How much do you get on unemployment in Washington state?

Washington ESD uses your highest earning quarter from the past 5 quarters to calculate your weekly benefit amount (WBA). The maximum is currently $999 per week, but most people get way less than that. They take your highest quarter earnings, divide by 26, then that's roughly your weekly amount.

i think theres also a minimum you have to have earned to qualify at all. like you cant just work 2 weeks and get unemployment

Just went through this whole process last month. The amount you get depends on your work history, but honestly the hardest part was actually getting through to someone at Washington ESD when I had questions about my claim. Took me literally weeks of calling before I found Claimyr (claimyr.com) - they help you get through to an actual agent without waiting on hold forever. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

The weekly benefit calculator on the Washington ESD website is actually pretty accurate. Just make sure you have your wage info handy. Also remember you can get benefits for up to 26 weeks in most cases, longer if there are extensions available.

Whatever you do, make sure you file your weekly claims on time every week and do the required job searches. Washington ESD will disqualify you if you miss even one week or don't meet the work search requirements.

been on unemployment twice and the amount was decent both times. not great but enough to get by if you budget carefully. just be prepared for the bureaucracy and all the hoops you have to jump through

For someone making $52k annually, you're probably looking at somewhere between $400-550 per week depending on how your earnings were distributed across quarters. Washington state has one of the higher maximum benefit amounts in the country, so you should be in decent shape.

Don't forget about taxes! They don't automatically withhold federal taxes from unemployment benefits so you might owe at tax time if you don't request withholding.

The Washington ESD website has a benefit calculator tool that's pretty straightforward. Just plug in your earnings from the last 18 months and it'll give you an estimate. Much easier than trying to do the math yourself.

whatever you end up getting make sure you save some for when it runs out. 26 weeks goes by faster than you think especially if the job market sucks

I was shocked how much paperwork and verification Washington ESD wanted when I first applied. They wanted pay stubs, tax forms, all kinds of stuff. And then when I had questions about my claim status, getting through to someone was impossible until I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Seriously saved my sanity.

The amount varies so much person to person. My friend got like $800/week because she was making good money, but I only got $320 because I was working part time before I got laid off. It really depends on your work history.

Pro tip: file your claim as soon as possible after you lose your job. There's a waiting week but the sooner you file, the sooner you can start getting benefits. And make sure all your employer info is accurate or they'll put your claim in adjudication.

honestly the washington esd system is pretty decent compared to other states ive heard about. the weekly benefit amounts are fair and the online system mostly works. just be patient with the process

Make sure you understand the difference between gross and net pay when calculating your benefits. Washington ESD uses your gross earnings, not what you took home after taxes and deductions.

If you end up having issues with your claim getting stuck or need to talk to someone at Washington ESD about your benefit amount, definitely check out Claimyr. I was skeptical at first but it actually worked to get me through to an agent when I couldn't reach anyone for weeks. The video demo they have explains it better than I can.

Been getting unemployment for 12 weeks now and the amount has been consistent. Just make sure you report any part-time work or odd jobs accurately on your weekly claims or they'll come after you for overpayment later.

The benefit amount is just one part of it. You also have to think about health insurance if your employer was covering that. COBRA is expensive but there might be subsidies available.

Your weekly benefit amount will be listed clearly in your Washington ESD account once your claim is processed. They send you a determination letter that explains exactly how they calculated it too.

Don't stress too much about the exact amount until you file and see what you qualify for. Focus on getting your application submitted correctly first, then you'll know for sure what your weekly benefit will be.