How much does unemployment pay in Washington State - need to know benefit amounts

That's helpful! So it's based on quarterly earnings, not annual salary. I think my highest quarter was probably around $14,500, so that would put me at about $558 weekly if I'm doing the math right.

Don't forget they take out federal taxes if you elect to have them withheld. It's 10% of your weekly benefit amount.

Good point about taxes. I'd rather have them taken out than owe a bunch at tax time.

This is why timing matters when you file! I waited an extra week to file and it moved me into a different base year period that actually worked out better for my benefit amount.

Interesting, so the exact timing of when I file could affect my benefit calculation? I hadn't thought about that.

I had the same problem getting through to Washington ESD until I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com. They basically call for you and get you connected to an actual agent. I was skeptical at first but it worked - got through to someone within a few hours instead of spending days trying myself. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Have you tried calling right at 8am when they open? That's usually the best time to get through.

So there are minimum earnings requirements too? I definitely meet those based on my salary, but good to know for anyone else reading this.

what if you dont meet the minimum? do you get nothing?

If you don't meet the minimum earnings requirements, you won't qualify for regular unemployment benefits. But there might be other programs available depending on your situation.

That's good to know since I might pick up some occasional shifts. So if my benefit is $558, I could earn up to about $140 per week without it affecting my unemployment?

Exactly! Just make sure you report any work and earnings when you file your weekly claim.

26 weeks should hopefully be enough time to find something new. Is there any way to extend beyond that if needed?

Extended benefits are only available when the state unemployment rate is high enough to trigger them. It's not something you can control - it's based on economic conditions.

I was wondering about the job search requirements. Is it literally just 3 contacts per week or are there other requirements?

It's minimum 3 contacts per week, but they need to be legitimate job search activities - applying for jobs, networking, interviews, etc. You have to log them in your WorkSourceWA account.

The job search thing is such a pain. Like I'm not already motivated to find work without having to prove it with paperwork every week.

I'll check with HR about that. I know we have some benefits I haven't fully explored.

No, the $999 is just regular Washington state unemployment benefits. The extra federal payments from COVID (like the $300 FPUC) ended in 2021. What you get now is just the regular state benefit amount.

ok thanks. i was wondering why my friend said she got way more than $999 back in 2021

Glad you got it sorted out! It's frustrating when the online tools don't give you the full picture.

How much did that service cost? I'm having issues too but don't want to spend a fortune just to talk to someone.

It was reasonable considering how much time it saved me. Way better than losing days trying to call myself.

That's really helpful to hear from someone actually receiving benefits. $847 is pretty good - that suggests you had a strong earnings quarter.

yeah my last job had good overtime opportunities so my highest quarter was around $22k. the calculation worked out well for me

Good point about filing early. I keep putting it off thinking I might find something quickly, but it's probably better to have it in place just in case.

Definitely file as soon as you're eligible. There's no penalty for filing early, but you can't backdate your claim to get benefits for weeks before you filed.

Washington doesn't have dependent allowances for unemployment benefits. The weekly benefit amount is the same regardless of family size.

Thanks for the correction! I was thinking of another state's program.

That might apply to my situation since I'm still getting a few hours here and there. I'll look into partial benefits.

Definitely worth checking. Even if you're working 20 hours a week, you might still qualify for some benefits if your earnings are low enough.

The maximum benefit amounts are typically adjusted annually, usually at the beginning of the year. The $999 maximum for 2025 was set based on the average weekly wage in Washington state.

makes sense. at least it goes up with wages somewhat

Right, I forgot Washington doesn't have state income tax. That's actually helpful since I won't have to worry about state tax withholding.

Thanks for all the advice everyone! This has been really helpful in understanding how the benefit calculations work.

Good luck with your claim! The restaurant industry has been tough lately, but unemployment benefits should help while you're looking for something new.

That's really great advice! I hadn't thought about looking into other assistance programs. With my income being cut so drastically, I probably would qualify for some of these now. Do you know if there's a single place to apply for multiple programs or do you have to go through each one separately?

You can actually apply for most Washington state assistance programs through the Washington Connection website (washingtonconnection.org). It's a single portal where you can apply for Basic Food, Apple Health, Working Connections Child Care, and cash assistance all at once. Makes it much easier than having to fill out separate applications for each program. They'll determine what you qualify for based on your household size and income from unemployment.