How much does unemployment pay in Washington - current benefit amounts?

Washington unemployment benefits are calculated based on your earnings in your base period (first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters). The weekly benefit amount ranges from $295 to $1,019 depending on your wages. With your $52k salary, you'd probably qualify for somewhere around $650-750 per week, but the exact amount depends on when you worked and your quarterly earnings.

i think its like 60% of what you made but theres a max amount. mine was $481 a week when i got laid off from my warehouse job last year

The maximum weekly benefit amount for 2025 is $1,019, and the minimum is $295. Your benefit amount is calculated as the lesser of: (1) your average weekly wage during your base period × 0.0385, or (2) your highest quarter wages ÷ 26. Most people end up getting between 40-50% of their previous weekly wages, not the full 63% due to the calculation method.

DONT COUNT ON GETTING ANYTHING FAST! I filed 6 weeks ago and still haven't seen a dime because my claim is stuck in adjudication hell. Washington ESD is completely broken and they dont care about people struggling to pay bills.

The benefit amount also depends on whether you qualify for any dependents allowance. If you have dependents under 18, you can get an additional $25 per week per dependent, up to 5 dependents maximum. So that's potentially an extra $125/week on top of your base benefit amount.

Just remember you'll owe taxes on unemployment benefits. They don't automatically withhold federal taxes unless you request it, so set aside about 20-25% for tax time. I learned this the hard way last year.

Your benefit year lasts 52 weeks from when you file, but you can only collect up to 26 weeks of benefits (or your total benefit amount, whichever comes first). So if you get $700/week, your maximum total would be $18,200 over 26 weeks.

the amounts vary by state too. my sister lives in texas and gets way less than what washington pays. we're pretty lucky here with the benefit amounts compared to other places

Make sure you understand the job search requirements before filing. You need to make at least 3 job search activities per week and keep detailed records. Washington ESD can audit your job search log at any time.

I was making $48k and ended up getting $623 per week. took about 10 days to get my first payment after filing. the process was pretty smooth for me, no adjudication issues

Be prepared for the waiting week - you won't get paid for your first week of unemployment even if you file immediately. It's an unpaid waiting period that everyone has to serve.

Quick tip - file your weekly claims every Sunday for the previous week. If you miss filing a weekly claim, you might lose that week's benefits permanently. Set a reminder!

I tried calculating my benefits myself but got confused with the base period dates. Ended up calling Washington ESD and actually got through using some service called Claimyr that helps you reach agents. The rep walked me through exactly how my benefit amount was calculated and when I could expect payments.

remember that if you work part time while collecting unemployment, they'll reduce your weekly benefit amount. anything over $7 per week gets deducted from your UI payment

The benefit amounts get updated every year based on average wages in the state. The $1,019 maximum is for 2025 - it was lower in previous years.

Just filed my claim last week and still waiting to hear back. The anticipation is killing me! At least now I have a better idea of what to expect payment-wise thanks to everyone's responses.

Thanks everyone for all this detailed info! This is exactly what I was looking for. Based on what you've all shared, it sounds like with my $52k salary I should expect somewhere in the $650-750 range per week, which would definitely help cover my basic expenses while I look for a new job. I'm going to file my claim this week and make sure to request the 10% federal tax withholding. Really appreciate the heads up about the waiting week and the job search requirements too - I'll make sure to keep detailed records of my applications. Hopefully my claim goes smoothly without any adjudication issues!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who recently went through this process! With your $52k salary, you're likely looking at around $600-700 weekly, which should definitely help with expenses. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you have all your employment documentation ready before you file. Having your last paystub, employer contact info, and separation details organized will make the application process much smoother. Also, don't stress too much about the exact calculation - Washington ESD will figure that out for you once they process your claim. The most important thing is to file as soon as you're eligible and stay on top of your weekly claims. Best of luck with everything!