How much is unemployment per week in Washington state - confused about benefit amounts

Thanks! So with my salary of $52k, my highest quarter would probably be around $13,000. That means I'd get maybe $325 per week?

That sounds about right. Keep in mind you also need to meet the minimum earnings requirement and be able and available for work.

Good to know, thanks for sharing your actual numbers!

OMG yes the phone situation is terrible! I gave up after getting disconnected 20 times

I actually found a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to Washington ESD agents. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. It was a lifesaver when I needed to talk to someone about my benefit amount calculation.

Never heard of that but anything is better than spending hours on hold just to get hung up on

Oh wow I didn't even think about taxes. Do they withhold state taxes?

Washington doesn't have state income tax, so you only worry about federal. But definitely have them withhold 10% if you can afford the reduced payment.

The online tools have been buggy since the system updates. You're better off doing the calculation manually using the formula I mentioned earlier.

Or you could try that Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier. At least then you could talk to an actual person at Washington ESD to get your questions answered.

Yes, the minimum weekly benefit amount is $295 for 2025. Good point to mention that.

That's reassuring to know there's a minimum floor

Wait really? I thought everyone got the same number of weeks?

Maximum is 26 weeks in Washington, but your total benefit amount is based on your earnings history. If you have a higher weekly benefit, you might exhaust your total faster.

The dependency allowance is additional, so you could potentially get more than $999 if you qualify for dependents.

Good to know, I have two kids so that could help

That's helpful data, thanks for sharing

How long did it take for your claim to get approved? I'm worried about the waiting period

Yeah I read about that. Do they actually check the job search log?

they can audit you randomly so definitely keep good records

Same experience here. The whole website seems to have issues lately

This is exactly why I ended up using Claimyr to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD. Sometimes you just need a real person to explain things properly instead of dealing with broken calculators and confusing websites.

Yes, if you worked in other states during your base period, you might need to file an interstate claim or combine wages from multiple states. It can get complicated.

Ugh that sounds like a nightmare to figure out

Have you actually tried calling Washington ESD lately? It's basically impossible to get through. Some people need help and if there's a service that works, why not mention it?

I was skeptical too but honestly after spending literally days trying to reach Washington ESD on my own, I tried Claimyr and got through to an agent in like 20 minutes. Sometimes you gotta do what works.

That's reassuring. I'll try doing the calculation myself based on my pay stubs

Make sure you use your gross earnings, not net. That's a common mistake people make

Yeah I know, I mentioned I might be getting laid off. Hoping it doesn't happen but want to be prepared

good thinking to prepare ahead of time

I don't have kids but good to know for others reading this

Thanks! So with my two kids that would be an extra $80 per week

This is why I always recommend having them withhold taxes from the start. Better safe than sorry

Definitely will keep that in mind if I end up having to file

Yes this was super helpful! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and knowledge. Feeling much more prepared now.

Great point. The maximum usually increases slightly each year based on average wages in the state.