How much money unemployment benefits pay in Washington ESD - need to know amounts

Thanks! That's really helpful. Do you know if they count overtime hours in that calculation?

Yes, all wages including overtime count toward your base period earnings. Just make sure Washington ESD has accurate wage records from your employer.

That sounds about right for what I'm hoping for. Did it take long to find out your exact amount?

took about 2 weeks after filing to get the monetary determination letter with my weekly benefit amount

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents by handling the phone calls for you. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works. Really saved me hours of frustration.

Interesting, never heard of that before. Does it actually work to reach real Washington ESD people?

Yes! They connect you directly to Washington ESD agents. Way better than sitting on hold for hours or getting disconnected.

That's a pretty big difference! Do you know why it was lower than expected?

Turns out some of my wages from a previous job weren't reported correctly by the employer. That's why talking to Washington ESD directly is so important to verify everything.

This is exactly why wage verification is crucial. Always check your quarterly wage statements to make sure employers reported your earnings correctly to Washington ESD.

You should receive your monetary determination within 1-2 weeks of filing. It will show your weekly benefit amount, maximum benefit amount, and benefit year dates.

ok thanks, hoping it's enough to cover my bills

Good point! How much should I expect to have withheld for taxes?

They withhold 10% for federal taxes if you elect that option. No state income tax in Washington so that's all you need to worry about.

The maximum weekly benefit amount gets adjusted annually based on the state average weekly wage. For 2025 it's $999, up from $929 in 2024.

ah ok that makes sense, thanks for clarifying

I feel you on this, the whole system is frustrating to navigate

The delay is because they need to verify your wage records with all your employers from the base period. It takes time to process all that information accurately.

The maximum is $999 for 2025, so your friend is close. But you'd need to have earned around $67,000 in your highest quarter to qualify for the maximum amount.

wow that's a lot of money to earn in 3 months, probably won't hit the max then

Yes, if you earn more than your weekly benefit amount minus $5, Washington ESD will reduce your weekly payment dollar for dollar. You have to report all earnings when you file your weekly claim.

so if I get $500/week and earn $300, I'd still get $200 from unemployment?

Not quite. With the $5 disregard, you'd get $495 - $300 = $195. But definitely report all earnings to avoid overpayment issues later.

That's awesome! How long did it take them to connect you?

Way faster than calling myself. Took about 30 minutes total and I was talking to an actual Washington ESD representative who could look up my account.

Good reminder. Is there any way to extend benefits beyond 26 weeks?

Extended benefits can sometimes be available during periods of high unemployment, but that's determined by economic conditions and isn't guaranteed.

It depends on how that $50k was distributed across quarters, but you're probably looking at somewhere between $400-600 per week if it was fairly evenly distributed.

that would definitely help with my mortgage payments, thanks

Washington ESD uses the first four of the last five completed quarters before you file your claim. So if you file in January 2025, they'd look at January-March 2024, April-June 2024, July-September 2024, and October-December 2024.

ok that makes more sense, so recent earnings matter most

Yes, all covered employment wages from all employers during your base period are combined to calculate your benefit amount.

good to know, I had two part time jobs so hopefully that helps my benefit amount

same here, it's tough to make ends meet on unemployment even with the maximum amount

Unemployment is designed to replace about 50% of your average weekly wage, so it's not meant to fully replace your income. That's why finding new employment is the priority.

Weekly benefit amount (WBA) is what you get each week. Maximum benefit amount (MBA) is the total you can receive during your entire benefit year - usually 26 times your WBA.

ah that makes perfect sense now, thanks for the clear explanation

Generally you need to be unemployed through no fault of your own to qualify. Quitting without good cause usually disqualifies you. But if you do qualify, your benefit amount is calculated the same way regardless of why you became unemployed.

ok good to know, I was laid off so should be fine

Seems like a few people have had success with that service. Might be worth trying if I need to talk to someone about my benefits.

Definitely worth it if you need actual answers from Washington ESD staff. Way better than playing phone tag for weeks.