How much is unemployment benefit amount in Washington state weekly?
I just moved here from Vegas and need to file for unemployment. Can anyone tell me what the weekly benefit amounts are for Washington ESD? I was making about $52,000 a year at my last job. Trying to figure out if it's worth filing or if I should just focus on job hunting. Also heard something about a waiting week - is that still a thing?
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Isaac Wright
Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your highest earning quarter from the past year. Maximum weekly benefit is $999 right now for 2025, but most people get between $300-600 depending on their wages. You'll get about 50% of your average weekly wage up to the max.
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Maya Lewis
•Thanks! So with my salary that should put me around $500 weekly if I qualify?
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Isaac Wright
•Sounds about right, but Washington ESD will calculate the exact amount when you file your claim.
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Lucy Taylor
There's no waiting week anymore in Washington. You can get benefits starting the first week you're unemployed if you qualify. Just make sure you file your weekly claims every week.
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Maya Lewis
•Good to know! I was worried about having to wait a week without any income.
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Connor Murphy
Been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks about my benefit calculation and can never get through. The phone system is terrible. Finally found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that calls for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. Watched their demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ and it actually works. Got through in 20 minutes instead of spending hours redialing.
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KhalilStar
•That sounds too good to be true. How much does it cost?
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Connor Murphy
•It's worth it when you're dealing with claim issues. Way better than sitting on hold for hours or getting disconnected.
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Amelia Dietrich
•I might try this. Been trying to reach someone about my adjudication for 3 weeks with no luck.
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Kaiya Rivera
wait so theres no maximum time limit on benefits anymore either? i thought it was still 26 weeks
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Isaac Wright
•Still 26 weeks for regular unemployment benefits in Washington. The extended pandemic benefits ended a while ago.
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Kaiya Rivera
•ok good to know thanks
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Maya Lewis
Another question - do I need to have worked in Washington to file here, or can I use wages from Nevada?
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Isaac Wright
•You can file in Washington using out-of-state wages. Washington ESD will contact the other state's unemployment office to verify your wage information. It might take a bit longer to process though.
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Katherine Ziminski
•I did this when I moved from California. Took about 3 weeks to get everything sorted but it worked fine.
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Noah Irving
The job search requirements are pretty strict here too. You need to do 3 job search activities per week and keep a log. Make sure you understand all the requirements before filing.
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Maya Lewis
•What counts as a job search activity? Just applying for jobs?
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Noah Irving
•Job applications, networking events, career fairs, interviews, contacting employers directly. Check the Washington ESD website for the full list.
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Vanessa Chang
•And you have to register with WorkSource Washington too. Don't forget that step.
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Madison King
I've been on unemployment for 8 weeks now and getting $623 per week. The system works pretty well once you get approved. Just follow all the rules and file your weekly claims on time.
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Maya Lewis
•How long did it take to get approved? Any issues with the process?
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Madison King
•Mine was approved in about 10 days. No issues since I had straightforward job separation and all my wage info was already in the system.
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Julian Paolo
BE CAREFUL about reporting any part-time work or gig work while on unemployment. Even small amounts can affect your weekly benefit. The system is very strict about this.
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Ella Knight
•This is so important! I got an overpayment notice because I didn't report some freelance work properly. Had to pay back $800.
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Maya Lewis
•Yikes, noted. I'll make sure to report everything accurately.
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William Schwarz
The Washington ESD website has a benefit calculator tool that can give you an estimate before you file. Might be worth checking out to get a rough idea of what to expect.
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Maya Lewis
•Perfect, I'll look for that. Thanks for all the help everyone!
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Lauren Johnson
One more thing - make sure you file your claim as soon as possible after becoming unemployed. You can't get benefits for weeks before you file, even if you were eligible.
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Jade Santiago
•This! I waited 2 weeks to file and lost out on those weeks of benefits. Can't backdate regular unemployment claims.
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Caleb Stone
If you run into any issues getting through to Washington ESD customer service, definitely try that Claimyr service mentioned earlier. I used it last month when my claim got stuck in adjudication and needed to speak with someone urgently. Much better than the endless busy signals.
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Daniel Price
•How quickly did they get you connected?
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Caleb Stone
•About 15-20 minutes vs the hours I was spending trying to call myself. Worth every penny when you're dealing with benefit delays.
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Olivia Evans
Just remember that unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can have taxes withheld or pay quarterly estimated taxes to avoid a big bill next year.
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Maya Lewis
•Good point, I'll opt for the tax withholding when I file. Thanks!
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Sophia Bennett
The whole process seems overwhelming at first but it's really not that bad once you get started. Washington ESD's online system is pretty user-friendly compared to some other states I've heard about.
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Aiden Chen
•Agreed, the SecureAccess Washington portal works well most of the time.
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Zoey Bianchi
•Just don't try to use it during peak times on Sundays when everyone's filing their weekly claims!
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