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

Thanks! That's actually higher than I expected. Do you know if they calculate it automatically when I file my initial claim?

Yes, Washington ESD calculates it automatically using wage records from your employers. You'll see your weekly benefit amount in your account once your claim is processed.

I heard it was $1049 but maybe that changed? The Washington ESD website is confusing about the current maximums.

The maximum weekly benefit amount for 2025 is $1,079. It gets updated annually based on average wages in Washington state.

That sounds too good to be true. How much did it cost you?

It was worth every penny to actually talk to someone instead of wasting hours on hold. Way better than the frustration of trying to get through on my own.

I've heard of Claimyr but never tried it. Did they really get you connected to Washington ESD or just give you general info?

They actually got me connected to a real Washington ESD adjudicator who looked up my specific claim and explained exactly how they calculated my weekly amount.

Good to know! I'll definitely elect to have taxes taken out. Don't want a surprise bill next year.

Same here - I owed like $2,800 in taxes on my unemployment because I didn't have anything withheld. Lesson learned!

That's helpful! So if my two best quarters were $13,000 and $12,500, that would be $25,500 ÷ 2 = $12,750 ÷ 26 = about $490 per week?

Exactly! Though Washington ESD might round it slightly different, but that's the basic formula.

Just remember that's before any tax withholding if you elect that option.

Wait what? They don't count my most recent work? That doesn't make sense.

The standard base period excludes the most recent quarter because employers need time to report wages to Washington ESD. However, you might qualify for an alternate base period that includes more recent wages if your standard base period doesn't qualify you.

Yeah the alternate base period saved me. You have to specifically request it though - Washington ESD doesn't automatically check it.

How long do you have to file the weekly claim? Is there a specific day?

You can file starting Sunday for the previous week, but you have to file by Saturday night or you miss that week entirely. I set a phone reminder every Sunday.

Job search contacts - does that mean applications or just looking at job postings?

Actual applications, interviews, networking contacts, job fairs - stuff where you can prove you made contact with an employer or did something concrete toward finding work.

WorkSourceWA activities count too, like workshops and career counseling appointments.

How does Claimyr work exactly? Do they just call for you or something more?

They have some system that gets through the Washington ESD phone queue way faster than calling yourself. Check out their demo video, it explains the whole process.

Good to know. Hopefully I'll find something before 26 weeks but at least I understand the limits.

Just remember that partial work affects your weekly amount. If you work part-time while collecting, they reduce your benefit based on what you earn.

How do you check if your wages were reported correctly?

When you file your initial claim, Washington ESD shows you the wage information they have on file. If something looks wrong, you need to contact them right away to get it fixed.

Three weeks seems like a long time when you have bills to pay. Did you have any issues during processing?

No issues, just the normal verification process. Washington ESD has to confirm your identity, wages, and reason for unemployment before they can start payments.

Thanks for the recommendation. I might try that if I can't get through on my own.

I used Claimyr too and it saved me so much frustration. Actually talking to a Washington ESD person instead of guessing from their website was huge.