How much does unemployment pay in Washington state - what's the weekly benefit amount?

Thanks! So if I made around $8,000 in my best quarter, that would be about $308 divided by 26, then 60% of that? That seems really low...

Actually you divide the $8,000 by 26 first to get about $308, then multiply by 0.6 to get around $185 per week. Yeah it's not a lot but it's better than nothing.

The minimum weekly benefit amount in Washington is $295 for 2025. So even if your calculation comes out lower, you'd still get at least that much.

Oh that's good to know! So I'd probably get around $295 then based on my earnings.

Never heard of that, is it legit? Seems weird to pay someone to make phone calls for you.

Yeah it's totally legitimate. They don't ask for any personal info, just help you get connected to Washington ESD when the lines are busy. Worth it when you really need to talk to someone.

I feel you, it's really hard. The benefits are meant to be temporary assistance not full income replacement unfortunately.

Temporary my ass, I've been looking for work for 4 months and nothing pays what I used to make. Meanwhile bills keep coming.

What's the alternate base year? I just started this job 6 months ago after being unemployed for a while.

The alternate base year uses the last 4 completed quarters instead of the first 4 of 5. It can help people who recently started working or had a gap in employment.

Wait, unemployment is taxable? That sucks, I didn't know that.

Yes, unemployment benefits are considered taxable income by both federal and Washington state. You can choose to have taxes withheld or pay when you file your return.

That gives me hope, $445 would actually help a lot with my bills.

Yeah it's not amazing but it definitely helps. Just make sure you file your weekly claims on time every week or you'll lose benefits.

Yes, overtime pay counts as part of your total earnings for benefit calculation purposes. It's all based on your gross wages reported to Washington ESD.

Good to know, thanks! That should bump up my benefit amount then.

So if I find a part-time job while on unemployment, that won't affect my weekly benefit amount?

Right, your weekly benefit amount stays the same, but they'll reduce your payment based on how much you earn from the part-time work. There's a formula for partial benefits.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr. The regular phone lines are impossible. With their service I got through to an agent in like 10 minutes instead of spending all day redialing.

might have to try that, this is ridiculous. i just want to know why my benefit amount seems wrong

The maximum benefit amount is adjusted annually based on the state's average wage. It has gone up over the years but not as fast as housing costs unfortunately.

EXACTLY! They adjust it by like $20 while rent goes up $200. The whole system needs an overhaul.

There's an online calculator? I couldn't find that on their website.

It's buried in there somewhere. You have to dig around in the resources section I think. Much easier to just file and see what they give you.

26 weeks should be enough time to find something new, hopefully.

That's the hope, but some industries are tougher than others. I know people who used up all 26 weeks and still couldn't find work that paid decently.

Good point. The alternate base year can really help people who had irregular work schedules or career changes. Washington ESD should automatically check both but sometimes you have to request it.

It usually takes about a week to get your monetary determination letter. You should get it by mail and also in your SecureAccess Washington account.

Thanks, I'll keep checking my account. At least I know roughly what to expect based on the info in this thread.

How did you prove they made a mistake? What documentation did you need?

I had my old pay stubs that showed higher earnings than what they had on file. Turns out one of my employers didn't report my wages correctly to Washington ESD.

Adjudication delays are brutal right now. That's another situation where Claimyr helped me - I was able to talk to someone who explained what was happening with my claim instead of just waiting in the dark.

I might have to try that service. 5 weeks is ridiculous, I need those benefits to pay rent.

That's not saying much when $200 wouldn't even cover groceries for a week these days.

True, but I'm just saying we could have it worse. At least Washington tries to provide some decent support.

This is good advice but you have to be really careful with timing. You can only delay so long after becoming unemployed, and you need to make sure you're still eligible when you do file.

Definitely check with Washington ESD first, but it worked for me. Waited 6 weeks and ended up getting $150 more per week because a better quarter became part of my base year.

Good luck with your claim! Don't forget to file your weekly claims every week once you're approved, even if you're looking for work.

Same here, this thread answered all my questions. Time to get my claim filed!