How much is unemployment pay in Washington state 2025?

Washington unemployment benefits are calculated based on your earnings in your base period. The maximum weekly benefit amount is $999 per week in 2025, but most people get between $200-600 depending on their wages. You can use the benefit calculator on the Washington ESD website to get an estimate.

Thanks! I'll check out that calculator. Do you know how they calculate the base period? Is it just the last few months of work?

The base period is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters. So if you file now in January 2025, they'd look at January-December 2024. Sometimes they use an alternate base period if you don't qualify with the standard one.

i got $341/week when i filed last year, was making about $18/hour. took like 3 weeks to get my first payment though because they had to verify my identity or something

Three weeks? That's a long time when you need money for bills. Did you have to do anything special or just wait?

just had to wait, kept filing my weekly claims even though nothing was coming. they eventually approved it and paid all the back weeks at once

The weekly benefit amount formula is: take your two highest earning quarters in the base period, divide by 2, then divide by 26. That's your weekly amount, but it can't exceed the maximum ($999 in 2025). Most restaurant workers I know get between $250-400 per week depending on their tips and hours.

That's actually more than I expected! I was worried it would be like $150 or something terrible.

Don't forget you also have to be actively job searching and report it every week. The job search requirements are pretty strict now.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks to check on my claim status. Their phone system is absolutely terrible - I either get busy signals or sit on hold for hours just to get disconnected. Has anyone found a better way to reach them? I'm getting desperate here.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me so much time and frustration.

Never heard of that but I'm willing to try anything at this point. The regular phone number is useless.

I used Claimyr too when my claim got stuck in adjudication. Much better than wasting entire days trying to call.

The maximum duration is 26 weeks for regular unemployment, but it can be less if you have limited work history. You need to have worked at least 680 hours in your base period to qualify. Make sure you keep track of all your job search activities because they audit those.

680 hours sounds like a lot. I've been at my job for about 8 months, working 35 hours a week. That should be enough right?

Yeah, 8 months at 35 hours per week is definitely enough. You're looking at around 1,120 hours total.

dont forget about taxes! they dont take taxes out automatically so you either need to have them withhold 10% or pay it back at tax time. learned that the hard way

Good point! I didn't think about taxes. So if I get $300/week I should probably have them take out $30?

You can elect to have federal taxes withheld when you file your claim. It's usually 10% for federal, but check if Washington has state income tax on unemployment (they don't currently).

The system is so broken. I've been waiting 6 weeks for my claim to be approved and they keep saying it's in adjudication. Meanwhile I'm behind on rent and my landlord is threatening eviction. This is supposed to be a safety net but it's more like a trap.

Six weeks is definitely too long. Have you tried reaching out to your local WorkSource office? Sometimes they can help escalate claims that are stuck.

I tried but they just tell me to keep waiting. The whole system is designed to discourage people from getting benefits.

When I was stuck in adjudication for weeks, I used Claimyr to finally get through to someone who could explain what was holding up my claim. Worth looking into if you're desperate.

Back in my day we just went to the unemployment office in person. Now everything is online and nobody answers the phones. Makes me wonder if they even want to help people anymore.

The pandemic really changed how everything works. Most offices are appointment-only now and they push everyone to use the online system.

Well the online system doesn't work half the time either. My grandson had to help me figure out how to file my weekly claims.

For restaurant workers, make sure you report ALL your income including tips. If you underreport and they find out later, you could owe money back. The base period calculation includes everything - wages, tips, even some bonuses.

I always claimed my tips on my taxes but sometimes we had cash tips that weren't reported. Will that be a problem?

They base it on what's reported to the IRS, so if tips weren't reported they won't count toward your benefit calculation. But don't worry about past cash tips - just make sure you report accurately going forward.

The job search requirement is 3 job contacts per week, and you need to keep detailed records. They can audit your job search log at any time. I got audited after 8 weeks and had to provide proof of every application I submitted.

That's kind of scary. What kind of proof do they want? Screenshots of applications?

I had to provide confirmation emails, company contact info, dates, and details about what positions I applied for. Keep everything organized from day one.

The WorkSourceWA website helps track your job search activities. You can log everything there and it integrates with your unemployment claim.

Just a heads up - if you get any part-time work while on unemployment, you have to report it on your weekly claim. They'll reduce your benefits but you can still get partial payments as long as you don't earn too much.

Good to know. I might pick up some catering gigs while I'm looking for a full-time job.

Just make sure to report every penny you earn, even if it's cash. They cross-reference with tax records and can catch unreported income.

I qualified for $425/week but it took almost a month to get my first payment. The waiting week is gone now but there's still processing time. Make sure you file your claim as soon as possible after becoming unemployed.

I was laid off last Friday, so I should file this week then?

Yes, file ASAP. You can't backdate claims very far, so don't wait. Even if you think you might get called back to work, file anyway.

The benefit estimator on the Washington ESD website is pretty accurate. Just plug in your quarterly earnings and it'll give you an estimate. Way easier than trying to do the math yourself.

I'll definitely use that. Sounds like it'll give me a better idea of what to expect than trying to guess.

Remember that unemployment benefits are temporary. The maximum is 26 weeks, and they expect you to be actively looking for work the entire time. Don't treat it like a vacation - they can disqualify you for not taking job search seriously.

Definitely not treating it like a vacation! I need to find work ASAP. The restaurant industry is tough right now though.

Restaurant jobs are actually pretty available right now. Check Indeed and the WorkSource website regularly. Some places are even offering signing bonuses.

One thing nobody mentions - if you get fired for misconduct, you won't qualify for benefits. But if you're laid off due to lack of work, you should be fine. Washington ESD will investigate if your employer contests the claim.

I was definitely laid off due to slow business, not fired. The restaurant is cutting staff because of the slow winter season.

That's a clear case for benefits then. Seasonal layoffs are exactly what unemployment insurance is designed for.

If you're having trouble with your claim, document everything. Save emails, take screenshots, keep records of phone calls. The appeals process can be lengthy but having good documentation helps a lot.

Thanks for all the advice everyone! I feel much more prepared to file my claim now.

Good luck! File as soon as possible and don't hesitate to ask questions if you run into issues. The system can be confusing but the benefits are definitely worth it.