How much does unemployment pay in Washington State weekly?

Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your earnings in your base year (the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters). The maximum weekly benefit amount for 2025 is $999, but most people get less. You take your highest earning quarter from your base year, divide by 26, then multiply by 0.0385. There's also a minimum of $295 per week.

The amount varies a lot depending on your work history. I was making $22/hour full time and my weekly benefit came out to $647. But here's the thing - actually getting through to Washington ESD to file your claim or check status is nearly impossible. I spent weeks trying to call them.

Whatever you do, apply ASAP! There's a waiting week before benefits start, plus it takes time to process your claim. Even if the amount isn't huge, it's better than nothing while you're job hunting. And you have to do weekly claims every week to keep getting paid.

the unemployment system is such a joke. they make it impossible to get through on the phone and then when you finally do get benefits its like half what you were making. i was getting $425 a week when i was making $800 before. barely covers rent let alone food and gas

Just want to add that you also need to actively look for work and report your job search activities when you file your weekly claims. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week. Keep detailed records because they can audit you later.

I'm currently getting $518 per week which isn't bad considering I was only working part-time before I got laid off. The key is having consistent work history in your base year. If you worked irregular hours or had gaps in employment, your benefit amount will be lower.

Don't forget about taxes! Unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld (10% federal) or you'll owe at tax time. I learned this the hard way and owed like $1800 when I filed my taxes.

The maximum benefit duration is 26 weeks in Washington, but that can change during recessions. Right now it's back to the standard 26 weeks. Make sure you're using that time effectively to find a new job, not just coasting on benefits.

Has anyone had luck with the Claimyr service mentioned earlier? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks about an issue with my claim and can never get through. The automated system just hangs up on you after saying they're too busy.

One thing to keep in mind is that if you have any side income while collecting unemployment, you need to report it. Even small amounts can affect your weekly benefit. I do some freelance work and have to report every penny.

The weekly filing is super important - you have to file every week even if you haven't heard back about your claim yet. I missed one week early on and it created a whole mess that took forever to sort out.

my claim got stuck in adjudication for 6 weeks because they couldn't verify my employment at a small restaurant that closed down. finally got it resolved but man what a nightmare trying to reach anyone at washington esd

Quick tip: set up direct deposit if you can. Paper checks take forever and sometimes get lost in the mail. Direct deposit usually shows up Tuesday or Wednesday after you file your weekly claim on Sunday.

For anyone wondering about the actual dollar amounts, here's what I've seen from friends and coworkers: minimum wage workers usually get around $300-400 per week, retail workers like OP might get $450-550, and higher earners can get up to the maximum of $999. It really depends on your earnings history.

The whole system is designed to make you give up. Between the impossible phone lines, confusing paperwork, and constant verification requests, they're hoping people just won't bother. But stick with it because you paid into this system through your payroll taxes.