How much money is unemployment benefit amount in Washington ESD?

Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your highest earning quarter from the past year. They take your total wages from that quarter and divide by 26. The maximum weekly benefit in 2025 is $999 plus a $25 dependency allowance if you have dependents. So if you were making $22/hour full time, you're probably looking at somewhere around $500-600 per week depending on your exact earnings history.

just filed mine last week, the online calculator on the washington esd website gives you a rough estimate but it's not always accurate. mine came out higher than expected

The formula is pretty straightforward but getting through to Washington ESD to verify your benefit amount can be a nightmare. I spent weeks trying to call them about my calculation. If you need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Basically they handle the calling and waiting for you.

IMPORTANT: Your benefit amount also depends on when you worked and how much you earned in each quarter. Washington ESD looks at your base year which is the first 4 quarters of the 5 quarters before you filed. If you haven't worked long enough or earned enough, you might not qualify for the maximum amount. There's also a minimum weekly benefit of $295 in Washington.

The system is so messed up. I qualified for $847 a week but then they said I had an overpayment from 2023 and started deducting $200 every week from my benefits. Make sure you don't have any outstanding issues with Washington ESD before you start collecting or they'll surprise you with deductions.

don't forget you have to do the job search requirements too. in washington you need to do 3 job search activities per week and keep a log. if you don't do this they can stop your benefits even if you qualify for the money

One thing to keep in mind is that your benefit amount stays the same throughout your benefit year, even if you get a part-time job. If you work part-time while collecting, they'll reduce your weekly benefit based on how much you earn, but your base weekly benefit amount doesn't change. You can collect for up to 26 weeks in most cases.

Mine took forever to get approved because they had to verify my employment with both my employers. Was stuck in adjudication for almost a month. If that happens to you and you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD, definitely check out that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. I wish I had known about it when I was dealing with my adjudication issues.

the waiting week is gone now so you get paid for your first week too. that changed during covid and they kept it that way

Whatever you do, don't quit your job unless you have a really good reason that Washington ESD will accept. I quit my job because my boss was being abusive and they still made me prove it was for good cause. If you're laid off like you said, you shouldn't have any problems getting approved.

Just want to add that if you run into any issues with Washington ESD during your claim process, don't hesitate to get help. I wasted so much time trying to handle everything myself. That Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really saved me when I needed to get through to resolve my benefit calculation questions. Sometimes it's worth getting professional help navigating the system.

I've been getting unemployment for 3 months now and the weekly amount has been consistent. Just make sure you file your weekly claims on time every week - they're pretty strict about the deadlines. You can file online through eServices starting Sunday morning for the previous week.

Also remember that unemployment benefits are considered taxable income so you'll get a 1099-G form at tax time. Plan ahead for that if you're not having taxes withheld from your weekly benefits.

i was making about the same as you and my weekly benefit came out to $534. took about 2 weeks to get my first payment after I filed. not too bad overall

The hardest part for me was getting through to Washington ESD when I had questions. Their phone lines are always busy and the wait times are insane. I ended up using Claimyr to help me get through when I needed to talk to someone about my benefit amount calculation. Made the whole process much less stressful.

Make sure your direct deposit info is correct when you file. I made a mistake with my account number and it delayed my first payment by a week while they sorted it out. Double check everything before you submit.

The benefit amount calculation can be confusing but Washington ESD usually gets it right. If you think there's an error you can appeal it but you need to have documentation to back up your claim about your earnings.

been on unemployment twice in the past 5 years and both times the benefit amount was fair based on what I was earning. washington is pretty good about this compared to other states from what I hear

Don't forget that you might be eligible for additional benefits like food stamps while you're on unemployment. The income from UI benefits usually still qualifies you for other assistance programs if you need them.

The key thing is to file as soon as possible after you lose your job. There's no waiting period to file and your benefit year starts when you file, not when you lost your job. So don't delay!

Overall the Washington ESD system works pretty well once you get through the initial setup. Just be patient with the process and make sure you meet all the requirements. Your benefit amount should be reasonable based on your work history.