How much is unemployment benefits in Washington state - confused about calculations

Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount (WBA) based on your highest earning quarter in your base period. For 2025, the maximum weekly benefit is $999. They take your highest quarter earnings, divide by 26, then multiply by 0.0385. So if you made $15,000 in your highest quarter, that would be about $577 per week ($15,000 ÷ 26 × 0.0385 = $22.21... wait that's not right. Let me recalculate - it's actually your highest quarter divided by 26, so $15,000 ÷ 26 = about $577 weekly.

The calculation is actually a bit more complex than just dividing by 26. Washington uses a formula that considers your base period wages (the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file). You need to have earned at least $5,265 total in your base period to qualify. The weekly amount is calculated as your highest quarter earnings divided by 26, but there are minimum and maximum limits.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks to ask about my benefit calculation and it's impossible! The phone lines are always busy and when I do get through, I get disconnected. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there about benefit amounts?

For someone making $45k annually, you're probably looking at somewhere between $500-700 per week depending on how your earnings were distributed across quarters. Keep in mind you can collect benefits for up to 26 weeks in Washington, so that's a significant amount of money if you need it.

don't forget about taxes too... unemployment benefits are taxable income so you'll owe on whatever you collect

The Washington ESD benefit calculator on their website is actually pretty accurate if you can find it. I used it before I got laid off and the amount I'm getting now matches what it predicted almost exactly.

Just to clarify something from earlier - the maximum weekly benefit amount for 2025 is actually $999, which is higher than most people will get. The average weekly benefit in Washington is around $550 based on what I've seen.

One thing to keep in mind is that your benefit amount is locked in when you first file your claim. So even if Washington raises the maximum benefit amount during your claim year, you won't get the increase. But if you have to refile a new claim later, then you'd get the updated rates.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO CONFUSE PEOPLE! Why can't they just tell you upfront what you'll get instead of making you jump through hoops to find out?? I spent 3 hours on the phone yesterday trying to get a simple answer about my benefit amount.

For what it's worth, I think Washington actually has one of the more generous unemployment systems compared to other states. The maximum benefit is higher than most places and you can collect for the full 26 weeks without any weird restrictions.

Quick tip - if you're still working but worried about layoffs, start gathering your pay stubs now. You'll need them to verify your earnings when you file, and having them organized ahead of time makes the process much smoother.

Does anyone know if overtime pay counts toward your base period earnings? I worked a lot of OT last year and I'm wondering if that will boost my weekly benefit amount.

I've been on unemployment for 8 weeks now and getting $643 per week. The money helps but I really want to get back to work. The job search requirements are keeping me busy though - you have to apply to 3 jobs per week minimum.

One more thing about benefit amounts - if you're collecting unemployment and then get a part-time job, they'll reduce your weekly benefit by the amount you earn over $5. So if you make $200 in a week, they'll subtract $195 from your unemployment check.

Just wanted to add that if you're thinking about filing for unemployment, don't wait! You can't get benefits for weeks before you actually file your claim, so the sooner you start the process the better. Even if you're not sure about your benefit amount, it's better to get the ball rolling.

Based on your $45k salary, I'd estimate you'll probably get somewhere in the $550-650 range per week. That's assuming your earnings were fairly consistent across quarters. The exact amount will depend on your specific wage history, but that should give you a ballpark figure for planning purposes.