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

Thanks! That's actually higher than I expected. Do you know if that amount includes the additional federal benefits or is that just the state portion?

That's just the regular state unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. There aren't any federal add-ons right now like there were during COVID.

Thanks! That's actually higher than I expected. Do you know if that $999 max changed recently? I thought it was lower before.

Yeah they adjust it annually based on the state average wage. It was $929 in 2024 so it went up about $70 this year.

Oh wow I didn't even think about taxes. Can I have them withhold taxes when I file my weekly claims?

Yes, you can request 10% federal tax withholding when you initially file your claim or change it later through your SecureAccess Washington account.

How long did it take you to actually start receiving payments after filing?

About 2 weeks from when I filed to when I got my first payment. Had to do the one week waiting period plus processing time.

That Claimyr thing sounds interesting, I'll check it out. The Washington ESD phone system is impossible to get through to.

That's helpful but still confusing. How do I know what my base period wages were? Do I need to gather all my pay stubs from the past year?

Washington ESD automatically pulls your wage information from employers who report to them. You don't need pay stubs for the initial calculation, but it's good to have them in case there are discrepancies.

Weeks? That's rough. I was hoping to get payments started quickly. Did you have any issues with adjudication or was it just normal processing time?

mine went to adjudication for 3 weeks because they had to verify my separation reason. even simple layoffs can get delayed if washington esd needs more info from your employer

I tried the estimator but it's asking for quarterly wage information I don't have. Is there another way to get a ballpark figure?

You can request your wage and benefit information from Washington ESD, but honestly the easiest way is just to file your claim. The system will calculate it automatically using your reported wages.

Good point, I should check that. Is the base year the last 12 months or something different?

It's the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. So if you file now in January 2025, your base year would be January 2024 through December 2024.

Yeah they adjust the maximum benefit amount annually based on average wages in the state. It's gone up quite a bit over the past few years.

Most people don't get close to the maximum though. You'd need to be making over $100k to hit that ceiling.

What exactly do they require for job search activities? I know I need to look for work but wasn't sure about the specific requirements.

You need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of them. They can audit this so make sure you keep good records of where you applied, when, and what type of contact it was.

And register with WorkSourceWA if you haven't already - that's a requirement too.

How much does something like that cost? Seems like you shouldn't have to pay extra just to talk to Washington ESD.

I get the frustration but honestly it was worth it for me. Saved me hours of trying to call and actually got my questions answered quickly.

Interesting, I didn't know there were services to help with calling Washington ESD. How much does something like that cost?

They don't charge you upfront - it's more about getting you connected when you actually need to talk to someone. Way better than spending all day redialing.

I've heard of Claimyr too. My coworker used them when his claim got stuck in adjudication. Said it was worth it just to get answers instead of waiting weeks.

Yeah the maximum sounds good but it's misleading. I made $65k last year and only get $520/week in benefits.

That's still pretty decent though. $520 a week would cover most of my essential bills while I look for work.

The online calculators are just estimates. The only way to know for sure is to actually file your claim and let Washington ESD calculate it based on your actual wage records.

but what if I file and then realize I should have waited or done something different? can you cancel a claim once you start it?

Good point. What counts as a valid job search contact? Is it just applying for jobs or does networking count too?

Job applications, networking events, career fairs, contacting employers directly, even some types of training can count. You have to document everything in WorkSourceWA.

The job search thing is such a pain. I spend more time documenting my searches than actually searching sometimes.

Oh wow, I didn't think about taxes. How much should I expect to owe?

Depends on your total income for the year but unemployment is taxed as regular income. I'd recommend having them withhold 10% for federal taxes when you set up your claim.

Sounds like your claim might be in adjudication. That usually happens when there's a question about your separation from work or eligibility. You should be able to see the status on your online account.

Yeah it says 'adjudication in progress' but that doesn't help me pay bills. This is ridiculous.

You can work part time but you have to report any earnings when you file your weekly claim. They'll reduce your benefit amount based on how much you earn. Generally if you earn more than 1.5 times your weekly benefit amount, you won't get any unemployment for that week.

Good to know, thanks. So it's not all or nothing - they just reduce it proportionally.

Are you kidding me?? Better than other states? The bar must be pretty low then because this system is trash.

I mean, I've heard horror stories from friends in other states where they waited months for benefits. At least Washington usually processes claims within a few weeks.

Same issue here! The phone system is absolutely horrible. I actually tried that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and it worked great - got connected to an agent in about 15 minutes instead of waiting hours. Worth checking out if you're really stuck.

Thanks, I'll definitely look into that. This is so frustrating when you just need a simple question answered.

Seems like calling is a nightmare for everyone. I'll probably try that Claimyr thing too when I need to talk to someone.

That's a good point. I did get a decent bonus last spring so maybe that will help my calculation.

Yeah definitely factor that in. The system automatically uses your highest quarter which is usually in your favor.

How long did it take from filing to getting your first payment?

About 2 weeks for me, but I had a straightforward layoff with no complications. If there are any issues with your claim it can take much longer.

That sounds about right for the weekly amount. The duration can vary though - it's based on how much you earned in your base year. Someone with higher earnings might get benefits for longer.

Standard duration is up to 26 weeks but can be less if you didn't earn enough in your base year. There's a formula they use but most people get close to the full 26 weeks.

Good point, I should probably file this week then. Is there any downside to filing early?

Not really. Just make sure you meet the job search requirements once you start claiming. You have to apply for jobs and keep a log of your search activities.

That's good to know. So if my weekly benefit is $450, I could earn up to $455 per week and still get some unemployment?

Not exactly - they reduce your benefit dollar for dollar for anything you earn over $5. So if you earned $100 that week, your benefit would be $350 instead of $450.

Wait really? Even if my claim is still being processed I need to keep filing weekly?

Yes! Super important. File every week starting the week after you become unemployed, even if your claim is pending or in adjudication.

This is crucial advice - I learned this the hard way and lost 2 weeks of benefits because nobody told me.

Appeals take forever unfortunately. Have you tried getting help from your local WorkSource office?

yeah they just tell me to wait. its ridiculous how long this takes when people need the money to survive

Yeah I mentioned it above. Really helped me out when I was stuck. The phone system at Washington ESD is just overwhelmed most of the time.

I used it last month when my benefits got stopped randomly. Got connected to an agent in like 20 minutes instead of spending all day redialing. Worth checking out the demo video they have.

That's good to know. So I could potentially do some freelance work while collecting unemployment?

Yes, but you have to report all earnings on your weekly claim. Washington ESD will reduce your benefit based on how much you earn that week.

Wait, I have to file weekly claims even before my initial claim is approved?

Yes! This is super important. You can't go back and claim weeks you missed filing for. File every week starting the week after you become unemployed.

This is such an important point. I know someone who lost 4 weeks of benefits because they didn't know about filing weekly claims right away.

I did get 2 weeks severance pay. Does that mean I can't collect unemployment for those 2 weeks?

It depends on how Washington ESD treats severance. Sometimes it's allocated over the weeks it represents, sometimes it affects your benefits differently. You'll need to report it when you file.

I'll try the calculator just to get a ballpark figure, but good to know it might not be exact.

Yeah it's helpful for planning purposes but don't rely on it completely. Your actual determination letter will have the precise amount.

That's reassuring that it's kept up with cost of living somewhat. $1000/week would actually be pretty close to what I was making after taxes.

yeah just remember that's the maximum though. most people don't get that much unless they were making really good money before

Did they charge you anything upfront? I'm skeptical of services that promise to help with government agencies.

nope no upfront costs. they just help you get through when the lines are busy. worth it when you really need answers

How would I know if they made an error? The calculation seems pretty complex.

Usually it's if they used the wrong wage information or didn't include all your employment. Check the wage breakdown on your determination letter against your pay records.

The $999 maximum applies to regular unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. Standby status has the same benefit calculation but different work search requirements. The maximum amount is the same regardless of your status.

Got it, thanks for clarifying. I wasn't sure if standby was calculated differently.

Oh no, I am getting 2 weeks severance. Does that mean I can't file for unemployment right away?

You can file but your benefits might not start until after that severance period is over. Best to mention it when you file so they can calculate everything correctly.

Doesn't matter how many employers you had. They just look at your total wages in each quarter and use the highest one for the calculation. Job changes actually sometimes help because you might have a higher quarter than if you stayed at one job all year.

That makes sense. I had a few months where I was working two jobs so that quarter might be higher than the others.

26 weeks should hopefully be enough time to find something new. That's about 6 months of job searching.

Exactly. It's meant to be a bridge while you find new employment, not a permanent income replacement.

Good advice, I'll make sure to do that. How often do you have to file the weekly claims?

Every week by Sunday night for the previous week. It's pretty quick once you get used to it, just a few questions about whether you worked or looked for work.

Same here! I feel much more confident about filing now. Thanks everyone for all the detailed info.

Happy to help. The unemployment system can seem overwhelming at first but it's really not too bad once you understand the basics.

What kind of documentation do they want? Just a list of places I applied?

Company names, dates, positions applied for, how you applied (online, in person, etc). The WorkSource website has a good job search log you can use to keep track of everything.

Yeah definitely don't wait any longer. You've already lost several weeks of potential benefits. Better late than never though.

Thanks for the kick in the pants. Going to file this weekend.

Perfect summary! I'm going to bookmark this thread in case I need to reference it later.

And remember that Claimyr service if you need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD. Saved me a lot of headache.

That makes sense but it's also frustrating. My mortgage payment doesn't care what percentage of my old wages I'm getting.

That's why it's important to have some emergency savings if possible. Unemployment helps but it rarely covers everything.

Good point about paying into it. I never really thought about unemployment as something I'd paid for through taxes.

Exactly! It's not charity or welfare - it's insurance you've been paying for. You've earned the right to use it when you need it.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information. I think I have enough details now to file my claim and see what I actually qualify for.

Good luck with your claim! The process can be frustrating but most people do eventually get their benefits if they're eligible.

That's really helpful to have a real example. Sounds like I should expect somewhere in that range.

Similar situation here - made $50k and got $445 per week. The calculation is pretty consistent once you understand how it works.

Is that something I do separately or does Washington ESD connect me to that automatically?

You have to do it yourself. Go to worksourcewa.com and create your profile. They'll send you reminders but don't wait - do it as soon as you file your initial claim.

What would cause it to go into adjudication? I'm hoping to avoid any delays.

Could be anything - if you were fired vs laid off, if there are questions about your work history, if you worked in multiple states. Sometimes it's random. Just be prepared for the possibility.

Adjudication is so frustrating. Mine took 6 weeks to resolve and I couldn't get any information about why it was delayed until I finally got through to an agent.

Good to hear! I was worried the whole system would be a nightmare based on some of the stories I've heard.

The phone system is terrible but the online stuff works fine most of the time. Just make sure you file your weekly claims by the deadline every week.