How much is unemployment benefit amount in Washington ESD - confused about weekly calculation

Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount using your wages from your base period, which is typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed. The maximum weekly benefit amount for 2025 is $999, but most people get less. Your benefit is roughly 3.85% of your total base period wages divided by 52 weeks, but there are minimums and maximums.

Thanks! So if I made about $30,000 in my base period, that would be around $22 per week? That seems really low?

No, you're calculating wrong. It's 3.85% of $30k = $1,155 divided by 52 = about $22 per week base, but then there are other factors. You should get more than that.

The calculation is more complex than that. Your weekly benefit amount is based on your highest quarter earnings in the base period. If you made $30k total, and your highest quarter was maybe $8,000, your weekly amount would be roughly 1/25th of that highest quarter, so around $320 per week. But this varies based on your specific wage pattern.

That sounds more realistic! How do I find out what my actual base period wages were?

Log into your SecureAccess Washington account and look at your claim details. It should show your base period quarters and wages. You can also call Washington ESD but good luck getting through.

Ugh calling Washington ESD is impossible. I've been trying for weeks to get answers about my benefit amount and keep getting busy signals or disconnected after waiting 2+ hours. Has anyone found a way to actually reach a human there?

I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that calls Washington ESD for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. Saved me so much time and frustration. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Interesting, I'll check that out. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get through to someone at Washington ESD.

Just wanted to add that your benefit amount also depends on if you have any dependents. You can get additional money for dependent children or a spouse without income. Also make sure you're filing your weekly claims on time or you won't get paid at all.

Good point about dependents. I don't have any but that's useful to know for others reading this.

Yeah the dependent allowance is like $25-30 per dependent per week I think? Not a ton but every bit helps when you're unemployed.

The maximum benefit in WA is $999/week but hardly anyone gets that. You need to have made like $65,000+ in your highest quarter which is basically impossible for most regular jobs. Most people I know get between $300-600 per week depending on their previous wages.

That range makes sense based on what I was making. Hopefully I'll be in the middle of that range.

Don't forget you have to pay taxes on unemployment benefits too. It's not as much take-home as you think.

I was in a similar situation and my benefit amount was about 50% of what I was making working. Made $16/hour at retail and got about $340/week in unemployment. It's enough to survive but definitely not comfortable living.

50% sounds about right for what I'm expecting. Better than nothing while I job search.

The job search requirements are no joke either. Make sure you're keeping track of your job search activities because they audit those.

If you're confused about your benefit calculation, you should definitely try to get through to Washington ESD to have them explain it. I know calling is frustrating but there might be other ways.

I actually just discovered Claimyr last week when I needed to talk to someone about my benefit amount. They got me through to a Washington ESD rep in like 20 minutes instead of me spending all day trying to call. Totally worth it.

That's exactly what I need! I'll definitely look into that service.

Your weekly benefit also has a waiting week requirement. The first week you file, you won't get paid for that week even if you're eligible. It's just how the system works in Washington.

Wait what? So even if I'm approved I don't get paid for the first week? That seems unfair.

Yeah it's called a waiting week. You still have to file the weekly claim but you won't receive payment for that first week. Every week after that you should get paid if you're eligible.

The benefit amount really depends on your work history. I had irregular hours and my benefit was lower than expected because some quarters I barely worked. Make sure all your employers reported your wages correctly to Washington ESD.

How can I check if my wages were reported correctly?

You can request a wage statement from Washington ESD or check your Social Security earnings record. If there are discrepancies you need to contact both Washington ESD and your former employer.

Just a heads up - if you quit your job you might not be eligible for unemployment at all. It has to be through no fault of your own, like layoffs or termination for reasons other than misconduct.

I was laid off so I should be good on that front. Thanks for mentioning it though.

Even if you were laid off, sometimes employers contest the claim to avoid paying higher unemployment taxes. Be prepared for possible adjudication delays.

Once you know your benefit amount, you can collect for up to 26 weeks in Washington (longer in some circumstances). Make sure you understand all the requirements like being able and available for work and actively seeking employment.

26 weeks should hopefully be enough time to find something new. The job market seems pretty competitive right now though.

If you're having trouble with any part of the unemployment process, that Claimyr service mentioned earlier can help with more than just calling. They know all the Washington ESD procedures.

Don't stress too much about the exact amount until you get your official determination letter. Washington ESD will send you a monetary determination that breaks down exactly how they calculated your weekly benefit amount and how many weeks you're eligible for.

That's good advice. I guess I'm just anxious to know what to expect financially. This whole process is pretty overwhelming.

It is overwhelming but you'll get through it. Just make sure to file your weekly claims on time and keep looking for work. The money will help bridge the gap until you find something new.

And remember, even if your initial benefit amount seems low, there might be errors in your wage records that can be corrected. Don't just accept the first determination if something seems wrong.