How much is unemployment benefits in Washington - need to know weekly amount

Thanks! So they look at my highest quarter earnings, not my annual salary?

Exactly. They take your highest quarter earnings, divide by 26, then that's your weekly benefit amount up to the maximum.

It's not exactly 60% - that's a common misconception. Washington uses a specific formula based on your quarterly earnings, not a simple percentage of your wages.

oh ok good to know, i always wondered why my amount seemed different than what people told me to expect

I didn't know there was a calculator on their site. Is it accurate?

Pretty accurate as long as you have your wage information handy. It'll give you a good ballpark figure.

The calculator is helpful but sometimes the actual amount differs slightly when they process your claim and verify your wages with employers.

I had the same problem until I discovered Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents without the endless calling. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works. Saved me so much frustration.

Never heard of that before. Does it actually work or is it just another scam?

It's legit. I was skeptical too but they got me connected to an agent within a couple hours instead of me wasting entire days trying to call.

I have two kids under 18. How much extra would that be?

For 2025, it's $37 per dependent per week, up to 5 dependents maximum. So with two kids you'd get an extra $74 weekly on top of your regular benefit amount.

How do you file the weekly claims? Is it online?

Yes, through the SecureAccess Washington (SAW) portal. You have to answer questions about any work you did that week and any job search activities.

And make sure you keep track of your job search activities! Washington requires 3 job search activities per week unless you're on standby with your employer.

What's adjudication? Should I be worried about that?

It's when they review your claim for any potential issues. Can take weeks or months depending on the complexity. Hopefully yours will be straightforward.

There's no income limit for qualifying for unemployment benefits. The limits are about minimum earnings requirements in your base period, not maximum earnings.

Good to know, thanks for clarifying that.

How much does that service cost though? If I'm unemployed I don't want to spend money I don't have.

It's worth it to get accurate information rather than guessing. I was stressing about my claim status for weeks before I used it.

Really? I thought it would backdate to when I got laid off. That's good to know!

nope, only backdates in very specific circumstances. file asap!

It definitely has a learning curve, but once you get the hang of the weekly filing routine it becomes easier. The hardest part is usually the initial setup and any issues that require talking to an agent.

That's why services like Claimyr are so helpful. Takes the stress out of trying to reach Washington ESD when you actually need to talk to someone.

That's reassuring. I was worried about long delays based on horror stories I heard from friends.

Those were mostly from the pandemic when they were swamped. Still not perfect but much better now.

Oh no, I didn't think about taxes. How much do they typically withhold?

Federal withholding is 10% if you elect it. No state income tax in Washington so that's not a concern here.

How long is a benefit year?

One year from when you first filed your claim. Most people can collect for up to 26 weeks unless there are extensions available.

I'll check out their calculator first and see if I need more details. Thanks everyone for all the helpful information!

Good luck with your claim! Hope it goes smoothly for you.