How much do you get unemployment benefits in Washington state?

Washington ESD uses your highest quarter earnings from your base period to calculate your weekly benefit amount. The maximum weekly benefit for 2025 is $999 per week. They take your highest quarter wages, divide by 26, then multiply by 0.038 to get your weekly amount. So if you made $13,000 in your highest quarter, you'd get around $490 per week.

i think the max is higher than that now, maybe like $1000 or something? my cousin got laid off last month and she's getting close to $800 weekly

The calculation can be confusing but Washington ESD has a benefit calculator on their website. However, if you're having trouble getting through to verify your benefit amount or having issues with your claim, I recently discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) which helps you actually reach ESD agents by phone. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really helpful when you need to speak to someone directly about your benefit calculation.

Just to add some context - your base period is typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. So if you file in January 2025, your base period would be January 2024 through December 2024. Washington ESD looks at all four quarters but uses the highest one for the calculation.

Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount (WBA) using your highest earning quarter from your base period. They take that quarter's earnings, divide by 26, then you get about 3.85% of your total base period wages. Maximum weekly benefit right now is around $999 per week.

Washington ESD uses your highest earning quarter from the past 18 months to calculate your weekly benefit amount. They take that quarterly amount and divide it by 26 weeks. So if your highest quarter was $12,000, you'd get roughly $461 per week before taxes.

i got like $450 a week when i was on unemployment last year. made about $22/hr at my warehouse job. not too bad but definitely less than what i was making working full time

Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your highest earning quarter from the past year. They take that quarterly amount, divide by 26, then you get about 3.85% of that as your weekly benefit. Maximum right now is $999 per week but most people get way less than that.

Thanks! So if my highest quarter was around $14,000, that would be about $520 weekly? That seems higher than I expected.

The easiest way to get an estimate is to use the benefit calculator on the Washington ESD website, but if you need to speak with someone about your specific situation, I recently discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get through to Washington ESD agents when the phone lines are jammed. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

JUST A WARNING - don't count on getting the maximum amount! I was making $65k and only get $623 per week because my wages weren't distributed evenly throughout the year. Had a big bonus in one quarter that threw everything off.

The maximum weekly benefit amount in Washington is $999 per week as of 2025. Most people don't hit that max though since you need to have been making over $130,000 annually to qualify for the full amount.

Your weekly benefit depends on how much you earned during your base period. Washington ESD looks at the highest quarter and uses that to calculate your WBA. If you made $15,000 in your highest quarter, you'd get roughly $577 per week (15000 ÷ 26). But there are caps - you can't get more than the maximum or less than the minimum.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks to ask about my benefit calculation and it's impossible. Their phone lines are always busy and when I do get through I get disconnected. It's so frustrating!

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

i think its like half your weekly pay or something? i got laid off from construction and mine was around $400 a week but i was making like $900 weekly before

also remember you have to pay taxes on unemployment benefits, so factor that in when budgeting

One thing I learned when I had to call ESD about my benefit calculation - they can explain exactly how they arrived at your weekly amount if there are any discrepancies. Sometimes wage information from employers doesn't get reported correctly. If you're having trouble reaching them by phone, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really does work. Worth checking out if you get stuck trying to reach someone.

Update: I found the benefit calculator on the ESD website and it's estimating around $485 per week based on my wages. That's actually more than I expected! Thanks everyone for explaining how this works.

Does anyone know if there's a minimum benefit amount? I was only working part-time for a few months and worried I won't qualify for much.

This is all so confusing. Why can't they just make it a simple percentage of your last job's pay like other states?

Remember you can only collect unemployment for a maximum of 26 weeks in Washington, so plan accordingly. The weekly amount is important but so is the duration limit.

The whole system is confusing honestly. I tried to figure out my benefit amount before I filed and the website calculator gave me one number but when I actually got approved it was different. Plus you have to do all these job searches every week which is annoying.

It's not exactly half, it depends on your base period wages. Washington ESD looks at your earnings from specific quarters to calculate it.

I've been waiting 3 weeks for my claim to get processed and I still don't know what my benefit amount will be. Every time I try calling Washington ESD I either get a busy signal or sit on hold for 2+ hours before getting disconnected. This is so frustrating!

oh ok that makes sense why mine wasnt exactly half then

Don't forget that your benefit amount also depends on whether you qualify for any additional benefits like dependency allowances if you have kids. That can add some extra money to your weekly payment.

For what it's worth, my benefit amount was about 45% of what I was making when I was working full time. Made $950/week at my job, got $425/week on unemployment. It's enough to get by but definitely motivates you to find work again quickly.

The Washington ESD benefit calculator on their website is actually pretty accurate if you have your wage information handy. You'll need your earnings from each quarter of your base period. For 2025, the minimum weekly benefit is $295 and maximum is $999. Most people fall somewhere in the middle depending on their work history.

I finally used that Claimyr service someone mentioned and got through to ESD in like 20 minutes! The agent was able to explain exactly why my benefit amount seemed low - turns out one of my employers hadn't reported wages correctly. Now I know how to fix it.

Don't forget about the waiting week! You won't get paid for your first week of unemployment even if you file your claim right away.

I tried the calculator but it kept asking for quarterly wages and I only have my annual W-2. How do I figure out what I made each quarter?

just wanted to add that if you worked in multiple states, you might need to file in the state where you earned the most wages. washington has agreements with other states for combined wage claims too

The benefit amount also depends on if you have any dependents. You can get additional money for dependent children under 18.

be careful about working part time while on unemployment because they'll reduce your benefits dollar for dollar after a certain amount. I think its like $150 or something before they start deducting.

I'm getting $644 per week from Washington ESD and it's been a lifesaver. The key is making sure you report all your wages accurately when you file your weekly claims. Any mistakes can cause delays or overpayment issues later.

Don't forget you have to pay taxes on unemployment benefits! They don't automatically withhold them so you might owe money when you file your tax return. You can request to have 10% withheld if you want.

Check your paystubs if you kept them, or contact your former employer's HR department. They should be able to provide quarterly wage statements. You could also wait - Washington ESD will have your wage information from employers once you file your claim.

Make sure to keep track of all your job search activities from day one. ESD requires you to make at least 3 job search activities per week and they can audit your records at any time.

The Washington ESD website has a benefit calculator tool that can give you an estimate if you know your quarterly wages. It's not 100% accurate but gives you a ballpark figure.

Just remember you also have to meet the job search requirements to keep getting benefits. I think it's 3 job contacts per week in Washington but double check that.

The benefit amount also depends on whether you qualify for any dependency allowances. If you have dependents under 18, you can get extra money on top of your regular weekly benefit amount.

Does anyone know if the amount changes based on how long you've been unemployed? Like do benefits decrease over time?

Just remember that your benefit year lasts 52 weeks but you can only collect up to 26 weeks of benefits (or less depending on your base period wages). So even if you don't find work right away, the benefits don't last forever.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for days to ask about my benefit amount calculation. Their phone lines are always busy and I keep getting disconnected. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there? This is so frustrating trying to plan my budget without knowing the exact amount.

been getting unemployment for 8 weeks now and the payments have been consistent. usually get the money 2-3 days after filing my weekly claim

I had the same problem calling Washington ESD directly. What worked for me was using Claimyr - they have a service that helps you get through to actual ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com, they even have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call myself.

Never heard of that service before but I'm desperate at this point. Does it actually work for getting through to Washington ESD?

Yeah it worked for me. They handle the calling and waiting, then connect you when they get an agent on the line. Much better than sitting on hold for hours.

Don't forget you have to pay taxes on unemployment benefits! I learned that the hard way last year. Washington doesn't tax it but federal does, so plan for that come tax time.

Oh wow, I didn't even think about taxes. So I should set aside some of each payment for taxes?

Yeah, you can either have them withhold 10% federal tax from each payment or just save some yourself. I wish someone had told me that when I first filed.

Good point about taxes. You can request federal tax withholding when you file your initial claim or add it later through your online account.

WASHINGTON ESD TAKES FOREVER TO PROCESS CLAIMS! I filed 3 weeks ago and still haven't seen a penny. They said my claim is in adjudication but won't tell me why or how long it will take. This system is broken!!!

Adjudication can take time if there are questions about your separation from work or eligibility. Did you quit or get fired? That can trigger additional review.

I got laid off due to company downsizing. Should be straightforward but here we are 3 weeks later with no answers.

Layoffs due to lack of work are usually approved quickly. If it's taking this long, there might be an issue with your wage records or work history. Try calling to get more details about what's holding up your claim.

Your benefit amount also depends on if you worked full-time vs part-time. I was working two part-time jobs and my benefit amount was lower than expected because my hours were split between employers.

I worked full-time at one job for the whole year, so that should be pretty straightforward for calculating benefits.

Yeah full-time at one employer makes the calculation much easier. You should get a decent amount based on that $52k salary.

make sure you file your weekly claim every week even if you dont hear about your benefit amount yet. i missed filing for 2 weeks thinking i had to wait and lost those payments

Good to know! I haven't filed my first weekly claim yet. When do those become available?

Weekly claims are available starting the Sunday after you file your initial application. You have to file every week to maintain your claim, even during adjudication.

I remember when I first filed for unemployment back in 2019, I was expecting way more money than I actually got. The reality is unemployment replaces maybe 40-50% of your previous income at most. It's meant to be temporary assistance, not full income replacement.

That's about right. I think the goal is to provide basic support while you search for new work, not make you comfortable being unemployed long-term.

Exactly. It covers basic expenses but you definitely need to be actively job searching. The job search requirements are pretty strict too.

Has anyone used those online unemployment calculators? I found a few but not sure if they're accurate for Washington state specifically.

The official Washington ESD benefit calculator is the most accurate. Third-party calculators might not have the current benefit amounts or Washington-specific rules.

Thanks, I'll stick with the official ESD calculator then. Better to get accurate info from the source.

Don't forget about the waiting week! Washington ESD has a waiting week where you file your claim but don't get paid for the first week. Just something to factor into your planning.

Wait, so even if I'm approved I won't get paid for the first week? That's going to make budgeting even tighter.

The waiting week is served during your first week of unemployment. You file the weekly claim but don't receive payment for that week. It's a one-time thing though.

I keep seeing people mention job search requirements. What exactly do you have to do for that? Is it just applying to jobs or more than that?

You need to make at least 3 job search activities per week and keep a log. This includes applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, or using WorkSourceWA services.

Okay that doesn't sound too bad. I've already been applying to jobs anyway since I got laid off.

The benefit amount calculation seems so complicated. Why can't they just use a simple percentage of your previous salary?

The system is designed to account for seasonal work, varying hours, and different employment patterns. Using quarterly wages gives a more accurate picture than just annual salary.

I guess that makes sense for people with irregular work schedules. Still confusing though!

My brother got unemployment last year and said his benefit amount changed after a few weeks. Has that happened to anyone else?

Benefit amounts can be adjusted if there are errors in the initial calculation or if additional wage information comes in from employers. Usually it's corrected retroactively.

That's probably what happened. He got some back pay adjustment after they corrected his wages.

I'm still confused about the base period. They keep mentioning it but I don't understand what quarters they're looking at for my claim filed in January 2025.

For claims filed in early 2025, your base period would typically be the first four quarters of 2024 (January through December 2024). They use the most recent complete quarters of wage data.

Ah okay, so they're looking at my 2024 earnings to determine my 2025 benefit amount. That makes more sense now.

Anyone know if overtime pay counts toward the benefit calculation? I worked a lot of overtime hours last year.

Yes, overtime pay is included in your total wages for benefit calculation purposes. All wages reported to Washington ESD by your employer count toward your base period earnings.

Great! That should help my benefit amount since I put in a lot of extra hours.

This whole thread has been really helpful! I was stressing about not knowing my exact benefit amount but sounds like I just need to file and see what Washington ESD calculates.

Same here! I feel much better about the process now. Going to file my claim this week and see what happens.

Good luck to both of you! The application process is pretty straightforward once you get started. Just make sure you have your employment history and wage information ready.

One more tip - if you have trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone like that person mentioned earlier, I also used Claimyr recently and it was worth it. They got me connected to an actual person who could explain my benefit calculation in detail. Sometimes talking to a real agent is the only way to get clear answers.

I'm definitely going to try that service. Been trying to call ESD for days with no luck.

It's much less stressful than trying to call yourself. They handle all the waiting and you just get connected when they reach an agent.

If you're still working part-time while collecting unemployment, they'll reduce your benefit amount based on how much you earn. There's a formula for that too but it gets pretty complicated.

Whatever you do, make sure you report your earnings accurately when you file your weekly claims. Washington ESD will eventually find out if you don't and then you'll have to pay back any overpayments plus penalties.

The whole process can be overwhelming but once you get your first payment and see the actual amount, it becomes clearer. Just focus on filing your initial claim correctly and being honest about your work history and earnings.

One more thing - if you disagree with the benefit amount Washington ESD calculates, you can appeal their decision. Sometimes there are errors in wage records or other issues that affect your benefit calculation.

If you're getting severance pay, that can affect your unemployment benefits timing. ESD will delay your benefits until after your severance period ends in most cases.

The whole system seems pretty fair once you understand how it works. My benefit amount was actually higher than I expected based on my work history.

One last tip - if you disagree with your benefit amount calculation, you can appeal it. But you need to do it within 30 days of receiving your monetary determination letter.

This thread has been really helpful for understanding how unemployment benefits work in Washington. Thanks everyone for sharing your knowledge and experiences!

I got denied initially because Washington ESD said I didn't have enough wage credits. Had to appeal and provide more documentation. Make sure your employer reported your wages correctly!

Been on unemployment for 4 months now and still struggling to get through to them when I have questions. The automated system is useless for anything complex.

For what it's worth, I qualified for $582 per week with an annual salary of about $58,000. The calculation seemed pretty straightforward once I understood how they do it.

Don't forget you have to pay taxes on unemployment benefits! I learned that the hard way last year. You can either have them withhold taxes or set money aside yourself.

The whole system is confusing but once you get your first payment it gets easier. Just make sure to file your weekly claims on time every week.

Washington ESD's benefit amounts are actually pretty decent compared to other states. I moved here from Oregon and the benefits are definitely better here.

One thing to watch out for is if you have any pension or retirement income. That can affect your unemployment benefits in some cases.

If you're really struggling to get answers from Washington ESD, you might want to try reaching out to your local WorkSource office. They sometimes have better access to information.

Just want to say thanks to everyone for all the helpful info! This thread has been more useful than the Washington ESD website honestly.

One last tip - keep detailed records of everything related to your unemployment claim. Dates, amounts, conversations with Washington ESD, etc. You never know when you might need that information.

Hope this all works out for you OP. Unemployment can be stressful but at least Washington has decent benefits to help you get back on your feet.