How much unemployment benefits can I get in Washington - confused about payment amounts
I'm trying to figure out how much unemployment I can actually get from Washington ESD. I worked for about 8 months last year making around $18/hour at a warehouse job before getting laid off in December. When I try to calculate it on their website, I get confused by all the base period stuff and quarterly earnings. Does anyone know the actual formula they use? I've heard people say anywhere from $200-800 a week but that seems like a huge range. Just want to know what to expect before I finish my application.
59 comments
Join the conversation
Arnav Bengali
Washington ESD uses your highest quarter earnings from your base period to calculate your weekly benefit amount. Generally it's about 3.85% of your highest quarter earnings, but there's a minimum of $295 and maximum of $999 per week as of 2025. Since you made $18/hour for 8 months, you'd need to add up your gross earnings for your best quarter to get a rough estimate.
0 coins
Scarlett Forster
•Thanks! So if I made about $9,360 in my best quarter (40 hours x $18 x 13 weeks), that would be around $360 per week? That actually sounds reasonable.
0 coins
Arnav Bengali
•That calculation looks about right, though Washington ESD will verify your actual reported wages with your employer. Make sure you have your last few pay stubs ready when you file.
0 coins
Sayid Hassan
just a heads up the whole process takes FOREVER if you have any issues with your claim. mine got stuck in adjudication for like 6 weeks and i couldnt get through to anyone at washington esd no matter how many times i called
0 coins
Scarlett Forster
•Oh no, 6 weeks? What kind of issues cause adjudication? I'm worried mine might get delayed too.
0 coins
Sayid Hassan
•they had questions about why i left my previous job before the one i got laid off from. even though it was totally unrelated to my current claim
0 coins
Rachel Tao
I had similar wage amounts and got $384 per week. The calculation is pretty straightforward once you understand the base period concept. Your base period is the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file. Washington ESD will look at your earnings in each quarter and use the highest one to determine your weekly benefit amount.
0 coins
Scarlett Forster
•That's really helpful to know someone with similar wages. Did you have any problems getting approved or was it pretty smooth?
0 coins
Rachel Tao
•Mine went through without issues, but I made sure to file right away and had all my paperwork ready. The key is being honest about everything and keeping good records.
0 coins
Derek Olson
If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone like the person above mentioned, I recently discovered this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to an agent. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. It was really helpful when I needed to check on my claim status during adjudication.
0 coins
Sayid Hassan
•wait really? how does that work? i spent hours trying to call washington esd and never got through
0 coins
Derek Olson
•Basically they handle the calling process for you and connect you when an agent becomes available. Saved me tons of time and frustration compared to calling myself.
0 coins
Danielle Mays
•That sounds too good to be true... how much does something like that cost?
0 coins
Derek Olson
•It's definitely worth it when you consider how much time you'd spend calling otherwise. The peace of mind alone was valuable for me.
0 coins
Roger Romero
Don't forget you also have to meet the job search requirements to keep getting benefits. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week and you have to log them in WorkSourceWA. Make sure you understand that part too before you start collecting.
0 coins
Scarlett Forster
•Good point! I heard about the job search thing but wasn't sure how strict they are about it. What counts as a job search activity?
0 coins
Roger Romero
•Applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, even some online training courses can count. Just make sure you document everything properly in the WorkSourceWA system.
0 coins
Anna Kerber
ugh the washington esd system is such a pain. i've been trying to figure out my benefit amount for weeks and keep getting different answers from different people. some say its based on your total earnings, others say its just your highest quarter. why cant they just make it simple???
0 coins
Arnav Bengali
•I understand the frustration, but it is based on your highest quarter earnings - that's the official formula Washington ESD uses. The confusion comes from people mixing up different benefit programs.
0 coins
Anna Kerber
•well thats what i thought but then i called and the person on the phone told me something totally different. maybe i should try that claimyr thing to actually get a straight answer
0 coins
Niko Ramsey
Just remember that whatever amount you get, you'll have to pay taxes on it. Washington ESD will withhold federal taxes if you request it, but you might still owe at the end of the year depending on your situation.
0 coins
Scarlett Forster
•Oh I didn't think about taxes! Should I have them withhold federal taxes or just pay at the end of the year?
0 coins
Niko Ramsey
•Personally I'd have them withhold 10% just to be safe. Better to get a small refund than owe a big chunk when you file your taxes.
0 coins
Seraphina Delan
Also make sure you understand the waiting week. You won't get paid for your first week of unemployment even if you're eligible. It's not really a 'waiting week' anymore but there's still a delay in when you first get paid.
0 coins
Scarlett Forster
•Wait, so I won't get paid for the first week at all? That seems unfair when I'm already out of work.
0 coins
Seraphina Delan
•Yeah it's annoying but that's how the system works. You'll get your first payment about 2-3 weeks after filing if everything goes smoothly.
0 coins
Sayid Hassan
definitely recommend that claimyr service if you run into any problems. wish i had known about it when i was dealing with my adjudication mess. would have saved me so much stress
0 coins
Jabari-Jo
•I second this recommendation. Used Claimyr when I had questions about my disqualification notice and finally got to talk to someone who could explain what was happening with my claim.
0 coins
Scarlett Forster
•Good to know there are options if I run into problems. Hopefully my claim will be straightforward since I was clearly laid off due to lack of work.
0 coins
Kristin Frank
One thing to watch out for - if you worked in multiple states or had gaps in employment, your benefit calculation might be different. Washington ESD will combine wages from other states if needed, but it can complicate things.
0 coins
Scarlett Forster
•I only worked in Washington so that shouldn't be an issue for me. But good to know in case others reading this have that situation.
0 coins
Kristin Frank
•Yeah, interstate claims can get messy. Glad yours should be straightforward!
0 coins
Micah Trail
The maximum benefit amount goes up every year based on average wages in Washington. In 2025 it's $999 per week which is actually pretty decent compared to other states. But you need to have earned quite a bit to qualify for the maximum.
0 coins
Scarlett Forster
•Wow $999 seems like a lot! What would someone need to earn to get that much?
0 coins
Micah Trail
•You'd need to have earned about $25,935 in your highest quarter, which works out to around $50/hour for a full quarter. Most people get somewhere in the $300-600 range.
0 coins
Nia Watson
make sure you file your weekly claims every week even if your initial claim is still being processed. i made the mistake of waiting and it messed up my whole timeline
0 coins
Scarlett Forster
•That's a good tip! I'll make sure to keep filing weekly claims once I submit my application.
0 coins
Nia Watson
•yeah dont make my mistake. you can always backdate but its easier to just stay on top of it from the beginning
0 coins
Alberto Souchard
The whole process was actually pretty smooth for me. Filed online, got approved within a week, and started getting payments. The key is having accurate information about your work history and being completely honest about why you lost your job.
0 coins
Scarlett Forster
•That's encouraging to hear! Did you have to provide any additional documentation or was the online application enough?
0 coins
Alberto Souchard
•Just the online application for me. They verified my wages with my employer directly so I didn't need to provide pay stubs or anything like that.
0 coins
Katherine Shultz
Another thing - if you get any part-time work while collecting unemployment, make sure you report it correctly. You can still get partial benefits but you have to follow their rules about reporting earnings.
0 coins
Scarlett Forster
•Good to know! I might do some gig work while job hunting so I'll keep that in mind.
0 coins
Katherine Shultz
•Yeah just report everything honestly. They have formulas for partial benefits that let you keep some unemployment while working part-time.
0 coins
Marcus Marsh
For what it's worth, I had a similar work history (warehouse, $17/hour, laid off) and got $342 per week. Your calculation of around $360 sounds about right based on the slightly higher wage.
0 coins
Scarlett Forster
•Perfect! That's really helpful to have a real example from someone with similar circumstances.
0 coins
Marcus Marsh
•No problem! The uncertainty is the worst part but once you know what to expect it's much easier to plan.
0 coins
Hailey O'Leary
Don't stress too much about the exact amount until you file. Washington ESD will calculate it for you and you'll see it in your online account once your claim is processed.
0 coins
Scarlett Forster
•True, I'm probably overthinking it. Just wanted to have a general idea for budgeting purposes.
0 coins
Hailey O'Leary
•Totally understandable! It's smart to plan ahead, just don't let the details stop you from filing sooner rather than later.
0 coins
Cedric Chung
The washington esd website has a benefit calculator tool but its not super accurate. gives you a rough idea though if you want to play around with different scenarios
0 coins
Scarlett Forster
•I tried that but got confused by the base period quarters. Maybe I'll give it another shot now that I understand it better.
0 coins
Cedric Chung
•yeah its confusing at first but once you get the hang of it its actually pretty useful for planning
0 coins
Talia Klein
Just wanted to add that you should apply as soon as possible after losing your job. There's no waiting period to file and the sooner you get in the system, the sooner you can start receiving benefits.
0 coins
Scarlett Forster
•Thanks for all the advice everyone! I'm going to file my claim this weekend and see how it goes.
0 coins
Talia Klein
•Good luck! Sounds like you have realistic expectations which is half the battle.
0 coins
Derek Olson
Just remember if you do run into any issues reaching Washington ESD, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier is there as a backup option. Sometimes having that extra resource available gives you peace of mind even if you don't end up needing it.
0 coins
Scarlett Forster
•Definitely keeping that in mind! Hopefully I won't need it but good to know it's there if something goes wrong.
0 coins
Maxwell St. Laurent
•I used Claimyr too when I had problems with my overpayment notice. Really helped to actually talk to a real person who could explain what was happening.
0 coins