How much is unemployment benefit amount in Washington state?

Thanks! So if my highest quarter was around $9,000, I'd get about $346 per week? That's actually more than I expected.

That sounds about right, but Washington ESD will give you the exact amount when you file your initial claim. The calculation can be tricky with different pay periods.

That's helpful! So they look at just one quarter, not your average over the whole year?

Exactly, just your highest earning quarter from the base period, which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file.

Thanks! So if I made $52k annually, what would that work out to roughly?

Hard to say without knowing your exact quarterly earnings, but probably somewhere around $400-500 per week if your income was steady throughout the year.

Thanks! So they don't just look at my most recent salary? They actually go back and look at quarters from over a year ago?

Exactly - they use a specific base period that's usually the first four of the last five completed quarters before you filed. So if you filed in January 2025, they'd look at July 2023 through June 2024.

So if I made like $12,000 in my best quarter, that would be around $460 per week? That seems pretty good actually.

yeah but you also have to meet the base year requirements and have worked enough quarters

Thanks! That's actually better than I expected. How do I know what my base period is?

Your base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. So if you file now in January 2025, it would be January 2024 through December 2024.

Thanks! So if my highest quarter was around $13,000, that would be about $500 per week?

That sounds about right. You can also use the benefit calculator on the Washington ESD website to get an exact estimate before you file your claim.

That's helpful to know! Did you have any issues getting through to Washington ESD when you filed?

yeah calling them was a nightmare, kept getting busy signals for days

What's the base period? Is that different from just looking at my recent paychecks?

Base period is the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file. So if you file in January 2025, your base period would be October 2023 through September 2024. It's not your most recent earnings.

It's not 60% of weekly wages. Washington uses a different calculation based on your base period earnings. The benefit amount varies significantly based on when you worked and how much you earned each quarter.

oh ok thanks for clarifying that makes more sense why mine was so low

This is confusing - what if I just started working last year? Would I still qualify?

If you don't have enough in your regular base year, Washington ESD can use your alternate base year which is the last 4 completed quarters. You'd still need the minimum earnings though.

That's actually higher than I expected! So they look at my best quarter, not my total annual salary?

Exactly. They take your highest quarter earnings, divide by 13, then multiply by 0.0385 to get your weekly benefit amount. The base period is usually the first four of the last five completed quarters before you filed.

That's helpful! How do I know what my highest quarter was? Do I need to calculate it myself or does Washington ESD tell me?

When you file your initial claim, Washington ESD will show you your base period wages and calculate everything automatically. You'll see it all in your account.

Thanks! So if my highest quarter was around $12,000, that would be about $460 per week? That seems reasonable.

Yeah that sounds about right. I got $520/week when my highest quarter was around $13,500.

Thanks! So if I made $13,000 in my highest quarter, that would be $500 per week divided by 26... wait that doesn't seem right?

No, you divide the quarterly amount by 13 weeks first to get your average weekly wage, then multiply by 3.85%. So $13,000 ÷ 13 = $1,000 weekly wage, then $1,000 × 0.0385 = $38.50... actually let me double check that formula.

So they look at my best quarter? That would probably be last summer when I was working overtime a lot. How do I know what my base period quarters are exactly?

If you file today, your base period would be roughly January 2024 through December 2024. They take your highest quarter earnings and divide by 26 to get your weekly amount, but there's also a minimum you have to earn in your base period to qualify.

Thanks! I tried the calculator but I'm confused about what quarters to use. Do I count the quarter I just got laid off in?

No, you don't count the current quarter. If you filed in January 2025, your base period would be January-December 2024. The calculator will walk you through it step by step.

That makes sense. I started my current job in March 2023 so I should have enough wages in my base period.

Thanks! That's actually more than I expected. How do I know which quarter was my highest earning one?

When you file your claim, Washington ESD will automatically look at your wage records and use the highest quarter. You don't have to calculate it yourself.

It's not quite 50% - Washington uses a different formula than some other states. The 3.85% calculation the previous poster mentioned is more accurate.

oh ok i was thinking of something else then

So if my highest quarter was like $4,500, I'd get around $173 per week? That seems really low for living expenses.

Yeah that sounds about right. It's only supposed to replace part of your income, not all of it. Plus you have to actively look for work and report it weekly.

Thanks! So if I made $15,000 in my highest quarter, I'd get about $577 per week? That seems pretty good actually.

That's right! Just remember you'll need to file your weekly claims and meet the job search requirements to keep getting benefits.

That's way higher than I expected! So it's really based on just one quarter, not my whole work history?

Yes, they take your highest earning quarter and divide by 26 to get your weekly amount. But there's also a minimum requirement - you need at least $3,200 in your highest quarter to qualify.

That's really helpful to know! How long did it take to get approved?

took about 10 days but I didn't have any issues with my claim. some people wait longer if they have to go through adjudication

What happens if I worked part-time during some of those quarters? Does that affect the calculation?

Yes, they include all covered employment. Part-time work counts toward your base period wages, which could actually help increase your benefit amount.

I had mixed part-time and full-time work and still qualified for $580 per week. The system accounts for all of it.

I had the same issue until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

Thanks! So if I made $45k total, what would that work out to roughly per week?

Hard to say without knowing your quarterly breakdown, but probably somewhere around $350-400 weekly if your earnings were consistent.

So if I made like $6,000 in my best quarter, I'd get around $230 per week?

Yeah that sounds about right. Plus you might qualify for the additional $25 dependency allowance if you have kids.

Thanks! So if my highest quarter was around $16,250, that would be about $625 per week?

That sounds about right, but Washington ESD will calculate the exact amount when you file your initial claim.

So if I made $13,000 in my highest quarter, that would be $13,000 divided by 26 = $500 per week?

Exactly! That's how the calculation works. You can also get an estimate by logging into your SecureAccess Washington account and using their benefit calculator tool.

So if I made like $9,000 in my best quarter, that would be around $265 per week?

Yeah that sounds about right. You can use the benefit calculator on the Washington ESD website to get a more precise estimate.

That's helpful, thanks! Is there a minimum amount too? I'm worried my wages might not be high enough.

Yes, the minimum weekly benefit amount is $295 in 2025. As long as you have sufficient wages in your base period, you should qualify for at least that amount.

Thanks! So they look at my best quarter, not my total annual income?

Exactly. They take your highest quarter earnings, divide by 13 weeks, then calculate roughly 60% of that amount.

So if I made $12,600 in my best quarter, that would be about $485 per week? That seems like a lot less than I expected.

That sounds about right. The formula is designed to replace a portion of your income, not all of it. You'll also need to look for work and report your job search activities each week.

Did you have any trouble getting through to them to verify your benefit amount? I keep hearing the phone lines are impossible.

Oh man, yes. I probably called 200+ times over two weeks trying to get someone on the phone. Eventually found this service called Claimyr that calls for you - saved me so much time. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Interesting, never heard of that. I'll check it out if I can't get through myself.

Thanks! So if I made $15,000 in my highest quarter, that would be about $577 per week? That seems higher than I expected.

That's about right, but remember there's a cap. For 2025 the maximum weekly benefit is around $999, so you'd get the full amount you calculated.

So if I made $13,000 in my highest quarter, that would be $500 per week? That seems like a lot compared to what I expected.

Yes, that's correct. Washington has one of the higher unemployment benefit rates in the country. You can receive benefits for up to 26 weeks typically.

Thanks! So if I made like $12,000 in my highest quarter, that would be around $460 divided by 26 times 0.0385? That seems low.

Actually, you divide the $12,000 by 26 first, which gives you about $462, then that IS your weekly benefit amount. You don't multiply by 0.0385 - that's for a different calculation.

How long did it take to get through to someone? I've been trying to call for days about my claim and keep getting busy signals.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents automatically. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of redialing.

That's actually more than I expected! How many job searches do you have to do each week?

You need to make at least 3 job search activities per week in Washington. Keep track of everything because they can audit your job search log.

Wait I'm getting confused by all these different formulas. I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks to get a straight answer but can never get through.

I had the same problem calling Washington ESD! I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually got me through to an agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Might be worth checking out if you need to talk to someone directly.

That sounds about right actually. The calculation isn't based on your annual salary but on your quarterly earnings during the base period. If you had gaps in employment or lower wages during that specific timeframe, it affects your benefit amount.

So if I made $15,000 in my highest quarter, I'd get around $576 per week? That seems pretty good actually.

That's right, but remember you also have to meet the minimum earnings requirement in your base period to qualify for benefits at all.

Thanks! So if I made $12,600 in my highest quarter, that would be around $485 per week?

Yes, that sounds about right. The formula is: (highest quarter wages × 0.0385) = weekly benefit amount, up to the maximum.

So they look at my best quarter over the past year? That would probably be last summer when I worked overtime during back to school season.

Exactly! And you can get up to 26 weeks of benefits if you qualify. The minimum is $295 per week in Washington.

That's way higher than I expected! How do they define base year though?

Base year is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. So if you file now in 2025, it would be Q1 2024 through Q4 2024.

So if I made like $12,000 in my best quarter, I'd get around $460 per week? That's actually not too bad.

Yeah that sounds about right. Just remember you still have to pay taxes on unemployment benefits, so factor that in when budgeting.

That sounds about right for part-time retail work. The calculation really depends on how much you earned in your base period.

Did you have any trouble getting through to them to check your benefit amount?

Oh yeah, calling Washington ESD is a nightmare. I spent hours trying to get through.

It's actually more complex than that. Washington uses a formula based on your base year earnings, not just a percentage of your recent wages.

oh ok thanks for clarifying, i was just going off what my friend told me

Do you know what the minimum is? I'm worried I won't qualify for much.

Minimum weekly benefit amount is $295 in Washington. You need to have earned at least $7,800 in your base year to qualify for any benefits at all.

That's actually more than I expected! I'll try to find the calculator on their site. Thanks for the real world example.

The calculator is buried pretty deep on their website. I had to google 'Washington ESD benefit calculator' to find it easily.

Wait I'm confused about the base period thing. If I file in January 2025, what quarters would they look at?

If you file in January 2025, your base period would be January-March 2024, April-June 2024, July-September 2024, and October-December 2024. They skip the most recent quarter since wage reports might not be processed yet.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr.com - they help you get through to Washington ESD agents automatically. Used it last week and actually got connected to someone within 20 minutes instead of waiting hours. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

How much does that cost? I'm already worried about money if I lose my job.

They focus on getting you connected rather than the cost aspect. For me it was worth it because I spent 3 days trying to call Washington ESD myself with no luck.

I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr. They actually got me through to a Washington ESD agent in like 20 minutes. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

I just keep calling first thing in the morning at 8am sharp. Sometimes I get through after 30-45 minutes but its hit or miss

Yes, their phone system is absolutely terrible. I found this service called Claimyr that actually helps you get through to ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustration.

Never heard of that but I'm desperate at this point. Does it actually work or is it just another scam?

It's legitimate - they basically call for you and get you connected to an actual ESD representative. Way better than sitting on hold for hours just to get hung up on.

I discovered this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. It actually got me connected to someone within an hour.

Really? That sounds too good to be true. How does it work?

It basically calls repeatedly for you and connects you when someone picks up. Way better than sitting on hold for hours or getting busy signals.

Good to know about the minimum requirement. With my salary I should definitely meet that threshold.

yeah but dont forget you have to be able and available for work and do the job search stuff too

21 days seems like forever when you need money! Hope you hear back soon.

Did it take long to get approved? I'm worried about paying my mortgage while waiting for benefits to start.

took about 3 weeks but that was because they had to verify my employment. some people get approved faster

This is getting confusing. Is there an easier way to estimate it?

There's a benefit calculator on the Washington ESD website but honestly it's pretty basic. If you're having trouble getting through to them for specifics, I used claimyr.com recently to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD. They have a service that helps you get through the phone lines - there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

How long did it take you to get approved? I'm worried about the waiting period.

about 3 weeks but only because my claim went into adjudication for some reason. calling them was impossible until i found this service

It's not a percentage of your wage, it's based on your quarterly earnings. The person above explained it correctly.

oh ok my bad, i never really understood how they calculated it just knew what i got

Is that legit? Sounds too good to be true with how impossible it is to reach anyone at Washington ESD.

Yeah it's real. They basically handle the calling and waiting for you so you don't have to sit on hold for hours.

That might be helpful if I need to call about my benefit amount calculation.

What kind of problems? I'm hoping my claim goes smoothly since I was laid off due to company downsizing.

oh you should be fine then. i meant more like when claims get stuck in adjudication or you have issues with your weekly filing

The amount varies a lot based on your previous earnings. If you were making less money in your jobs, your weekly benefit would be lower too.

oh that makes sense. i was only working part time jobs before

Wait, is it 3 contacts per week? I thought it was 2 for most people?

You're right, it's 2 for most people. 3 is for certain professions or if you're in a special program. My bad!

It's actually $3,400 in your highest quarter AND total base period wages must be at least 1.5 times your highest quarter. So if your highest quarter was $12,600, your total base period needs to be at least $18,900.

Oh wow, I didn't know about that second requirement. Good thing I worked the full year!

That math makes sense. I did have some overtime in Q2 last year so hopefully that boosts it up a bit.

One thing to remember is that unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can have taxes withheld or pay quarterly, but don't forget about it come tax time!

They update it every year based on the state average wage. It went up quite a bit for 2025.

Good luck actually getting the max though. You'd need to be making like $65,000+ per year to qualify for that amount.

Never heard of that but honestly anything is better than trying to call Washington ESD directly. Their phone system is awful.

Is that legit? I'm always skeptical of third-party services for government stuff.

Yeah it's real. They just help you get through the phone queue faster. I used it when my claim was stuck in adjudication and needed to talk to someone.

I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr. They helped me get through to Washington ESD in like 20 minutes instead of spending all day calling. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works.

Interesting, I'll check that out. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get through to someone who can explain my benefit calculation.

I think I meet those requirements. Been working steady for almost 2 years now.

I got confused by that 1.5 times thing when I first applied. Thankfully I qualified but it's weird how they calculate it.

I worked consistently for the past two years at the same place, so hopefully that helps. Where exactly is the benefit estimator on their site?

It's under the 'Before You Apply' section on the Washington ESD homepage. You'll need to have your wage information handy.

This is so confusing. Is there a calculator somewhere that can tell me exactly what I'd get?

There used to be one on the Washington ESD website but I think they removed it. You basically have to file a claim to find out your exact amount.

The minimum is actually $295 per week as of 2025, and you need to have earned at least $5,400 during your base period to qualify for any benefits at all.

This is super helpful! I wish Washington ESD made this clearer on their website. I've been stressing about this for days.

Wait, so it's based on just one quarter? Not the whole year?

Correct - it's based on your highest earning quarter from your base period, not your annual salary. This is why the calculation can vary so much between people.

26 weeks seems like a decent amount of time to find something. What exactly do I need to do for the job search requirements?

You need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep records. Washington ESD can audit your job search log so make sure you're actually applying to real jobs, not just random stuff.

I don't have any dependents, so just the base amount for me.

The dependent allowance is like $25 per dependent I think, up to 5 dependents max.

How much does that cost though? I'm already broke from being unemployed.

It's worth checking out their site for pricing, but honestly getting through to Washington ESD to resolve issues quickly saved me way more money than I spent on the service.

That sounds about right for my earnings. What's the minimum requirement you mentioned?

You need at least $5,265 in your highest quarter and total base period earnings of at least 1.5 times your highest quarter. So if your highest quarter was $15,000, you'd need at least $22,500 total in your base period.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents automatically. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

Seasonal work can definitely complicate the calculation. If you had gaps in employment, that affects which quarters are included in your base period.

Yeah I figured that out the hard way. Wish someone had explained this before I got laid off.

I tried using that calculator but I don't have access to all my old pay stubs. Is there another way to find out my quarterly wages?

You can request your wage and tax statement from Washington ESD, or check with your previous employers' HR departments. Some people also use their tax returns to estimate quarterly earnings.

The $999 is just the state maximum. There's no additional federal unemployment money right now - those pandemic programs ended in 2021.

ok thanks, i was confused about that

Where is the calculator on their site? I couldn't find it when I looked.

It's buried in their tools section. Search for 'benefit calculator' on the Washington ESD site and it should come up.

The calculator is helpful but remember it's just an estimate. Your actual benefit amount might be different depending on your specific work history and base period.

Only 26 weeks? I thought unemployment lasted longer than that.

Nope, 26 weeks is the standard maximum. During COVID there were extensions but those are all gone now. You need to be actively looking for work the whole time too.

Actually the job search requirement varies depending on your situation. Some people only need 1-2 contacts per week, others need more. It depends on local job market conditions.

I'm just regular unemployment from a layoff. Is that standard UI benefits?

Yes, that would be regular unemployment insurance. The calculations I mentioned earlier apply to your situation.

I know it seems complicated but it's actually designed to be fair - it ensures people with higher wages get higher benefits up to the maximum. The system has to work for everyone from minimum wage workers to high earners.

I guess that makes sense when you put it that way. I just wish there was an easier way to estimate it without having to call them.

I'm not trying to get rich, just need to know what to expect so I can budget properly while job searching.

I didn't know about that! How do you apply for training benefits?

You have to get approval from Washington ESD first, then enroll in an approved training program. The extra $25 helps cover training costs.

Oh no, why is yours in adjudication? I hope that doesn't happen to me.

they said something about verifying my separation reason with my employer but its taking forever

That's exactly the kind of situation where Claimyr helped me. I was able to actually talk to someone about my adjudication status instead of just waiting.

It's not quite 60% - that's closer to what some other states do. Washington uses a different formula based on your base period earnings.

oh ok my bad, i was thinking of something else

What's the base period? I keep seeing that term but don't understand it.

It's the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. So if you file in January 2025, your base period would be January 2024 through September 2024.

I tried calling yesterday and got disconnected after being on hold for 45 minutes. Their phone system is terrible.

I found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustration.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Got me connected within an hour after weeks of trying myself.

How does that service work? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for two weeks about my claim status.

It basically helps you get through the phone system to reach an actual person at Washington ESD. Way better than spending hours on hold or getting disconnected.

Never heard of that but honestly anything is better than the current phone system. I've called 50+ times and never gotten through.

Did they mention anything about taxes being taken out? I'm wondering if that $999 maximum is before or after taxes.

The $999 is before taxes. You can choose to have federal and state taxes withheld from your weekly payments, but it's optional. I chose to have them withheld to avoid owing money at tax time.

I wasn't always full time though, sometimes just 30-35 hours a week. Will that hurt my benefit amount?

It might lower it some since your quarterly earnings would be less, but you should still qualify as long as you earned at least $7,000 total in your base period.

I have two kids under 18, so that would be an extra $50 per week? Do I need to provide documentation for that?

Yes, exactly $50 extra per week. You'll need to provide proof like birth certificates or tax returns showing the dependents. The dependent allowance is added automatically once verified.

I used Claimyr recently and it was amazing! You put in your info at claimyr.com and they call you back when they get through to an ESD agent. Way better than sitting on hold for hours. There's even a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Interesting, I'll check that out. The phone lines are always busy when I try to call.

Is that legit? I'm always skeptical of third-party services for government stuff.

Yeah it's legitimate, they just help you get through the phone queue. You still talk directly to Washington ESD agents, they don't handle your claim or anything like that.

Yeah I've heard calling Washington ESD is basically impossible. How did you handle that when you filed?

I actually found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an agent when my claim got stuck in adjudication. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that explains how it works.

Wait, I thought someone said it was 60% of weekly wages? Now I'm confused about the actual calculation.

The 0.0385 factor works out to roughly 50% of your average weekly wage from your two highest quarters. The 60-70% people mention is probably including the additional federal benefits that used to exist.

You're right about the formula. I was thinking of gross vs net income differences. The actual WBA calculation is more complex than just a simple percentage.

Did you have any trouble getting your claim approved? I'm worried about the whole process.

not really but it took forever to get through to someone when i had questions. the phone lines are always busy

That sounds about right for your income level. The formula works out to roughly 40-50% of your average weekly earnings for most people.

yeah it's enough to pay rent but not much else. better than nothing though

What are the special programs? I'm just looking at regular unemployment if I get laid off.

There's standby for temporary layoffs, shared work programs, and training benefits. But regular UI is what most people need.

This is really helpful, thank you! Is there a minimum amount you have to have earned to qualify?

Yes, you need to have earned at least $3,850 during your base period, and at least $1,540 in your highest earning quarter. You also need to have worked in at least two quarters during the base period.