How much does unemployment pay in Washington state - confused about benefit calculation

So if I made like $2,800 in my best quarter that would be around $108/week? That seems really low...

Actually you'd get the minimum of $188/week since your calculation is below that threshold. Washington ESD guarantees at least that amount.

That's not how Washington unemployment works. It's based on your quarterly earnings over a 4-quarter base period, not your most recent weekly wage.

Yeah I've been trying to call but keep getting the busy signal or getting disconnected after waiting forever.

I actually found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to Washington ESD when I needed to talk to someone about my benefit amount. They have a system that calls for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. Check out claimyr.com - they even have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

That sounds about right for seasonal work. Washington ESD looks at your 4 highest quarters in the last 5 quarters, so if you had some good earning periods it would bump up your weekly benefit amount.

Makes sense, I did work a lot of overtime during the holidays last year

Correct, you'll get $188/week which is the minimum weekly benefit amount for Washington unemployment in 2025.

That's still not gonna cover much. The whole unemployment system is broken if you ask me.

That gives me hope that maybe once I work longer I'll qualify for more if this happens again

Yes, the longer work history definitely helps build up those quarterly earnings that determine your benefit amount.

Oh really? What kind of training programs qualify for that?

Mostly trade skills, healthcare, or tech programs. You have to get approval from Washington ESD first though. Check WorkSource Washington for the list.

Yeah I saw that on the Washington ESD site. Seems pretty straightforward compared to figuring out the benefit calculation!

Wow I had no idea the max was that high now. Mine's only $340/week.

Yeah they increased it significantly. It used to be much lower.

Good point, so my $188 would really be closer to $170 after taxes

Actually you can choose whether to have taxes withheld or not. Some people prefer to handle it at tax time.

That's what I'm waiting for now. Filed my claim 3 days ago.

If you need to ask questions about your determination, that's another time when Claimyr might be helpful for getting through to Washington ESD phone lines.

The base period shifts depending on when you file your claim, so different quarters get included in the calculation each time.

ohhhh that explains it! wish they made that clearer

The $188 is the standard minimum weekly benefit amount for regular Washington unemployment claims in 2025. Some special programs might have different amounts.

Yeah like if you're on standby unemployment or partial unemployment the calculations can be different.

I only worked in Washington so that doesn't apply to me but good to know!

Right? And then when you need help understanding it you can't get through to anyone at Washington ESD to explain it.

That's why services like Claimyr are helpful - sometimes you just need to talk to a real person to make sense of your specific situation.

You're welcome! Remember to file your weekly claims on time and keep up with the job search requirements.

Good luck with the job hunt! The retail market is pretty good right now so hopefully you'll find something soon.

Thanks! Yeah I'm already applying to other retail positions since I have experience now.