How much unemployment can I get from Washington ESD - confused about benefit amounts

Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your highest earning quarter during your base year (the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file). They take that quarter's earnings, divide by 26, and that's roughly your weekly benefit. With your wage and hours, you're probably looking at somewhere between $200-350 per week, but the exact amount depends on when you worked and your specific earnings pattern.

The Washington ESD benefit calculator on their website can give you a better estimate if you have your wage information. You'll need to know your earnings for each quarter in your base year. The maximum weekly benefit amount for 2025 is $999, but most people get way less than that. Your 35-38 hours at $16.50 should qualify you for a decent amount though.

I was in a similar situation last year and had trouble getting through to Washington ESD to ask about my benefit calculation. Ended up using Claimyr.com to get connected with an actual agent who walked me through exactly how they calculated my amount. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made the whole process way less stressful than trying to call the regular number and getting hung up on.

just so you know the amount they give you is before taxes. washington esd will take out federal taxes if you ask them to but they dont take out state taxes since washington doesnt have income tax. so budget for that if you choose to have taxes taken out

One thing to keep in mind is that your benefit amount also depends on meeting the monetary eligibility requirements. You need to have earned at least $8,100 in your base year, with at least $2,025 in your highest quarter and earnings in at least two quarters. With 18 months of steady work, you should easily meet these requirements.

The Washington ESD system is so confusing with all these calculations! I wish they would just tell you upfront what you'll get instead of making you guess. When I applied, it took them forever to determine my benefit amount and I was stressed the whole time not knowing if I'd be able to pay my bills.

Also remember that you can receive benefits for up to 26 weeks in most cases, though the exact duration depends on your work history and the unemployment rate. With your work pattern, you should qualify for the full 26 weeks of benefits if you need them.

Make sure you understand the job search requirements too! Washington ESD requires you to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of your activities. This can affect your benefits if you don't comply, regardless of how much you're supposed to receive.

THE WHOLE WASHINGTON ESD SYSTEM IS A JOKE! They make it impossible to figure out what you're entitled to and then take forever to process everything. I waited 6 weeks just to find out my benefit amount and by then I was already behind on everything.

For anyone still struggling to get answers from Washington ESD about benefit amounts, I'll mention Claimyr again since it really helped me. When you're stressed about money and can't get through to get basic information about your claim, having a way to actually talk to an agent is huge. The service connects you directly with Washington ESD staff who can look up your specific case.

Just wanted to add that if you're working part-time while collecting unemployment, Washington ESD has a formula for that too. They'll reduce your weekly benefit by 75% of whatever you earn over $5. So if you pick up some gig work, make sure you report it correctly.

i think the benefit amount also depends on if you quit or got laid off? like if you quit you might not get anything or get less money?

One more tip - when you do get your benefit determination letter from Washington ESD, keep it safe! It shows exactly how they calculated your amount and you'll need it if there are ever any questions or if you need to appeal something. I lost mine and had to request a duplicate, which was a hassle.

The waiting is honestly the hardest part. Even when you know roughly what to expect, not having that official confirmation from Washington ESD makes it hard to plan. Hang in there - once the system processes your claim, at least you'll have certainty about your weekly amount.

Did anyone else notice that Washington ESD's benefit calculator seems to give different results depending on when you use it? I swear I got different estimates when I tried it multiple times with the same information.

Whatever amount you end up getting, remember it's temporary support while you find new work. Don't get too comfortable with it - the job search requirements are there for a reason and Washington ESD does check up on compliance.

If your benefit amount seems too low when you get the determination, you can always call Washington ESD to ask them to explain the calculation. Sometimes there are errors in how they recorded your wages, especially if you had multiple employers.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! This thread has been way more useful than trying to navigate the Washington ESD website on my own. I feel like I have a much better understanding of what to expect now.