How much of your check does unemployment pay - Washington ESD weekly benefit amounts

Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your highest earning quarter in your base period. The maximum weekly benefit is currently $999, and you can get up to 50% of your average weekly wage during that quarter. So if you made $950/week consistently, you might get close to $475 weekly, but it depends on your exact earnings pattern.

I was making about $800 a week and my Washington ESD benefit came out to $362. It's definitely not enough to cover all my expenses but it helps with groceries and utilities while I'm looking for work. The job search requirements are pretty strict though - you have to log 3 job contacts per week minimum.

Been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks to get my exact benefit amount but their phone lines are impossible. Anyone have luck getting through? I'm stuck in adjudication and can't even find out what my weekly benefit will be once it's approved.

The Washington ESD benefit calculator is pretty accurate if you can find your quarterly earnings. I think it's roughly 3.85% of your total base period wages, but there's a minimum and maximum. My calculation was spot on when I finally got my determination letter.

whatever you do dont expect to live off unemployment alone. i made $1200 a week and only get $520 from washington esd. had to pick up some gig work to make ends meet while job hunting. the 26 weeks goes by fast too

The formula is: (highest quarter earnings ÷ 13) × 0.5 = weekly benefit amount, up to the maximum of $999. So if your highest quarter was $12,350 (which would be about $950/week), you'd get ($12,350 ÷ 13) × 0.5 = $474 per week. That's pretty close to the 50% rule of thumb.

I'm getting $445 weekly and was making around $950 too. Took forever to get approved though - was in adjudication for almost 6 weeks because they had to verify my employment. The waiting period is the worst part.

The percentage varies by state but Washington is actually pretty decent. I moved here from another state where the maximum was like $400 total. Washington ESD's $999 max is way better than most places.

Anyone know if they count commission in the benefit calculation? My base salary was lower but I made good money on commission. Not sure how Washington ESD handles that.

STILL waiting for my determination letter after 3 weeks. This is ridiculous!! How are people supposed to plan their finances when Washington ESD takes forever to tell you what you'll get?

The 50% rule is pretty standard but remember you still have to pay federal taxes on unemployment benefits. So factor that into your budgeting too.

my weekly benefit is $380 and i was making about $820 per week. seems like everyone's getting roughly the same percentage. the hardest part is stretching it to cover rent and everything else

Just got my determination letter and I'm eligible for $492 weekly. Was making $1,050 per week so that's pretty close to the 50% they promised. The letter breaks down exactly how they calculated it which is helpful.

For anyone trying to calculate their benefit amount, you can also look at your quarterly wage statements from Washington ESD. They mail them out annually and show exactly what employers reported for you.

Been on unemployment for 3 months now and the $431 weekly helps but it's definitely not enough to maintain my previous lifestyle. Had to move back in with family to make it work while job searching.

The whole system is broken. I've been calling Washington ESD for 2 weeks straight trying to get my benefit amount figured out but nobody picks up. Their website is confusing and the online calculators don't work half the time.

Quick question - does the weekly benefit amount change if you're on standby status vs regular unemployment? I'm temporarily laid off but might get called back.

Bottom line: expect roughly 45-50% of your average weekly wage, up to the $999 maximum. It's not going to replace your full income but it's better than nothing while you're job hunting. Just make sure you're actively looking for work and reporting it properly.