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Camila Jordan

How much unemployment benefits can I expect from Washington ESD?

I'm trying to figure out how much unemployment I might qualify for if I lose my job next month. I've been making $52,000 annually at my current position for the past 18 months. Does anyone know how Washington ESD calculates the weekly benefit amount? I've heard it's based on your highest earning quarter but I'm not sure how that works exactly. Also wondering if there's a maximum amount they'll pay regardless of your previous salary?

Washington ESD uses your base period earnings to calculate your weekly benefit amount (WBA). They look at your highest quarter earnings during your base period, divide by 26, then you get about 3.85% of your total base period wages as your weekly amount. There's also a maximum weekly benefit - I think it's around $999 right now for 2025.

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Thanks! So if I made $13,000 in my highest quarter, that would be $500 per week? That seems pretty good actually.

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Not exactly - it's more complex than that. The $13k divided by 26 gives you one part, but then they also look at your total base period wages. You'd need to use the Washington ESD calculator or call them for an exact amount.

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I just went through this process last month. My calculation was way more confusing than I expected. Washington ESD looks at four quarters of earnings but not the most recent ones - there's this weird lag time.

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Yeah the base period thing is confusing! I think they use quarters 2-5 before you file, not the most recent quarter.

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Exactly! So if you file in January 2025, they're looking at your earnings from April 2023 through March 2024. Really caught me off guard.

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Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your highest earning quarter from the last 18 months. They take your total wages from that quarter and divide by 26. The maximum weekly benefit for 2025 is $999, but most people get somewhere between $250-$600 depending on their wages.

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Thanks! So if I made around $3,000 in my best quarter, I'd get about $115 a week? That seems really low...

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That sounds about right unfortunately. UI benefits are meant to be temporary assistance, not full wage replacement. You might also qualify for the additional $25 weekly if you have dependents.

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Washington ESD uses your highest earning quarter from the base period to calculate your weekly benefit amount. It's roughly 3.85% of your highest quarter earnings, but there's a minimum and maximum. For 2025, the max weekly benefit is $999.

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So they look at my best quarter, not my annual salary? That's good to know, thanks!

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Yeah and the base period is usually the first 4 quarters of the last 5 completed quarters before you file. It can get confusing with the timing.

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The maximum weekly benefit amount for Washington State is $999 as of 2025, but most people don't hit that unless they were making really good money. For someone making $52k annually, you're probably looking at somewhere between $400-600 per week depending on when your highest earnings occurred.

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That's still a decent amount. Better than I was expecting honestly. Do you know if that $999 max includes the additional federal stuff or is that just the state portion?

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That's just the state portion. There aren't any federal add-ons right now like there were during COVID. Just regular Washington ESD unemployment insurance.

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I just went through this process last month. With your salary around $52k, you're probably looking at somewhere between $650-750 per week, depending on how your earnings were distributed across quarters. The exact formula is on the Washington ESD website but it's pretty complicated math.

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That's actually higher than I expected! Did you have any trouble getting your claim approved?

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Mine got stuck in adjudication for almost a month. If you run into issues getting through to Washington ESD, I found this service called Claimyr that helped me reach an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

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The formula is confusing but there's a benefit calculator on the Washington ESD website that can give you an estimate. You'll need your wage info from the past year though.

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I tried looking for that calculator but couldn't find it on their site. Do you have a direct link?

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It should be under 'File a Claim' section but honestly their website is terrible to navigate. Sometimes you have to dig around to find anything useful.

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Pro tip - if you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to ask about your potential benefit amount, I discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to a real person. They have this demo video (https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ) that shows how it works. Way easier than sitting on hold for hours.

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Never heard of that before. Is it legit or one of those sketchy services that charges you a bunch of money?

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It's legit - they just help you get through the phone queue. I was able to talk to an actual Washington ESD rep about my claim status without waiting forever.

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Interesting, I'll keep that in mind if I need to call them. The Washington ESD phone system is notorious for being impossible to get through.

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be prepared for it to take FOREVER to get your first payment even after you file. my friend waited 6 weeks just to get approved and then another week for the actual money

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Six weeks?! That's crazy long. I thought unemployment was supposed to help people who need money right away.

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It depends on your situation. If there are no issues with your claim, it can be faster. But if they have to do adjudication or verify employment, it takes much longer.

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The Washington ESD website has a benefit calculator but honestly it's not very user-friendly. I tried using it and got confused about which quarters to enter. Ended up just filing and seeing what happened.

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Same here! The calculator asks for all this specific wage info that I didn't have handy. Would be nice if they could just pull it from your tax records or something.

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They do have access to wage records from employers who report to Washington ESD, but not all employers report immediately. That's why they sometimes need additional verification.

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Don't forget you can only collect benefits for 26 weeks maximum in Washington, and you have to be actively job searching. They're pretty strict about the job search requirements now - you need to log 3 job search activities per week.

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What counts as a job search activity? I've been applying online but wasn't sure if that's enough.

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Online applications count, but you can also do things like attend job fairs, networking events, or create/update your LinkedIn profile. Just make sure to log everything in your WorkSourceWA account.

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I had similar wages when I filed last year and got $178/week. But getting through to Washington ESD to even file was a nightmare - spent weeks trying to call them. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) which actually got me connected to an agent who walked me through everything. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

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Really? I've been trying to call for three days and just get busy signals or disconnected. How does Claimyr work exactly?

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It basically calls Washington ESD for you and holds your place in line, then connects you when an agent picks up. Saved me hours of frustration and actually got my claim filed properly the first time.

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That sounds too good to be true. What's the catch? Do they charge a bunch of money?

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the whole system is so confusing!! i tried to figure out my benefit amount using their calculator but it kept giving me different numbers. wish they would just make it simple

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The online calculator can be buggy. If you need an exact amount, you'll probably need to call Washington ESD directly once you file your claim.

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Good luck getting through on the phone! I've been trying for weeks to get someone to explain my benefit calculation.

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Just a heads up - you can only collect unemployment for 26 weeks maximum in Washington unless there's some kind of extension program. So even if you qualify for $500/week, you're looking at about $13,000 total maximum.

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Good point, I hadn't thought about the time limit. 26 weeks should hopefully be enough to find something new though.

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Sometimes they have extended benefits during bad economic times but there's nothing like that available right now in 2025.

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Another thing to consider is taxes - unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can have taxes withheld from your weekly payments or pay them when you file your return. I learned this the hard way.

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Oh wow, I didn't realize unemployment was taxable. So if I get $500/week, it's not actually $500 after taxes?

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Right, it's taxable at both federal and state level. Washington ESD can withhold 10% for federal taxes and I think 5% for state if you elect to do that.

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Actually Washington doesn't have state income tax, so it's just federal taxes you need to worry about.

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Your benefit amount also depends on how many hours you worked. If you were part-time, your base year wages might be lower which means less benefits. Washington ESD looks at all four quarters of your base year to determine eligibility.

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I was working pretty consistently, about 35 hours a week for the past 8 months. Before that I had a different job for a few months.

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That should help your case. They'll use wages from both jobs if they fall within your base year period.

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DON'T EXPECT MUCH! The unemployment system is designed to give you as little as possible while making you jump through a million hoops. I got $156/week and had to do 3 job searches every week just to keep getting that pathetic amount.

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Wait, there are job search requirements too? What does that involve?

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OH YEAH, you have to apply for jobs every week and log them in WorkSourceWA. Miss one week and they cut you off. It's ridiculous.

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The job search requirement is actually 3 activities per week, not necessarily 3 applications. Can include things like attending job fairs or networking events.

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One thing to keep in mind is that unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld from your weekly payments or pay them later, but don't forget about the tax implications when budgeting.

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Oh wow, I didn't even think about taxes. How much do they typically withhold?

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They'll withhold 10% for federal taxes if you elect to have it taken out. You'll still need to handle state taxes on your own though.

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I'm in a similar situation - got laid off from a $48k job. Filed my claim two weeks ago and still waiting to hear back. The waiting is the worst part, especially not knowing how much I'll get.

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Two weeks isn't too bad for initial processing. If it goes longer than that, you might want to call and check on your claim status.

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I've tried calling but can never get through. The phone lines are always busy or I get disconnected.

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That's exactly why I used Claimyr - they somehow get through to Washington ESD agents when regular people can't. Worth checking out their site at claimyr.com if you're stuck.

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I've been on unemployment twice and both times the amount was different even though I made similar wages. The base period thing really matters - if you had a gap in employment or lower wages during those specific quarters, it affects your benefit amount significantly.

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That makes sense. I've been pretty steady at my current job but before that I had a few months where I was only working part-time.

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Yeah, those part-time months could definitely impact your calculation if they fall within your base period. It's all about timing.

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Does anyone know if they count bonuses or overtime in the benefit calculation? I had a pretty good year with overtime but most of it was in one quarter.

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Yes, bonuses and overtime count as wages for the benefit calculation. If most of your overtime was in one quarter, that might actually help you since they use your highest quarter.

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That's great news! I was worried they might not count it.

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Just remember you need to file your weekly claims every week to keep getting benefits, even if your initial claim is still being processed. Missing a week can cause delays in your payments.

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how do you file the weekly claims? is it online or do you have to call?

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It's online through the Washington ESD website. You'll get instructions once your claim is approved, but you can usually file them starting the Sunday after you file your initial claim.

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Does anyone know if overtime pay counts toward your base period wages? I work a lot of OT and wondering if that helps or hurts my potential benefit calculation.

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Yes, overtime counts as regular wages for Washington ESD purposes. Any money your employer reports as wages to the state counts toward your benefit calculation.

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That's good news! I've been pulling a lot of extra hours this year so hopefully that helps if I end up needing to file.

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just filed mine last week, still waiting to hear back on how much ill get. the whole process is confusing as hell

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How long does it usually take to find out your benefit amount?

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they said 2-3 weeks but who knows with washington esd. everything takes forever

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The benefit amount also depends on if you have any other income while collecting unemployment. Even part-time work can reduce your weekly benefit amount, so make sure to report everything accurately.

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What if I do some freelance work occasionally? Do I need to report that too?

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Yes, any income needs to be reported, including freelance work. They'll reduce your benefit amount for that week based on how much you earned.

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Be aware that you have to actively search for work to keep getting benefits. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week and you have to log them in WorkSourceWA. It's not just free money.

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Good to know. What counts as a job search activity? Just applying for jobs or other stuff too?

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Applying for jobs, networking events, job fairs, updating your resume with WorkSource - there's a whole list of approved activities.

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The job search requirement is no joke. They do audit people and if you can't prove you were looking for work, they'll make you pay back benefits.

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One thing to keep in mind - your benefit amount is also affected by any part-time work you do while collecting. If you work and earn more than your weekly benefit amount, you won't get any UI that week. If you earn less, they'll reduce your benefit accordingly.

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So I can still work part-time while on unemployment? That's good to know.

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Yes, but you have to report all earnings on your weekly claim. Be honest about it or you could end up with an overpayment later.

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I've been collecting unemployment for 3 months now and the amount has been consistent with what they told me initially. The key is just being patient during the application process and making sure all your information is accurate.

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How long did it take from filing to getting your first payment?

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About 3 weeks total. The first week is always unpaid (waiting week), then it took about 2 weeks to process my claim and start payments.

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I remember when I first filed, I spent forever trying to understand the monetary determination letter they sent. The language is so bureaucratic and confusing.

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What's a monetary determination letter?

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That's the letter Washington ESD sends telling you how much you'll get per week and for how many weeks. Usually comes a few weeks after you file your initial claim.

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Just want to emphasize again - if you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD about your benefit amount or any other questions, definitely check out Claimyr. I was skeptical at first but it really works. Got connected to an agent in under an hour when I'd been trying for days on my own.

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I can vouch for this too. Used it when my claim got stuck in adjudication and needed to talk to someone. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.

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Okay I'm convinced. Going to try Claimyr today since I clearly need to talk to someone who can explain all this properly.

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Don't forget that unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld from your weekly payments or pay them when you file your return next year.

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Great, something else to worry about. Should I have them withhold taxes?

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I'd recommend it if you can afford the slightly lower payment. Otherwise you might owe a lot at tax time.

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The whole system is a joke anyway. $200-300 a week doesn't cover anything these days with rent and groceries costing so much.

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EXACTLY! They expect you to live on peanuts while jumping through all their hoops.

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I get the frustration, but it's better than nothing while you're looking for work. The program was never designed to fully replace your income.

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btw make sure you file your weekly claims every week even if youre still waiting for your monetary determination. if you miss weeks you cant go back and claim them

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Good point, I'll make sure to do that. Thanks for the tip!

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One more thing - if you think your benefit amount is wrong when you get your determination, you can appeal it. You have 30 days from the date on the letter.

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How would I know if it's wrong? I don't really understand how they calculate it.

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Compare the wages they show to your actual earnings. Sometimes employers don't report wages correctly or there are data entry errors.

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Final tip - once you start receiving benefits, keep detailed records of everything. Your job search activities, any work you do, all correspondence from Washington ESD. It'll save you headaches if any issues come up later.

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This is all so overwhelming but thank you everyone for the help. At least I have a better idea of what to expect now.

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You've got this! And seriously, if you need to talk to Washington ESD about anything, try Claimyr. It'll save you so much time and frustration.

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Just wanted to add that the maximum benefit duration is usually 26 weeks, but it can be less depending on your work history and the state's unemployment rate.

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26 weeks seems like it goes by fast when you're job hunting. Hopefully I'll find something before then.

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Yeah, time flies when you're stressed about money. Just focus on your job search and take advantage of WorkSourceWA resources too.

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Make sure you understand the difference between your weekly benefit amount and your maximum benefit amount. The weekly amount is what you get each week, but there's also a total maximum you can collect over the entire benefit year.