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

Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your highest earning quarter in your base period. The base period is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed. Your weekly benefit amount will be about 3.85% of your highest quarter earnings, but there's a minimum of $295 and maximum of $999 per week in 2025.

The formula is a bit complicated but basically they take your two highest quarters, add them together, divide by 2, then multiply by 0.0385. But like the previous person said, there are caps. You also need to have earned at least $7,007 in your base period to qualify.

I went through this last year when I got laid off. The hardest part wasn't figuring out the amount, it was actually getting through to Washington ESD to check on my claim status. I spent weeks calling that 800 number and either getting busy signals or being disconnected after waiting for hours. Finally found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

OMG the Washington ESD phone system is THE WORST. I've been trying to get through for 3 weeks about my weekly claim issue and I swear they just hang up on people when the call volume gets too high. This is ridiculous - we need this money to survive!

for the original poster - your benefit amount depends on what you made in your base period but also remember you can only collect benefits for 26 weeks max (unless there's some special extension program). so even if you get a decent amount, start job searching right away

Just wanted to add that if you had multiple employers during your base period, they all count toward your total earnings. So your restaurant job wages will be included too, which might help your benefit amount.

I'm curious about that Claimyr service someone mentioned. Has anyone else used it? I'm getting desperate trying to reach Washington ESD about my adjudication that's been pending for a month.

Quick question - does anyone know if tips from restaurant work count toward your base period earnings? I used to work at a place where we got decent tips but I'm not sure if Washington ESD counts those.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! I'm feeling a lot less anxious about filing now. One more question - do I need to wait until my last day of work to file, or can I file as soon as I get the layoff notice?

I hate to be that person but just want to mention that Washington ESD benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld or pay them later, but don't forget about taxes when budgeting.

Been through this process twice now. The benefit calculator on the Washington ESD website is pretty accurate if you want to estimate your weekly amount before you file. You just need your wage information from the last 18 months or so.

Word of warning - make sure all your personal information is correct when you file. I had an old address in the system and it delayed my claim for weeks while they verified my identity. Such a headache.

Also want to mention that if you're collecting unemployment, you're still eligible for other benefits like food stamps or Medicaid if you qualify based on income. Don't struggle more than you have to.

Just to add to what others have said about calling Washington ESD - I had luck with that Claimyr service too when I couldn't get through. My claim was stuck because they needed to verify my last employer and I couldn't reach anyone to explain the situation. The service got me connected and the agent was able to clear it up in like 10 minutes.

One thing to keep in mind is that your benefit year lasts 52 weeks from when you file, but you can only collect benefits for 26 weeks total during that year. So if you find work for a few months then get laid off again, you might still have benefits left to claim.

sorry but can someone clarify the base period thing? i'm confused about which quarters they use. is it the last 4 quarters or the first 4 of the last 5?

The whole system is so confusing and they make it harder than it needs to be. I've been waiting 5 weeks for my adjudication to clear and I'm about to lose my apartment. This is supposed to be a safety net but it feels more like a trap.

For anyone still reading this thread - just wanted to say that while the amount might not be huge, unemployment benefits can definitely help bridge the gap while you find new work. Don't let the complicated system discourage you from filing if you're eligible.

Quick update for the thread - I actually just used that Claimyr thing yesterday and it worked great. I was able to talk to someone about my pending issues and they explained exactly what was holding up my claim. Worth checking out if you're stuck like I was.