts seem decent but remember you still have to meet all the job search requirements and keep filing those weekly claims. Miss a week and you lose that week's payment - they don't make it up later.

To summarize for the OP: Based on $22/hour full-time work, you're probably looking at $440-600 per week depending on your exact wage history and whether you had overtime. Maximum benefit in Washington is $999/week, minimum is $295/week. Benefits last up to 26 weeks. You'll need to file weekly claims and do job search activities. And yes, it's taxable income so consider having taxes withheld.

wish someone had explained all this to me when i first applied. ended up with way less than i expected because i didn't understand the base period thing. by the time i figured out there was an error it was too late to appeal

The hardest part for me wasn't figuring out the benefit amount - it was actually getting through to Washington ESD when I had questions. Their phone system is absolutely terrible. Ended up using Claimyr after someone on here recommended it, and it was honestly a lifesaver. Got connected to an agent same day instead of calling for weeks.

been on unemployment twice in the past 5 years and both times the benefit calculation was different even though i was making similar money. really depends on which specific quarters they use and whether you had any gaps in employment

Just remember that even if your benefit seems low, it's better than nothing while you're looking for work. And if you find a job quickly, you don't have to use all 26 weeks of benefits.

the washington esd website has a calculator tool where you can estimate your benefits if you know your quarterly wages. might be worth checking out to get a rough idea before you apply

Don't forget about the waiting week! Even after you apply and get approved, there's one week where you file a claim but don't get paid. It's just how the system works - kind of like a deductible.

Make sure all your employer information is accurate when you apply. I put down the wrong address for one of my previous employers and it delayed my whole claim while they tried to verify my wages.