How much is unemployment per week in Washington - what should I expect?

Washington unemployment benefits are calculated based on your highest earning quarter in your base period. The maximum weekly benefit amount for 2025 is $999 per week. Your benefit amount will be roughly 3.85% of your total wages in your highest quarter, up to that maximum.

i think its like 60% of what you made but theres a cap, mine came out to about $720 a week when i filed last year

Washington unemployment benefits are calculated based on your highest earning quarter from the past year. The maximum weekly benefit amount is currently $999 per week, but most people get between $200-$600 depending on their previous wages. You'll get about 50% of your average weekly wage up to that maximum.

Actually, Washington ESD has a benefit calculator on their website at esd.wa.gov. You can get a rough estimate by entering your quarterly wages. Just remember you need to have worked in at least two quarters during your base period to qualify.

i think its different for everyone but when i filed last year i was getting around $450 per week. took forever to get approved though, was stuck in adjudication for like 6 weeks

One thing to keep in mind - even if you qualify for the maximum amount, actually getting through to Washington ESD to file your claim can be a nightmare. I spent literally weeks trying to get someone on the phone when I had issues with my claim. Finally used Claimyr.com and their phone service got me through to an agent in like 20 minutes. They have this demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works.

The weekly benefit amount depends on your base year earnings. Washington ESD looks at the four quarters before you filed, finds your highest earning quarter, then divides that by 26 to get your weekly benefit amount. There's also a minimum of $295 per week if you qualify. You can use the benefit calculator on the Washington ESD website to get an estimate.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to ask about your benefit amount, I found this service called Claimyr that actually helped me reach an agent. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call myself.

The weekly amount is just part of it though. You also need to factor in the job search requirements. Washington requires you to make 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log. Missing that can disqualify you even if you're eligible for benefits.

The amounts change every year I think. Last time I was on unemployment was 2022 and the max was different then. You should check the current Washington ESD benefit table to see what the ranges are for 2025.

Wait, so the maximum is $999 per week? That seems really high compared to other states I've looked at.

Don't forget about taxes! Unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can have them withhold 10% federal tax when you certify each week, or you'll owe it all at tax time.

MAKE SURE YOU FILE IMMEDIATELY! The sooner you file the sooner you can start getting benefits. Even if you're not sure about the exact amount, just get your claim started because there's always a waiting period anyway.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS A MESS. I've been waiting 6 weeks for my claim to get approved and still haven't seen a dime. They keep saying it's in 'adjudication' but won't tell me why or how long it'll take.

For what it's worth, I just went through this process last month. Made about $4,500/month at my previous job and my weekly benefit amount came out to $683. The whole application process through SecureAccess Washington was pretty straightforward once I got logged in.

Also remember you have to file your weekly claims every week to keep getting paid. And you'll need to do job searches - I think it's 3 per week in Washington. Don't forget about that part or they'll stop your benefits.

been on unemployment twice and both times got different amounts even though my wages were similar. the calculation is confusing as hell and washington esd doesnt explain it well on their website

also remember you can only collect for 26 weeks max in washington unless theres some special extension program going on

The benefit amount also depends on if you have any dependents. You can get additional money for dependent children - I think it's like $25 per child per week up to 5 kids maximum.

One thing that caught me off guard was the partial benefit rules. If you work part-time while collecting unemployment, they reduce your benefit amount based on how much you earn that week. There's a formula for it but it's kind of complicated.

Whatever amount you get, remember it's taxable income. You can have taxes withheld automatically or pay quarterly. Don't forget about this come tax time!

My neighbor was getting unemployment and said she had to call Washington ESD to get her benefit amount explained because the letter was confusing. She ended up using some service to get through to them faster. Think it was called Claimyr or something like that.

My advice is to file as soon as possible after you lose your job. There's a waiting week before benefits start, and the longer you wait to file, the longer it takes to start receiving payments. I made the mistake of waiting 2 weeks thinking I'd find something quickly.

Just went through Washington ESD's benefit calculator and it's pretty user-friendly. You enter your wages for each quarter in your base period and it gives you an estimate. My calculation was spot-on when I actually got approved.

Has anyone had luck with the virtual career workshops that WorkSource offers? I need to meet my job search requirements and wondering if those count toward the 3 weekly contacts.

One more thing - if you're laid off due to lack of work, your claim should be pretty straightforward. But if you were fired or quit, Washington ESD will investigate whether you're eligible, which can delay your benefits for weeks.

if anyones still having trouble getting through to washington esd by phone, i used some service called claimyr last week and it worked great. way better than the regular phone number

The system is so messed up. I was supposed to get $445 per week but kept getting random amounts - sometimes $300, sometimes $500. Took months to sort out with Washington ESD.

if you worked multiple jobs you might qualify for more than you think. washington esd looks at all your employers from your base year

Don't expect to get rich off unemployment lol. It's meant to be temporary assistance while you look for work. The amount is designed to motivate you to find a new job relatively quickly.

I used that Claimyr service mentioned earlier when I needed to talk to Washington ESD about my benefit calculation. It actually worked - got connected to an agent who walked me through exactly how they calculated my weekly amount. Worth checking out if you need to speak with someone directly.

Also keep in mind you can work part-time while on unemployment and still get partial benefits. They reduce your weekly amount based on how much you earn but you don't lose everything if you pick up some temporary work.

whatever you do dont lie about your wages or work history. washington esd will find out and you'll have to pay back everything plus penalties

The benefit amounts seem fair to me. When I was on unemployment I got about 45% of my previous weekly wages which was enough to cover my basic expenses while job hunting. Lasted about 4 months before I found something new.

One last tip - make sure your contact info is up to date with Washington ESD. They'll mail you important documents about your benefit amount and you don't want to miss anything because of an old address.