How much is unemployment per week in Washington - confused about benefit amount calculations

The basic formula is roughly 50% of your average weekly wage up to the maximum benefit amount. For 2025, the maximum weekly benefit in Washington is $999. Since you were making $880/week ($22 x 40), you'd probably get around $440 per week before taxes. But it depends on your earnings history over the past year - they look at your highest earning quarter.

just got my first payment last week, been getting $387 weekly. was making about $19/hr before i got laid off from retail. the amount seems about right based on what everyone's saying here

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to check on your benefit amount or claim status, I had success using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They helped me get connected to an actual agent when I was stuck in phone hell for weeks. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made the whole process way less stressful.

Your benefit amount also depends on how much you earned in each quarter of your base period. Washington ESD uses a specific formula: they take your two highest earning quarters, add them together, divide by 26, then multiply by 0.0385. But there's also a minimum and maximum cap. The whole calculation is honestly pretty complex.

DONT COUNT ON GETTING THE FULL AMOUNT RIGHT AWAY!!! My claim has been stuck in adjudication for 6 weeks now and I haven't seen a penny. The system is completely broken and they don't care about people who actually need help paying bills.

The weekly benefit amount is just one piece - you also need to factor in the job search requirements. You have to apply for at least 3 jobs per week and keep a log of your activities. Missing this can disqualify you even if you're eligible for benefits.

been on unemployment twice in the past 5 years and the benefit calculator on the washington esd site is pretty accurate if you can find your quarterly wages. usually within $10-20 of what you actually get

Just wanted to follow up on the Claimyr thing - I used them again this week when I had questions about my benefit year ending. Got through to an agent in about 10 minutes instead of spending hours on hold. Definitely worth it when you need actual answers about your specific situation.

Don't forget that unemployment benefits are taxable income! I made that mistake my first time and owed a bunch come tax season. Like someone mentioned earlier, elect to have the 10% federal withholding taken out when you file your weekly claims.

For what it's worth, I was making about the same as you ($21/hr, 40 hours) and I get $425 per week. So that first estimate of around $440 seems pretty spot on. The key is making sure you file your initial claim correctly and answer all the questions honestly.

Something to keep in mind - if you had multiple jobs or inconsistent hours, the calculation gets more complicated. They use a 'base period' which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed your claim. If your wages were low in that period, you might qualify for less than expected.

Whatever you do, don't wait to file your claim! I waited a week thinking I might get called back and it cost me that week of benefits. The waiting period starts when you file, not when you lost your job.

The $999 maximum mentioned earlier is correct for 2025. Most people don't hit the max unless they were making over $100k annually. Your warehouse job wage should put you right in the typical range of $300-500 per week depending on your exact earnings history.

had to use one of those callback services when my payments stopped randomly last month. turns out there was a flag on my account that needed to be cleared by an agent. couldn't get through the regular way but the service worked pretty well

Pro tip: set up direct deposit as soon as you can. The debit card they send works but direct deposit is faster and more reliable. You can set it up through your SecureAccess Washington account once your claim is approved.

Keep all your documentation from your employer about the layoff. Sometimes Washington ESD needs to verify the reason for separation, and having that paperwork ready can speed things up if questions arise.

One more thing - if you get any part-time work while on unemployment, you need to report it when you file your weekly claim. They'll reduce your benefits based on what you earn, but you can usually still get partial benefits if you're working less than full-time.

Looks like you got a lot of good info here! The benefit amount calculation can seem confusing at first but once you understand the basics it makes sense. Your $22/hr wage should get you a decent weekly benefit to help bridge the gap while you're job hunting. Just stay on top of your weekly claims and job search requirements.