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

Thanks! That helps a lot. So it's not based on my most recent earnings but the highest quarter in the past year?

Exactly. Your base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. They look at all four quarters but use the highest one for the calculation.

Thanks! So I could potentially get around $1,000 per week? That would actually help a lot with my mortgage payments.

Just remember there are job search requirements too - you have to apply for 3 jobs per week and keep a log.

26 weeks sounds good. I'm hoping to find something before then anyway. Do I need to wait until I'm officially laid off or can I apply as soon as I know it's coming?

You can only file after your last day of work. Don't file early or it could cause issues with your claim.

Yes, the minimum weekly benefit amount is $295 for 2025. You have to have earned at least a certain amount in your base period to qualify for even the minimum.

good to know, wasnt sure on the exact amount but knew there was a floor

Thanks! So if I made around $13,000 in my highest quarter, that would be about $500 per week?

That sounds about right, but Washington ESD will give you the exact calculation when you file your claim. Make sure you have all your wage information ready.

That's higher than I expected! So the base period is the first 4 quarters of the last 5 quarters before I filed?

Exactly. And if your earnings were consistent throughout the year, you should be on the higher end of that estimate.

Good to know about the calculator. I definitely meet those requirements since I worked the same job for 3 years.

The online calculator gave me a rough estimate but my actual amount was about $30 higher than what it predicted.

How does that Claimyr thing work? Is it expensive?

It's just a calling service that gets you through to Washington ESD agents faster. Worth it if you're stuck and need answers about your claim status.

I might need that. I've been calling Washington ESD for weeks about my adjudication and can never get anyone on the phone.

I had the same frustration until I found Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get through to Washington ESD agents without all the waiting and hang-ups. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me probably 20+ hours of calling.

Never heard of that service. Does it actually work or is it just another scam?

It's legit - they basically handle the calling process for you and connect you when an agent is available. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.

Have you tried using Claimyr? I found it at claimyr.com and it actually got me through to a Washington ESD agent after weeks of trying on my own. They have this demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration with busy signals.

Three weeks isn't that bad honestly. Some people wait months during busy periods. At least you filed when you did.

I don't have kids so that doesn't apply to me, but good to know for others.

It's actually $31 per dependent child per week in Washington, up to 5 children maximum.

I don't have any dependents so that doesn't apply to me, but good to know for others reading this.

Wait, really? I have two kids under 18 and I've been getting unemployment for a month. Nobody told me about dependent benefits. How do I add them?

You need to contact Washington ESD to add dependents to your claim. They'll need documentation like birth certificates or tax records showing the dependents. It might be retroactive to when your claim started.

The minimum is actually $310 for 2025, but yeah the max is $999 before any dependent allowances.

Good tip! I'll file immediately. Is the application process complicated?

Not too bad if you have all your employment info ready. Just make sure you have your SSN, employer addresses, and exact dates of employment.

That's still a decent amount. Better than nothing while job hunting.

Yeah but remember you have to pay taxes on unemployment benefits. It's not like you get the full amount in your pocket.

That's crazy low for Florida! Glad I'm in Washington.

Yeah but the cost of living is way higher here too. $1,000 per week goes a lot further in Florida than it does in Seattle.

I don't have any dependents so that won't apply to me.

It's actually a bit more than $25 now - I think it's around $30-35 per dependent for 2025.

How long did it take to get your benefit amount determined? I'm worried about the wait time.

My claim was processed pretty quickly once I got through to verify some employment dates. The Claimyr thing really helped because I couldn't get through on my own.

Never heard of that service before. Does it actually work or is it just another scam?

Wait, why divide by 13 weeks? I thought it was just 3.85% of your highest quarter wages?

Sorry, that was confusing. It's actually simpler - just 3.85% of your total wages in the highest earning quarter. No division needed.

Good point! I'll definitely elect to have taxes withheld. Don't want any surprises next April.

Yeah that caught me off guard too. Ended up owing like $800 because I forgot unemployment was taxable.

What counts as a job search activity? Just applying for jobs or other things too?

Applying for jobs, networking contacts, attending job fairs, interviews, career counseling sessions. They have a list on the Washington ESD website. Make sure you keep detailed records with dates and contact info.

I got audited last year and they wanted everything - who I contacted, when, phone numbers, email addresses. Keep better records than you think you need.

6 weeks?? That's insane. What's holding up your payments?

Some issue with my job separation that they're reviewing. Can't get anyone on the phone to explain what's happening.

That's exactly the kind of situation where Claimyr helped me. You might want to try it if you're stuck in adjudication limbo.

I feel your pain. The system is definitely frustrating. Have you tried calling first thing in the morning right when they open? Sometimes that helps.

Try that Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier. My brother used it when his claim got stuck and they actually got him connected to resolve his adjudication issue. Worth a shot if you're stuck.

That's exactly when I used Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD. They helped me reach an agent who could explain my benefit calculation and resolve my adjudication issue.

I might have to try that. I'm getting desperate and bills are piling up.

Yeah I plan to look for work anyway. What exactly do I need to do to meet the requirements?

You need to apply for at least 3 jobs per week and keep a log of your job search activities. Washington ESD can audit your job search records.

So I'll basically be unpaid for the first week no matter what? That's going to make budgeting even tighter.

Yes, the first week is a waiting week that you don't get paid for. But you still need to file that week to establish your claim. It's just how the system works.

That's not how it works. The calculation is more complex and the benefit amount is usually much less than your regular income. Plus there are caps on the maximum amount.

Even if I get close to the maximum, it's still going to be a significant pay cut. I'll need to make some budget adjustments for sure.

Oh wow, I didn't know they were taxable. Thanks for the heads up.

Yeah, definitely elect to have taxes withheld if you can afford the slightly lower payment. Otherwise you'll owe a chunk at tax time.

Good to know! I have two kids so that would be an extra $50 per week.

How do they determine how many weeks you're eligible for? Is there a formula for that too?

It's based on your total earnings in the base period. You need to have earned at least 680 hours worth of wages at minimum wage, or your total base period wages need to be at least 1.25 times your highest quarter earnings.

Good to know! I might pick up some freelance work while job hunting, so I'll need to report that properly.

Yes, always report any earnings when you file your weekly claims. Not reporting work can get you in trouble for overpayment and they'll make you pay it back with penalties.

What counts as a job search activity? Just applying for jobs?

Job applications, networking contacts, attending job fairs, interviews, even some training activities. They're pretty flexible about what counts.

Make sure you keep detailed records of all your job search activities. Washington ESD can audit you and ask for proof.

Good reminder about the weekly claims. Is it hard to do those?

Super easy, takes like 5 minutes online. Just answer a few questions about whether you worked or looked for work that week.

I've been at the same job for 3 years so my wages should be consistent. Hopefully that works in my favor.

Consistent wages are good for unemployment calculations. No surprises or complications.

I'm not getting severance so that shouldn't be an issue for me.

Good thing because severance can really mess up your claim timing. I had to wait 6 weeks because of my severance package.

This is really helpful. I wish Washington ESD's website explained it this clearly.

Their website is definitely confusing. The monetary determination letter you get after filing will show exactly how they calculated your benefit amount.

That's helpful context. At least the amounts keep up with inflation somewhat.

The increases are usually pretty small though. Don't expect big jumps year to year.

I'm being laid off due to company downsizing so that should be straightforward.

Perfect, that's the best case scenario for unemployment eligibility. You shouldn't have any issues getting approved.

That makes sense. Good clarification.

That's good news. Every week counts when you're unemployed.

Yep, that elimination of the waiting week was a big improvement to the system.

So if I work a few hours and make $100, they'd reduce my benefits by $75?

Exactly. It's called the earnings deduction. You still come out ahead by working, but not by much.

I know it seems complex, but once you file your claim Washington ESD will send you a monetary determination with your exact weekly benefit amount. You don't have to calculate it yourself.

That's really helpful to see a real example. Thanks for sharing actual numbers.

No problem. Just make sure you keep filing your weekly claims on time or you'll lose benefits for those weeks.

That's smart. I'll definitely opt for tax withholding when I file my claim.

I didn't do tax withholding and ended up owing $3,000 in taxes. Learn from my mistake!

That's solid advice. I'll file this week and figure out the exact amounts once my claim is processed. Thanks everyone for all the information!

Definitely file right away. I waited a week thinking I might find a job quickly and ended up regretting it when my search took longer than expected.

And if you run into issues getting through to Washington ESD for questions, that Claimyr service people mentioned earlier really does work. I was skeptical at first but it got me connected when I needed help with my claim.

Seriously, try Claimyr. I was in the same boat - called probably 100+ times over two weeks. Used their service and was talking to a Washington ESD agent within an hour. Worth every penny.

How much does that service cost though? I'm already unemployed and watching every dollar.

It's reasonable considering the time and frustration it saves. Check their website for current pricing - claimyr.com.

Oh wow, I didn't think about taxes. How much do they typically withhold?

You can choose to have 10% withheld for federal taxes when you file your claim. State of Washington doesn't have income tax so no worries there.

I tried to find that calculator but couldn't locate it on their website. Do you have a direct link?

I think it's under the 'File a Claim' section but their website is pretty confusing to navigate. Keep looking around.

Several people have mentioned Claimyr now. Seems like it might be worth keeping in mind if I run into problems.

Yeah it's becoming pretty popular because Washington ESD's phone system is so overloaded. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person.

Good to know it's consistent. Makes budgeting easier.

How do you know if they used the wrong base period?

Your benefit determination letter should show which quarters they used. If you had higher earnings in a more recent quarter, you might want to request an alternate base period.

didnt know they had a calculator. is it on the main esd website?

Yeah, it's under the unemployment services section. Pretty straightforward to use.

THIS. I made the mistake of assuming my benefits would start right away. Took almost a month to see my first payment.

That's why services like Claimyr can be worth it. Getting through to an agent to check on delays saves so much stress.

26 weeks should hopefully be enough time to find something new. Thanks for the reminder about the time limit.

Yes, all wages reported to Washington ESD count including overtime, bonuses, and commissions. That should help increase your weekly benefit amount.

Great! That means my benefit amount should be higher than I calculated.

I only worked in Washington so shouldn't be an issue for me, but good to know for others.

Correct, there's no waiting week in Washington. You can get benefits starting with your first week of unemployment if you're eligible.

Good point. I was laid off last Friday so I should probably file this week.

Definitely file this week. You can file online 24/7 which is convenient.

How many job contacts do you need per week?

It's 3 job search activities per week, but they can include more than just applying for jobs. Training, networking events, and career fairs count too.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information. I feel much more prepared to file my claim now.

Just remember, if you run into issues getting through to Washington ESD, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really does work. Sometimes you need to talk to a human to get things resolved quickly.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! I feel much more confident about filing for unemployment now. Going to apply as soon as my last day of work happens.

Good luck! The benefits should help you get through the job search period without too much financial stress.

How does that work exactly? Do they reduce it dollar for dollar?

No, there's a formula. Generally you can earn up to about 1/3 of your weekly benefit amount before they start reducing it. Then it's not a straight reduction after that.

That's reassuring. I was worried it would be complicated.

The online system is actually pretty user-friendly. Much better than it used to be.

1099 income doesn't count for regular unemployment benefits. You'd need to apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance if that's still available, or look into other programs.

I thought PUA ended in 2021?

You're right, PUA ended. If you're purely 1099, you might not be eligible for regular unemployment benefits. You'd need to check with Washington ESD about your specific situation.

That's good to hear. I was worried I'd be getting barely anything.

Yeah, Washington takes care of its unemployed workers pretty well compared to most places.

I filed about a week after my layoff. Should I have filed sooner?

A week is fine. The important thing is not to wait months. Some people think they need to wait until they're sure they won't find work quickly, but that's not how it works.

Standby status has the same benefit calculation, but you don't have to do job search activities since you're expecting to return to your job. You still file weekly claims though.

That's what I thought. Thanks for confirming.

I've tried every day of the week and every time of day. Nothing works for me.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr. The timing game just wasn't working for me either. They handle all that strategy stuff and just connect you when they get through.

Yes, overtime counts. It's all part of your gross wages for that quarter. So if you had a high-OT quarter, that would actually help your benefit calculation.

Perfect, that should bump up my weekly amount then.

Good luck with your claim! The process is usually pretty smooth if you have straightforward employment history like yours.

Hope it goes smoothly for you. The online filing system is pretty intuitive these days.