How much unemployment benefits can I get from Washington ESD weekly?

The weekly benefit amount in Washington is calculated using your highest quarter earnings from your base period. For someone making $52K annually, you're probably looking at somewhere between $400-600 per week, but it depends on how your wages were distributed across quarters. Washington ESD uses a formula where your weekly benefit is roughly 3.85% of your highest quarter wages, up to the maximum of $999 per week for 2025.

You can actually estimate it yourself pretty easily. Take your highest quarter wages and divide by 26, then multiply by about 50%. That'll get you in the ballpark. But honestly, if you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to get your exact amount, I found this service called Claimyr that helps you actually reach an agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works.

The maximum weekly benefit amount for 2025 is $999, but most people don't qualify for the max unless they were making really good money. Your $52K puts you somewhere in the middle range. Also remember you have to pay taxes on unemployment benefits - they don't automatically withhold federal taxes unless you request it.

ugh the whole system is so confusing!! i've been trying to figure out my benefit amount for weeks and every time i call its busy or they hang up on me after waiting forever. this is ridiculous when people need help

Just to add some specifics - Washington state calculates your weekly benefit amount by taking your two highest quarters from your base period, adding them together, dividing by 52, and then you get about 50% of that amount. So if your two highest quarters totaled $26,000, you'd get roughly $250 per week. But there are minimum and maximum amounts that can affect this.

Also worth mentioning that your benefit amount stays the same for the entire benefit year, even if you had wage increases or decreases after your base period ended. So whatever they calculate based on those base period wages is what you'll get each week (assuming you meet all the other requirements like job search activities).

The minimum weekly benefit in Washington is $295 for 2025, just FYI. So even if your calculation comes out lower than that, you'd still get at least $295 per week. And you can receive benefits for up to 26 weeks typically, though it depends on your work history.

I went through this same thing last year. Made about $48K and ended up getting $385 per week. The calculation seemed pretty fair based on what I was earning. Just make sure you're filing your weekly claims on time every week or you'll miss out on payments.

Has anyone actually used that Claimyr thing mentioned earlier? I'm desperate to talk to someone at Washington ESD about my benefit calculation but I'm wary of paying for something like that.

One thing people forget is that your benefit amount also depends on whether you qualify for the alternate base period if your regular base period doesn't have enough wages. This can sometimes result in a higher weekly benefit if your more recent wages were higher.

don't forget you also have to meet the job search requirements to keep getting your weekly benefits. its 3 job search activities per week in washington state. keep good records of everything you do

The whole unemployment system in this state is a mess. I've been waiting 6 weeks just to find out my benefit amount because my claim is stuck in adjudication. Meanwhile bills keep coming and I have no idea what to budget for. It's completely backwards that they can't give you a simple calculation upfront.

For what it's worth, Washington's unemployment benefits are actually pretty generous compared to other states. The maximum is nearly $1000 per week and even average earners get a decent percentage of their wages replaced. Just have to navigate the bureaucracy to actually get them.

Pro tip: your benefit year lasts 52 weeks from when you filed, but you can only collect up to 26 weeks of benefits (or sometimes fewer depending on your work history). So even though your benefit amount stays the same all year, you're not necessarily eligible to collect for the full 52 weeks.

Anyone know if working part-time affects your weekly benefit calculation? I might have to take a part-time job while looking for full-time work.

Bottom line - your weekly benefit amount is probably going to be somewhere between 40-50% of what you were earning weekly at your job, up to the state maximum. For $52K annually, you're looking at maybe $400-500 per week, but the only way to know for sure is to get through to Washington ESD or wait for your determination letter.