How much does unemployment pay in Washington state weekly?

Washington unemployment benefits are calculated based on your highest earning quarter in your base period. The maximum weekly benefit amount for 2025 is $999 per week, but most people get less. They take your highest quarter earnings, divide by 26, then you get about 50% of that amount. So if you made $12,000 in your best quarter, you'd get roughly $230 per week.

Washington unemployment benefits are calculated as a percentage of your highest earning quarter from the past year. The weekly benefit amount ranges from $295 minimum up to $999 maximum for 2025. Since you made around $770 per week gross, you'd probably qualify for somewhere in the $400-500 range weekly, but it depends on your full work history.

The formula is basically your highest quarter earnings divided by 26, but there's a cap. I was making $25/hour full time and ended up getting about $580 per week from Washington ESD.

Washington unemployment benefits are calculated as 60% of your average weekly wage from your highest earning quarter in your base period. The minimum weekly benefit is $295 and maximum is $999 for 2025. So if you were making $630/week ($18 x 35 hours), you'd get around $378 per week before taxes.

Washington unemployment benefits are calculated based on your highest earning quarter from the last 18 months. The weekly benefit amount ranges from $295 to $999 per week depending on your wages. For someone making $18/hour at 35 hours, you'd probably be looking at somewhere in the $400-500 range weekly, but it depends on your exact earnings history.

the minimum is like $295 a week i think and max is $999 but hardly anyone gets the max unless you were making really good money

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to check on your claim status or get questions answered about your benefit amount, I had good luck with Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you actually reach a live agent instead of getting stuck in phone limbo. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

just so you know the amount changes every year. i think 2025 went up from what it was in 2024 but dont quote me on that

The formula is pretty straightforward - they take your highest quarter wages from your base year and divide by 26. So if you made $9,000 in your best quarter, your weekly benefit would be around $346. But there's also a minimum and maximum cap.

I was in a similar situation last year - warehouse job, similar pay. I ended up getting $387 per week. The Washington ESD website has a benefit calculator but honestly it's confusing to use. What really helped me was using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual agent who could walk me through the calculation. They have this video demo (https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ) that shows how it works. Way easier than trying to navigate the phone system yourself.

Don't forget you have to do job searches every week to keep getting paid. Washington requires 3 job search activities per week and you need to log them in WorkSourceWA. The money isn't just free - there are requirements you have to meet.

My claim has been stuck in adjudication for a month now and I can't get any info about when I might start receiving payments. Anyone else dealing with this? I'm starting to panic about my bills.

That's actually better than I expected! Is that amount automatic or do they have to review my wages first?

They'll review your wage history from employers who reported to Washington ESD. The amount gets determined during your initial claim processing.

just filed last week and still waiting to hear back... this whole process takes forever!! anyone know how long before they tell you your weekly benefit amount?

Usually takes 1-2 weeks if there are no issues with your claim. If they need to verify employment or wages it can take longer.

I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks to get my exact benefit amount but can never get through. The automated system just hangs up on me after being on hold forever. Anyone else having this problem?

DON'T COUNT ON GETTING THE MONEY RIGHT AWAY!!! Even if you qualify they make you wait and jump through hoops. I've been waiting 6 weeks for my first payment and they keep asking for more documentation. The system is broken.

At $18/hour full time you're probably looking at around $350-400 per week in benefits. But remember you have to pay taxes on unemployment income and you need to be actively job searching. Washington requires 3 job search activities per week and you have to log them in WorkSourceWA.

The whole Washington ESD system is a joke. They make it so hard to get benefits that you're entitled to. Half the time their website doesn't even work properly.

For 2025, the maximum weekly benefit in Washington is $999 and minimum is $295. Most people fall somewhere in between. You can also get an additional $25 per week if you have dependents.

ugh hoping mine goes through quick, need that money ASAP

Keep in mind that unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have 10% federal taxes withheld when you file your weekly claims, otherwise you'll owe taxes when you file your return next year.

Just want to add that if you're planning ahead, you can't file until you're actually unemployed. And there's a one week waiting period before benefits start. So plan accordingly if you're thinking about leaving your job.

Wait, they tax unemployment?? That seems messed up, you're already struggling financially

depends on how much you made. i was only part time so i get like $350 a week. better than nothing i guess

The benefit amount also depends on how long you worked. You need to have earned at least $1,500 in your base year to qualify, and your total benefits are capped at 26 times your weekly amount or 30% of your base year wages, whichever is less.

Yes, unemployment is considered income by the IRS. Better to have taxes withheld upfront than get hit with a big bill later.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for over a week to ask about my benefit calculation but their phone lines are impossible! Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there? I keep getting disconnected after waiting for hours.

I had the same problem until someone told me about Claimyr. It's a service that calls Washington ESD for you and gets you through to an actual person. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration!

also if you quit you probably wont qualify unless its for good cause like unsafe working conditions or harassment. has to be the employers fault basically

To calculate your potential benefit amount more precisely: take your highest earning quarter from your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters), divide by 26, and that's roughly your weekly benefit amount. But remember it can't exceed the state maximum of $999 or be less than the minimum of $295.

Interesting, I'll check that out. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get answers about my claim.

I was making $22/hour full time and my weekly benefit came out to $629. Took about 2 weeks to get my first payment after filing. Make sure you do your weekly claims every week even if your initial claim is still pending.

Whatever you do, don't quit your job to get unemployment. You have to be laid off or fired for reasons not related to misconduct. And you have to be actively looking for work and able to work.

Make sure you file your weekly claims on time every week even if you haven't been paid yet. Missing a week can cause delays and you might lose that week's benefits permanently.

Yeah I used Claimyr too when my claim got stuck in adjudication. Way better than wasting entire days trying to call myself.

The Washington ESD website has a benefit calculator where you can estimate your weekly amount if you know your quarterly wages. It's not 100% accurate but gives you a ballpark figure.

The benefit amount also depends on if you have any dependents. You can get additional money for dependent children. I think it's like $25 per child per week but don't quote me on that exact amount.

been on unemployment twice in the past 5 years and both times the amount was different even though my wages were similar. they use some weird formula that i never fully understood

The Washington ESD website has a benefit calculator buried somewhere in their tools section. Not super accurate but gives you a rough estimate based on your quarterly wages.

Don't forget that unemployment is taxable income! I learned this the hard way when I got a big tax bill the following year. You can have 10% federal tax withheld from your benefits when you file your weekly claims.

The amount you get also depends on if you're getting partial unemployment. If you're working part-time, they'll reduce your weekly benefit based on how much you earn. I think you can earn up to about $200 before it starts affecting your benefit amount.

I've been on unemployment for 4 months now and still can't get through to ESD to ask about extending my benefits. The phone system is absolutely broken. How is anyone supposed to get help?

For anyone wondering about the timing, benefits are paid on Tuesday and Wednesday each week depending on the last digit of your Social Security number. Direct deposit is faster than getting a debit card.

Make sure you report ALL income when you file your weekly claims, even small amounts. ESD will find out eventually and you could get hit with an overpayment notice if you don't report it.

The system is so backed up right now. I filed my claim 3 weeks ago and it's still showing 'pending' with no explanation. Meanwhile bills keep coming in.

One thing that helped me was using the Claimyr service to get through to ESD. I was stuck in adjudication for weeks and they were able to connect me with an agent who explained what was holding up my claim. Cost some money but saved me weeks of frustration.

Remember that you can only collect unemployment for 26 weeks in a normal year, unless there are special extended benefits available. Plan accordingly and don't wait too long to start your job search.

Don't forget to keep doing your WorkSource activities too. ESD requires you to register with WorkSource Washington and participate in reemployment services if selected.

The whole system is just broken. I've been trying to resolve an issue with my claim for 2 months and can't get anyone on the phone. It's like they don't want to help people.

Bottom line - most people get between $300-600 per week depending on their previous wages. It's not a ton of money but it helps bridge the gap while you look for new work. Just make sure you follow all the rules and file your weekly claims on time.

One more thing - if you do end up needing to file a claim and run into issues reaching Washington ESD by phone, definitely check out that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier. I've recommended it to several people now and everyone's had success getting connected. The phone lines are just impossible otherwise.

This has been really helpful everyone. Sounds like I'd probably get somewhere around $350-400 weekly which isn't great but better than nothing. Hopefully I won't need it but good to know what to expect.

i got $445 a week when i was laid off from my manufacturing job last year. took about 3 weeks to get my first payment but once it started coming it was regular every week

Just don't get your hopes up about the system working smoothly. They find every excuse to delay and deny claims. I'm still fighting mine and it's been months.

The calculation can be confusing but here's a simple way to estimate: take your gross monthly income, multiply by 0.5, then divide by 4.3 (weeks per month). So if you make $3000/month, that's $1500 * 0.5 = $750, divided by 4.3 = about $175 per week. That's very rough but gives you a ballpark.

Don't forget about the federal taxes! Washington doesn't have state income tax but you'll still owe federal taxes on unemployment benefits. You can have them withheld or pay quarterly.

honestly the hardest part isnt figuring out how much you get its actually getting approved and dealing with all their requirements. the job search stuff is annoying

My sister just went through this process. She was making about the same as you and got $391 per week. But she had to wait almost a month because they had questions about her previous employer. Eventually got all the back pay though.

You might also be eligible for additional programs depending on your situation. Like if you need retraining for a new career, there are workforce development programs that can help with education costs while you're collecting benefits.

Just remember that if you do any part-time work while collecting, you have to report it. They'll reduce your benefits dollar for dollar after you earn more than about $175 in a week. But some work is better than no work usually.

Final thought - if you do end up needing to file and have ANY issues with your claim, seriously consider using Claimyr to reach an agent. I can't stress enough how much easier it made the whole process for me. The regular phone system is basically unusable.

Hope you don't need to use this info but good to be prepared! The amount varies but for your situation probably $350-450 range sounds right based on what everyone's shared.

I'm getting $623 per week and I was making about $28/hour at my last job. Took about 3 weeks from filing to getting my first payment but now it comes regularly every week as long as I do my job searches.

Don't spend it all right away thinking it'll keep coming. Sometimes they review claims later and find issues. Keep some money aside just in case they ask for repayment.

The amount also depends on if you qualify for any dependents allowance. If you have kids or a non-working spouse, you might get a little extra added to your weekly benefit.

For anyone still struggling to get through to Washington ESD about their benefit amounts or claim issues, definitely check out that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier. It's been a game changer for actually talking to real people instead of getting lost in the phone system.

remember you have to pay taxes on unemployment benefits. they dont automatically take it out so save some money for tax time or have them withhold it

Washington state doesn't have income tax but federal still applies to unemployment benefits. Just wanted to clarify that for anyone reading.

I've been collecting for 12 weeks now and it's been pretty straightforward once you get into the routine. File your weekly claim every week, do your job searches, and the money shows up. Just be patient with the initial setup process.

Just to add - if you worked in multiple states recently, you might want to check which state gives you the higher benefit amount. You can usually choose which state to file in based on where you worked.

The waiting week was eliminated in Washington so you should get paid for your first week of unemployment as long as your claim is approved. That's at least one thing they improved recently.

I looked but couldn't find it. Do you have a direct link?

It's under 'Resources' then 'Benefit Information' I think? The site navigation is confusing but it's there somewhere.

Don't forget you have to do job searches to keep getting benefits. Washington requires 3 job search activities per week and you have to log them in WorkSourceWA.

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

Job applications, networking events, career fairs, informational interviews, WorkSource workshops. Has to be stuff that could reasonably lead to employment.

Good to know, I'll start keeping track of my applications from day one.

Been on unemployment for 8 weeks now and the payments have been consistent once you get approved. Just make sure to file your weekly claims every Sunday - if you miss the deadline you can lose that week's benefits.

What time do the weekly claims open? I always forget and scramble to file at the last minute.

Claims open Sunday morning and you have until Saturday at 11:59 PM to file. I set a reminder on my phone for Sunday afternoons.

The payment amount also depends on if you have any dependents. You can get additional money for dependent children under 18.

How much extra do you get for dependents?

It's a percentage of your weekly benefit amount, up to a certain limit. The exact amount depends on your benefit level.

Make sure all your previous employers reported your wages correctly to Washington ESD. I had an issue where one employer didn't report my last quarter and it lowered my benefit amount until I got it fixed.

How do you check if employers reported wages correctly?

You can see your wage history in your eServices account after you file your claim. If something looks wrong you need to contact Washington ESD to get it corrected.

That's really helpful to know. I'll definitely check that once my claim is processed.

Remember that you can only collect unemployment for 26 weeks in Washington, unless there's some kind of extension program running. Plan accordingly.

26 weeks goes by faster than you think when you're job hunting. Really motivates you to find something quickly.

Exactly. And if you refuse suitable work offers, they can disqualify you from benefits entirely.

Has anyone had issues with their claim getting stuck in adjudication? Mine's been pending for 3 weeks and I can't get any information about what's causing the delay.

Adjudication usually means they need to verify something about your separation from employment or eligibility. Could be as simple as confirming you were laid off vs. fired for cause. The wait times are brutal though.

I was stuck in adjudication for a month until I used Claimyr to get through to someone at Washington ESD. The agent was able to tell me exactly what documentation they needed to move my claim forward. Worth every penny to avoid the endless phone tree.

I might have to try that Claimyr service. This waiting around with no information is driving me crazy.

Don't count on getting the maximum benefit amount unless you were making really good money. Most people get somewhere in the $400-600 range per week.

Yeah the maximum is only if you were making like $83k+ per year or something. Most of us regular folks get way less than that.

That makes sense. $378 a week sounds about right for my income level then.

Pro tip: sign up for direct deposit when you file your claim. Paper checks take forever and can get lost in the mail. Direct deposit hits your account within 1-2 business days of filing your weekly claim.

Definitely agree on direct deposit. I was stupid and chose paper checks at first and regretted it immediately.

Good to know! I'll make sure to set up direct deposit when I file.

Also be aware that if you work part-time while collecting unemployment, they'll reduce your benefit by a certain amount. You can still work and collect benefits but there are rules about how much you can earn.

What's the earnings limit before they start reducing benefits?

You can earn up to your weekly benefit amount minus $5 before they start reducing your unemployment check. So if your benefit is $400, you can earn up to $395 without any reduction.

That's actually pretty generous. Good to know I could pick up some part-time work if needed.

Just remember to report ANY income when you file your weekly claims, even if it's just $20. They will find out eventually and you'll have to pay back overpayments plus penalties if you don't report it upfront.

This is so important! I know someone who had to pay back thousands because they didn't report some gig work income.

Noted. I'll be super careful about reporting everything accurately.

The whole unemployment system in this state is a mess honestly. Takes forever to get approved, impossible to reach anyone by phone, and the website crashes constantly. But once you're in the system and getting payments it's not too bad.

At least Washington pays better than a lot of other states. Could be worse I guess.

True, some states cap benefits way lower. Washington's maximum of $999 is actually pretty decent compared to other places.