How much does unemployment pay in Washington - weekly benefit amounts?

Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your highest earning quarter from your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters). The maximum weekly benefit for 2025 is $999, but most people don't get that much. Your benefit is roughly 3.85% of your total base period wages, divided by 26 weeks.

Washington unemployment benefits are calculated based on your highest earning quarter from your base period. The weekly benefit amount (WBA) ranges from $295 minimum to $1,019 maximum for 2025. Your monthly income of $4,200 should qualify you for a decent amount, probably somewhere in the $600-800 range weekly depending on your work history.

just got approved last week and im getting $743 weekly which is way better than i thought it would be. the washington esd calculator on their website is pretty accurate if you want to estimate yours before filing

i think its like half your normal pay but theres a cap, not sure what it is now tho

The Washington ESD benefit calculator is definitely your best bet for getting an accurate estimate. Keep in mind you can receive benefits for up to 26 weeks in most cases, and you'll need to file weekly claims and meet job search requirements. If you're having trouble getting through to ESD to check your claim status or ask questions, I recently discovered Claimyr at claimyr.com - they help people get connected to actual ESD agents without waiting on hold for hours. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Washington has one of the higher maximum benefit amounts compared to other states. The $1,019 maximum is pretty generous but you need to have earned quite a bit to qualify for that level. Most people end up somewhere in the $400-700 range.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to ask about your specific benefit amount, I used a service called Claimyr that helped me reach an actual agent. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really helped when I couldn't get through the busy phone lines.

DONT FORGET TAXES! These benefits are taxable income so you'll owe federal taxes on whatever you receive. You can have taxes withheld or pay them later but dont get surprised at tax time like I did.

i've been on unemployment for 12 weeks now getting $628 per week and its definitely helped me survive while job searching. make sure you keep track of your job search activities because washington requires 3 job contacts per week and they do audit people randomly

Your benefit amount depends on several factors: your base period wages, how many hours you worked, and whether you have any dependents. For someone making $18/hour working part-time, you might be looking at somewhere between $200-400 per week, but that's just a rough guess. The exact formula is pretty complex.

Just remember you'll have to pay taxes on unemployment benefits. They don't automatically withhold federal taxes unless you ask them to.

Honestly the system is so confusing, I filed 3 weeks ago and still don't know exactly what I'm getting because my claim is stuck in adjudication.

The 8 months of work history might be an issue. You need sufficient work history in your base period to qualify, and the amount you worked affects your benefit calculation. With only 8 months at part-time hours, your base period wages might be lower than you think.

The benefit amounts are decent but the system is a nightmare to navigate sometimes. My claim got stuck in adjudication for 5 weeks last year and I couldn't get anyone on the phone to explain what was happening. Finally used one of those call-back services and got it resolved in like 2 days.

Your benefit amount also depends on whether you qualify for any dependency allowances. If you have kids under 18 or a spouse who doesn't work, you can get additional money added to your weekly benefit amount.

whatever you do dont expect to get paid right away, took me 6 weeks to see my first payment and that was after calling washington esd like 100 times

been trying to figure out my benefit amount for weeks but cant get the esd website calculator to work right. keeps giving me error messages when i enter my wage info

The weekly benefit calculation is pretty straightforward once you understand it. They look at your base period (first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters), find your highest earning quarter, and calculate from there. Most people qualify for somewhere between 40-50% of their average weekly wages.

For anyone still having trouble reaching Washington ESD agents, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really does work. I was skeptical at first but it saved me hours of calling. Much easier than dealing with busy signals all day.

make sure you file as soon as you lose your job or your benefits will be delayed. there's no waiting week in washington anymore so you can get paid for your first week of unemployment if you file right away

To give you a more specific example for your situation: if you made $18/hour for 20 hours per week over 8 months, that's roughly $11,520 in wages. Depending on how those wages are distributed across quarters, you might qualify for around $200-300 per week in benefits, but this is just an estimate.

Just remember that unemployment benefits are meant to be temporary assistance while you look for work. The job search requirements are taken seriously and you need to be actively looking for suitable work in your field.

the maximum benefit of $1019 is nice but you have to earn like $100k+ to qualify for that level. most working people will get somewhere in the middle range based on their actual wages

Don't forget about the additional federal programs that might be available during economic downturns. Right now it's just regular state unemployment but Congress sometimes adds extra weeks or payments during recessions.

if you end up having problems with your claim or need to talk to someone at Esd about your benefit amount calculation, that claimyr service people mentioned actually works pretty well. used it twice now when i couldnt get through on the phone

The whole system needs an overhaul. I qualified for the maximum benefit amount but still had to wait weeks because of 'system processing delays.' Meanwhile bills don't stop coming.

Don't forget about the job search requirements too. Even if you qualify for benefits, you have to actively search for work and document it.

Just filed last week and got my monetary determination already. Shows I'll get $445 per week for up to 26 weeks. The key is having steady work history with good wages in your base period.

remember you can work part time and still collect some benefits, they dont cut you off completely if you pick up a few hours here and there

The benefit amount also depends on when you file. If you wait too long after becoming unemployed, it might affect your base period calculation.

One more plug for Claimyr - if you do file and run into issues or need to speak with someone about your benefit calculation, it's worth trying. Much better than the frustration of constant busy signals when you need answers about your claim.

Bottom line - file as soon as possible and use the benefit calculator on Washington ESD's website to get an estimate. Even if the amount isn't huge, it's better than nothing while you look for new work.

Pro tip: set up direct deposit when you file your claim. Paper checks take forever and sometimes get lost in the mail.

Also worth noting that if you disagree with your benefit determination, you can appeal it. I had to appeal mine because they didn't count wages from a previous job correctly.

The system definitely has its problems but it's there for a reason. Just be patient with the process and make sure you follow all the rules to avoid any issues with your claim.

The important thing is to file your weekly claims on time every week even if your benefit amount seems low. Missing a week can cause delays and complications with your payments.