How much money do you get unemployment benefits in Washington state?

Washington ESD uses your highest earning quarter from the past 18 months to calculate your weekly benefit amount. Generally it's about 60-70% of your average weekly wage, but there's a maximum cap. For 2025, the maximum weekly benefit is around $999. Since you were making $22/hour full time, you'd probably get somewhere in the $600-700 range per week, but it depends on your exact earnings history.

yeah the amount varies a lot based on your work history. i made about the same as you and got $580 a week. benefits last 26 weeks normally but sometimes they extend it during bad economic times

The weekly benefit calculation is based on your base period wages, which Washington ESD determines from your employer reports. You'll need to file weekly claims and meet job search requirements - typically 3 job contacts per week. If you run into any issues getting through to Washington ESD by phone (which happens a lot), I recently discovered Claimyr at claimyr.com. They help you actually reach agents when the phones are jammed. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your highest earning quarter in your base period. They take that quarter's earnings and divide by 26 to get your weekly benefit. The maximum weekly benefit for 2025 is $999, but most people get way less than that. You can use the benefit calculator on their website to get an estimate.

i think its like 50% of what you made but dont quote me on that lol

Just be prepared for potential delays! I applied in November and my claim went into adjudication for 3 weeks before I got my first payment. Washington ESD has to verify your employment and sometimes that takes forever. Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even if your payment is delayed.

THE WASHINGTON ESD SYSTEM IS SO FRUSTRATING!! I've been waiting 6 weeks for my benefits because they keep asking for more documentation. Every time I call I get hung up on or sit on hold for 2+ hours. This is supposed to be a safety net but it feels like they make it as hard as possible on purpose!

Based on your hourly wage and hours, you're probably looking at somewhere around $600-700 per week if you qualify. But you'll need to meet the monetary eligibility requirements first. You need at least $7,000 in wages during your base period and wages in at least two quarters.

For reference, here are the 2025 Washington unemployment benefit ranges: Minimum weekly benefit is $295, maximum is $999. The calculation is roughly 3.85% of your highest quarter earnings, but there are some complex formulas involved. Most people end up getting between 50-60% of their previous weekly earnings.

The benefit amount calculator on the Washington ESD website is pretty accurate. Just have your pay stubs ready because you'll need to enter your quarterly wages. Also remember that unemployment benefits are taxable income, so you might want to have taxes withheld.

dont forget about the waiting week! you have to serve one week before you get any payments. so even if everything goes smoothly youll be waiting at least 2 weeks for your first check

My advice is to apply as soon as possible after losing your job. I waited 2 weeks thinking I'd find something quickly and regretted it because you can't get benefits for the time before you file. Also keep detailed records of all your job search activities because Washington ESD audits those randomly.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to file your claim or get information, I used a service called Claimyr that helped me reach an actual agent. They have a system that keeps calling until they get through - saved me hours of frustration. You can check it out at claimyr.com, they even have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

I got $642 a week when I was laid off from my $24/hour job last year. Lasted me 6 months which was enough time to find something decent. The hardest part was actually getting through to Washington ESD when I had questions about my claim status.

The whole system is designed to discourage people from filing. They make it so complicated to figure out how much you'll get and then impossible to actually reach anyone to file the claim.

For retail workers, the benefit amount can vary a lot depending on whether you had consistent hours or if they fluctuated seasonally. Holiday season earnings can actually boost your benefit amount if they fall in your highest quarter.

be careful about working part time while collecting benefits. if you make too much they reduce your weekly payment or cut you off entirely. theres like a formula for how much you can earn

Just wanted to mention that if your employer contests your claim (says you were fired for misconduct or quit voluntarily), that can delay everything significantly. Most layoffs are straightforward but sometimes employers try to fight it to keep their unemployment tax rates low.

whatever you do dont quit your job thinking unemployment will be easy money. you have to do job searches every week and they're pretty strict about it now

The maximum duration is 26 weeks unless there are extended benefits available. So even if you get $700 per week, that's only for about 6 months maximum.

One thing to keep in mind is that your benefit amount is also affected by any part-time work you do while claiming. They have an earnings deduction formula that can reduce your weekly benefit if you work and earn money.

honestly just call them and ask, its the only way to get accurate info about your specific situation

The benefit amount also depends on whether you're eligible for the dependency allowance. If you have dependent children, you can get an additional $25 per week per child, up to 5 children.

Make sure you file your claim right away if you lose your job. There's a waiting week before benefits start, and any delay in filing just pushes everything back further.

The amount you get also depends on your work history length. If you've only been working for a short time, you might not qualify for the full benefit amount.

Don't forget that you can also appeal the benefit amount if you think they calculated it wrong. I had to do that once when they missed some of my earnings.

i got like $450 a week when i was making $16 an hour full time, so you should get more than that

The online benefit calculator is really the best way to get an estimate. Just make sure you have accurate wage information from all your employers during the base period.

Remember that if you're getting other benefits like workers comp or disability, it might affect your unemployment benefits too. Washington ESD will ask about other income sources.

The key thing is to be honest about all your wages and work history when you file. If they find out you left something out, it can cause problems with your claim.

One more tip - if you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD about your benefit calculation, try calling right when they open at 8 AM. That's usually the best time to get through.

The online application process is pretty straightforward on the Washington ESD website. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment information for the past 18 months. Takes about 30-45 minutes to complete if you have everything ready.

My sister just went through this process and said the trickiest part was understanding the difference between 'able and available' versus being on standby. Make sure you understand which category you fall into because it affects your job search requirements.

I tried calling Washington ESD like 50 times over two weeks and never got through until someone told me about Claimyr. Cost a little bit but saved me so much frustration - actually got to talk to someone who explained why my claim was held up for identity verification.

Pro tip: set up direct deposit when you file your claim. Paper checks take forever and sometimes get lost in the mail. Direct deposit hits your account within 1-2 days of being processed.

remember that unemployment is taxable income so dont spend it all thinking its free money. youll owe taxes on it next year unless you have them withhold it

Washington ESD also has job search resources through WorkSourceWA that might be helpful. They have career counselors and job placement services that could help you find something faster than the 26 weeks of benefits.

One thing to watch out for is overpayment notices. If Washington ESD thinks they paid you too much for any reason, they'll want it back with interest. Keep good records of everything just in case.

The most important thing is to file your weekly claims every single week, even if your payment is delayed or you're waiting for adjudication. If you miss filing a weekly claim, you lose that week of benefits forever - there's no going back and claiming it later.

Based on your hourly wage, you should qualify for a decent benefit amount. The key is staying patient with the process and not getting discouraged if there are delays. Washington ESD processes thousands of claims so sometimes things take longer than expected, but most legitimate claims do get approved eventually.