How much do you get on unemployment in Washington - weekly benefit amounts?

Washington ESD uses your highest earning quarter from your base period (first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed). They take that amount and divide by 26 to get your weekly benefit amount. Maximum is currently $1,015 per week in 2025.

the calculation is pretty straightforward but getting through to someone at Washington ESD to verify your benefit amount can be a nightmare. I spent weeks trying to call them about my calculation.

Your weekly benefit amount also depends on whether you have any dependents. You can get extra money for each dependent child under 18.

MAKE SURE you understand that this is BEFORE taxes. Washington ESD will withhold federal taxes if you elect to have them do it, otherwise you'll owe come tax time. I learned this the hard way.

i think the max went up this year? used to be like $844 or something but now its over $1000

The whole system is just designed to give you as little as possible while making you jump through endless hoops. Good luck getting a straight answer from Washington ESD about anything.

Don't forget you have to be actively looking for work to keep getting benefits. The job search requirements are pretty strict now.

Also remember your benefits are only good for 26 weeks max (unless there's some special program). So don't count on this being long-term income.

OP if you worked in multiple states you might need to file in the state where you earned the most wages, not necessarily where you live now. Just something to double check.

The monetary determination letter you get will show exactly how they calculated your benefit amount. Keep that letter safe - you'll need it if there are any issues later.

Just filed last month and the whole process was actually pretty smooth online. The hardest part was waiting for my first payment to show up.

Pro tip: set up your direct deposit info right away when you file. Paper checks take forever and can get lost in the mail.

Whatever you do, don't lie about anything on your application. They cross-check everything and if they catch you in a lie, you'll get disqualified and have to pay everything back.

The weekly claim filing is pretty straightforward but make sure you do it every week even if you haven't gotten paid yet. Missing a week can cause delays.

If you end up in adjudication for any reason, be patient. Mine took 6 weeks to resolve but I did eventually get all my back pay.

One thing that tripped me up - if you do any part-time work while collecting, you have to report it on your weekly claim. They'll reduce your benefit but you won't lose it entirely if it's under a certain amount.

honestly the biggest thing is just staying on top of your weekly claims and job search requirements. As long as you do that consistently, the money keeps coming.