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

Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your earnings in your base period, which is typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed. The maximum weekly benefit amount for 2025 is $999. Your actual amount depends on your quarterly wages - they take your two highest earning quarters, divide by 2, then divide by 26 to get your weekly amount.

Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your highest quarter of earnings in your base period. It's roughly 3.85% of your highest quarter earnings divided by 26 weeks. The maximum weekly benefit for 2025 is $999 per week, and minimum is $295.

Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your highest earning quarter from your base period. The maximum weekly benefit amount for 2025 is $999 per week. They take your highest quarter earnings, divide by 26, then you get about 50% of that amount. So if you made $13k in your highest quarter, you'd get around $250/week.

Just be aware that unemployment benefits are taxable income. I learned this the hard way last year when I got a huge tax bill. You can have taxes withheld or pay quarterly estimates.

I had trouble getting through to Washington ESD to ask about my benefit calculation. Spent hours on hold and kept getting disconnected. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me through to a real person at Washington ESD within minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Might be worth checking out if you need to talk to someone about your specific situation.

Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your highest earning quarter in your base period. The maximum weekly benefit for 2025 is $999 per week, but most people get way less than that. They take your highest quarter earnings, divide by 26, then you get about 3.85% of that amount weekly.

The calculation can be tricky because they look at your base period which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file. So if you file in January 2025, they'd look at July 2023 through June 2024 typically.

Thanks! How do I know what my highest quarter was? Is that something I can see on my Washington ESD account?

Wait that math is totally wrong. Washington ESD uses a different formula. You take your two highest quarters, add them together, divide by 26. That's your weekly benefit amount, up to the maximum.

Once you file your initial claim, Washington ESD will send you a monetary determination that shows all your quarterly wages and your calculated weekly benefit amount.

Washington unemployment benefits are calculated based on your highest earning quarter from your base period. The maximum weekly benefit amount is $999 per week as of 2025. Your actual amount depends on your earnings history - typically around 60-70% of your average weekly wage.

Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your earnings in your base period, which is typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed. The maximum weekly benefit in 2025 is $999 plus $25 for dependents if you qualify. Your benefit will be roughly 3.85% of your total base period wages divided by 52, but it can't exceed the maximum.

i think i get like $650 a week but i made way less than you. the calculation is weird and depends on which quarters they use

The weekly benefit amount also depends on whether you have any dependents. You can get additional money for dependent children under 18 or disabled dependents. I think it's around $25 per week per dependent but don't quote me on that exact amount.

Actually you're both partially right. Washington ESD takes your highest quarter earnings and divides by 26 to get your weekly benefit amount. There's no percentage calculation involved. The minimum is $295 per week and maximum is $999 for 2025. @OP with $18/hour at 30 hours for a full quarter, you'd probably qualify for around $400-500 weekly.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks to ask about my benefit amount calculation. Their phone system is impossible - I've called hundreds of times and either get a busy signal or get disconnected after waiting on hold for hours. Anyone have tips for actually reaching a human?

does anyone know if working part time affects your weekly benefit amount? i got laid off from my main job but still work like 10 hours a week at another place

just filed last month and got approved for $411/week. was making about 45k before. the calculation seems right based on what the other person said

The whole system is a joke. I made $55k last year and they're only giving me $400 a week. That's barely enough to cover my rent, let alone food and utilities. Meanwhile my neighbor who worked part-time is getting almost the same amount. Makes no sense.

I was in a similar situation last year trying to figure out my benefit amount. The Washington ESD website has a benefit calculator but it wasn't working half the time. What really helped me was using Claimyr to get through to an actual agent who could walk me through the calculation with my specific earnings. They have a service at claimyr.com that helps you reach Washington ESD phone agents without waiting on hold forever.

ugh the whole system is so confusing!! I've been trying to calculate mine for weeks and every website gives different answers. why can't they just tell you upfront what you'll get?

Just went through this process myself and had trouble getting clear answers from Washington ESD about my benefit calculation. I kept calling but could never get through to speak with someone who could explain why my amount was lower than expected. Finally found claimyr.com which helped me get connected to an actual ESD agent who walked through my benefit calculation step by step. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made the whole process so much easier than trying to navigate the phone system myself.

The Washington ESD benefit calculator on their website is actually pretty accurate if you have your wage information handy. You'll need your quarterly earnings from your base period. For someone making $52k annually, you're probably looking at somewhere between $700-850 per week depending on how your wages were distributed.

the formula is confusing but basically they take your two highest quarters and divide by 52 weeks. I was making decent money and only got like $720 a week

Whatever you do, make sure you're actively looking for work because Washington ESD requires you to make at least 3 job search contacts per week. They randomly audit people and if you can't prove you're looking for work, they'll make you pay back all the benefits.

Just filed my claim last week and still waiting to hear back. The website says it can take up to 6 weeks for them to process everything if there are no issues. Hoping I don't get stuck in adjudication hell like some people do.

Question - do they count overtime hours when calculating your benefit amount? I worked a ton of OT last year at my manufacturing job.

That gives me hope! Did it take long to get your first payment after approval?

Don't forget about the dependent allowance! If you have kids under 18 or a dependent spouse, you can get an additional $47 per week per dependent, up to 5 dependents max.

just to add to this - don't forget about taxes! Washington doesn't tax unemployment but federal still does so factor that in when budgeting

Don't forget that you can only collect benefits for a maximum of 26 weeks in most cases. If you're older or in certain industries there might be extended benefits available but the regular program is 26 weeks.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to check your benefit calculation, I used claimyr.com recently and it worked great. They help you get connected to an actual agent without waiting on hold forever. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

I was making about $48k and my weekly benefit ended up being $743. But that was before I had issues with my claim getting stuck in adjudication for weeks. The whole system is a nightmare to deal with when something goes wrong.

took about 2 weeks after my claim was approved to get the first deposit

I'm confused about the base period thing. Is that just the last 4 quarters before I filed? Or is it something different?

The maximum benefit went up this year from $929 to $999 per week. You'd need to have made around $65,000 in your highest quarter to hit the max though, which is pretty rare.

I've been collecting UI for about 3 months now and the weekly amount has been consistent. Just make sure you file your weekly claim every week even if you worked some hours - they'll adjust your benefit amount based on what you earned that week.

Just wanted to add that if you don't qualify using the regular base period, Washington ESD can use an alternate base period which is the last 4 completed quarters. Sometimes this helps people who recently started working or changed jobs get benefits.

The minimum weekly benefit is $295 and maximum is $999 for 2025. Most people get somewhere in between depending on their work history. You also get an additional $25 per dependent child.

The benefit amount also depends on if you have any dependents. You can get an additional $25 per week for each dependent child under 18. Not huge but every bit helps when you're unemployed.

Just filed my claim last week and was surprised my benefit amount was lower than expected. Turns out I had a quarter with really low earnings that brought down my average. Make sure you understand which quarters they're using for your calculation.

The Washington ESD website has a benefit calculator but it's not always accurate. When I used it, it estimated $50 more per week than what I actually got. Close enough for planning purposes but don't count on the exact amount.

Make sure you understand the difference between your gross weekly benefit amount and what you'll actually receive. They might withhold taxes, and if you owe child support or have other garnishments, those come out too.

I've been trying to reach Washington ESD for weeks to ask about my benefit calculation because something seems off. The phone lines are always busy and I can't get through to anyone. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there?

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. I used it last month when my claim was stuck in adjudication and actually got to speak with someone within a few hours. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Don't forget you can only collect for 26 weeks normally, unless there's some special extension program running. And you have to do the job search requirements - 3 job contacts per week minimum.

I've been on unemployment for 3 months and still can't get through to Washington ESD to ask about my benefit calculation. Their phone system is absolutely terrible - I've wasted so many hours just listening to busy signals.

Been on unemployment twice in the past few years and the amount varies SO much based on your work history. My first claim was $580/week, second one was $720/week even though I was making similar money. It's all about which quarters they use for calculation.

Also remember you have to be actively looking for work and report your job search activities every week. Washington requires 3 job search activities per week and they do audit this stuff. Just FYI since you mentioned this is your first time filing.

One thing that caught me off guard - if you work part time while collecting unemployment, they reduce your benefit dollar for dollar after the first $5. So if you get a part time job making $200/week, your unemployment gets reduced by $195 that week.

Never heard of that but I'm desperate at this point. Is it legit? How much does it cost?

FYI the benefit calculator on the Washington ESD website is pretty accurate if you want to estimate your weekly amount before filing. Just need your quarterly earnings from the last 18 months.

Your weekly benefit amount is based on your "base period" which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed. Washington ESD looks at your two highest quarters and uses a specific formula to calculate your weekly benefit.

One thing to keep in mind is that unemployment benefits are only temporary - you can collect for up to 26 weeks in Washington, though that can extend during high unemployment periods. So plan accordingly for your job search timeline.

I tried calling Washington ESD to get help with my benefit calculation but could never get through. The phone lines are always busy. Finally used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and got connected to an agent in like 10 minutes. Totally worth it when you need actual answers.

If you have any issues with your claim or need to speak to someone at Washington ESD, I'd recommend trying that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. I used it last month when my benefits got stopped for no reason and got through to an adjudicator who fixed the problem immediately. Way better than trying to call directly.

Yeah it's legit, they just help you navigate the phone system to reach an actual person. Way better than spending hours on hold or getting disconnected.

The Washington ESD system is so confusing! I thought unemployment was a flat rate for everyone but apparently it depends on how much you made before. Why can't they just make this simple?

It's based on your previous wages because unemployment is meant to replace a portion of your lost income, not provide the same amount to everyone regardless of what they earned.

I guess that makes sense when you explain it that way. Still wish the whole process was easier to understand.

WASHINGTON ESD IS SUCH A PAIN!! I've been trying to get through to them for weeks about my benefit calculation and their phone system just hangs up on you after being on hold forever. The whole system is broken!

Your weekly benefit amount will be listed in your account dashboard once your claim is processed. For retail management at $52k you're probably looking at $750-850 range but could be higher if you had a really good quarter in your base period.

One thing to keep in mind is that unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can have taxes withheld from your weekly payments or pay them when you file your tax return. I always forget about that part.

Quick tip - if you worked part-time or had irregular hours, your benefit calculation might be different. Washington ESD has special rules for part-time workers that can affect your weekly benefit amount.

Remember that if you get any severance pay, it might affect when your benefits start. Washington ESD considers severance as wages, so you might have a waiting period before benefits begin.

The whole Washington ESD system is a nightmare. I've been trying to get my benefit amount clarified for months and keep getting different answers from different people.

Does anyone know if overtime pay counts toward your benefit calculation? I worked a lot of overtime in my highest earning quarter.

I got my monetary determination letter and my benefit amount was exactly what I calculated using their formula. The system actually works pretty accurately once you understand how it works.

Been getting unemployment for 2 months now. The weekly amount is consistent but don't forget about the federal taxes. They take out 10% if you elect to have taxes withheld.

For anyone still confused about the calculation, I found success getting through to Washington ESD using Claimyr's callback service. They connected me with an agent who pulled up my exact wage records and explained everything step by step. Way better than trying to guess from the website.

One last thing - make sure your employer reports your wages correctly to Washington ESD. I had an issue where they under-reported my earnings which affected my benefit calculation.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! I feel much more confident about filing my claim now. Going to gather my pay stubs and calculate my expected benefit amount before I file.

just filed last month and the whole process was actually smoother than expected. benefit amount showed up in my account within a week of filing. you'll be fine!

Don't forget you can collect unemployment for up to 26 weeks in Washington, though you'll need to keep certifying weekly and meeting all the requirements. The job search requirement is probably the most important one to stay on top of.

I actually used one of those services someone mentioned earlier - Claimyr - when I had questions about my benefit amount being lower than expected. Turned out there was an error in how they calculated my base period wages. The ESD agent they connected me with was able to fix it and I got backpay for the difference. Sometimes it's worth paying to get actual help rather than struggling with the phone system for weeks.

One thing nobody mentioned is that if you get severance pay, it might affect when you can start collecting benefits. Washington ESD considers severance as wages, so you might have a waiting period before you're eligible.

Also keep in mind that Washington state has no state income tax, but unemployment benefits are still subject to federal taxes. So you'll owe the IRS but not the state when tax time comes around.

Whatever amount you end up getting, try to live on as little as possible and save the rest. Job hunting can take longer than expected and you don't want to be in a panic when the benefits run out.

If you're worried about the phone system at Washington ESD, that Claimyr thing really does work. I was skeptical at first but it got me through to someone in like 15 minutes instead of the usual 2+ hour wait times. Worth checking out their demo video at least.

Just remember that your benefit amount is based on your earnings during your base period, not your most recent job. So if you had a lower-paying job during that time period, your benefits might be less than you expect.

The most important thing is to file your claim as soon as possible after you lose your job. Benefits don't start until the week you file, so don't wait around thinking about it. You can always cancel if you find a job quickly.

just remember they dont automatically take out taxes so you might owe money at the end of the year if you dont plan ahead

also dont forget about the waiting week - you wont get paid for your first week even if you're eligible

I thought unemployment was supposed to be like 50% of your salary but when I got approved it was way less than that. turns out they use some weird quarterly calculation

The whole system is designed to be confusing so people give up and don't collect benefits they're entitled to. I had to call 15 times before getting through to someone who could explain my benefit amount.

Does anyone know if overtime counts toward your benefit calculation? I worked a lot of OT last year

been on unemployment for 2 weeks now and still haven't seen my first payment. is this normal?

If you're making under $1000 a week at your job, you'll probably get less than you expect from unemployment. The calculation is weird and not as generous as people think.

pro tip: you can check your quarterly wage history on the Washington ESD website to estimate your benefits before filing. helps you plan better

remember you have to file weekly claims to keep getting paid, even if your benefit amount is already calculated. Miss a week and you lose that payment

The benefit amount seems decent but having to prove you're looking for work every week is annoying. They're pretty strict about the job search requirements.

I got $847 per week when I was on unemployment last year. Was making about $75k salary so that worked out to roughly 65% of my regular pay.

Quick question - do you get paid weekly or every two weeks? Trying to plan my budget

The hardest part isn't figuring out the benefit amount, it's actually getting through to Washington ESD when you have questions. I probably called 100 times before someone picked up.

I keep seeing people mention adjudication delays. What exactly is adjudication and why does it take so long?

Does anyone know if the $999 maximum includes the additional $25 for dependents? I have two kids and I'm trying to figure out my total weekly amount.

I made the mistake of not filing right away after I got laid off. Does that affect my benefit amount calculation or just how long I can collect?

Quick question - I got fired for attendance issues (totally my fault). Will that affect how much I get paid or just whether I qualify at all?

The thing that bugs me is how long it takes to get that first payment. Even if everything goes smoothly, you're looking at 2-3 weeks minimum. People need money immediately when they lose their job.

For what it's worth, I found the whole process pretty straightforward once I actually got started. The hardest part was getting through on the phone when I had questions. But the benefit amount I received was pretty close to what the online calculator estimated.

One more tip - if you're getting a lower benefit amount than expected, double-check that Washington ESD has all your wage information. Sometimes employers don't report correctly or there are data entry errors that can be corrected.

I've been on unemployment for 8 weeks now and I have to say, even though the weekly amount isn't huge, it's been a lifesaver while I look for work. The job search requirements are pretty reasonable too - just 3 work search activities per week.

Last thing I'll mention - if you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone, there's this service called Claimyr that I used recently. They basically call for you and get you connected to an actual person. Saved me hours of calling and getting nowhere. Worth checking out if you're frustrated with the phone system.

Don't forget you have to pay taxes on unemployment benefits! Washington doesn't have state income tax but you'll still owe federal taxes. You can have them withhold 10% when you file your weekly claims or pay it all at tax time.

Oh wow, I didn't think about taxes. Should I have them withhold it or just save money for next year?

I always have them withhold it so I don't get hit with a big tax bill later. Better safe than sorry.

learned this the hard way last year - owed like $1800 in taxes on my unemployment. definitely have them withhold!

Also remember you have to actively look for work and keep a job search log. Washington ESD requires you to make at least 3 job contacts per week and be able to prove it if they audit your claim.

What counts as a job contact? Just applying online or do I need to do more?

Applying online counts, but also networking events, informational interviews, contacting recruiters, etc. Keep detailed records of everything.

I've been on unemployment for 8 weeks now and still haven't figured out exactly how they calculated my weekly amount. The monetary determination they sent was confusing and when I tried calling Washington ESD to ask questions, I gave up after being on hold for 3 hours.

You should try that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier. I used it when I had questions about my benefit calculation and was able to get through to someone who explained everything clearly.

Thanks, I'll look into that. Getting hung up on after hours of waiting is so frustrating.

Maximum weekly benefit in Washington is $999 but most people don't get the max. You need to have made like $130k+ in your base period to qualify for maximum benefits. Most people get somewhere between $200-600 per week.

That's helpful context. I'm probably looking at around $400-500 based on my salary then.

Yeah that sounds about right for your income level. You'll know for sure once you get your monetary determination.

Don't forget about the waiting week! Your first week of unemployment doesn't get paid even if you file for it. So if you file this week, you won't get paid for this week but will start getting benefits the following week if approved.

Wait, really? So I lose a whole week of benefits just because it's my first week?

Yep, it's called the waiting week. Everyone has to serve it when they first file for unemployment in Washington.

The waiting week is waived during certain emergency periods but right now it's back in effect for new claims.

I'm getting $623 per week after being laid off from a $68k job. The calculation worked out pretty well for me. Make sure you report ALL your quarterly wages when you file - I almost forgot about a small side gig that actually helped boost my benefit amount.

Good tip! I did some freelance work last year so I should make sure to include that.

Exactly! Every bit of reported income can help increase your weekly benefit calculation.

been on UI for 6 months now and still confused about how they calculated my amount. seems low compared to what i was making but maybe i'm wrong

You can request a redetermination if you think there's an error in your wage calculation. You'd need to provide proof of additional wages that weren't included.

how do i do that? through the website or do i have to call?

The whole system is set up to discourage people from filing. Between the confusing calculations, impossible phone lines, and constant job search requirements it's like they want you to give up and stop claiming benefits.

I felt the same way until I actually got approved and started receiving benefits. It's frustrating but worth pushing through the initial hassles.

maybe you're right. just feels like they make everything harder than it needs to be

Pro tip: your base period is the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed. So if you file in January 2025, your base period would be October 2023 through September 2024. Make sure Washington ESD has all your wage information for those quarters.

That explains why they look at older wages instead of my most recent pay. I was wondering about that timing.

Right, there's a lag because employers don't report wages immediately. That's why recent work might not count toward your current claim.

I had to appeal my monetary determination because Washington ESD missed wages from a previous employer. The appeal process took forever but I ended up getting an extra $150 per week once it was corrected. Don't just accept the first calculation if something seems wrong.

How long did the appeal take? I'm worried about being without income while waiting for corrections.

It took about 6 weeks but they paid me retroactively for the difference once it was approved. You still get your original benefit amount while the appeal is pending.