How much unemployment do you get in Washington - confused about benefit amounts

So if my highest quarter was like $6,500, that would be $250 per week? That seems like a lot more than I expected.

That's right, $250 would be your WBA. But remember with partial unemployment, if you're still working 10 hours at $18/hour, that's $180 per week. You'd get $255 (WBA + $5) minus $180 = $75 in unemployment benefits.

That's way higher than I expected! So if I was making around $1,000 per week, I could get close to $600-650?

Possibly, but it depends on your quarterly earnings distribution. Washington ESD looks at your base period which is the first four of the last five completed quarters before you filed.

Wow that's really good! How long did it take to get approved?

like 3 weeks but most of that was waiting for adjudication to finish

Wow $999 is way more than I make working! No wonder it's hard to get approved lol

You have to have earned a LOT in your base period to get the maximum. Most people get somewhere between $200-500 per week depending on their work history.

Never heard of that service before. Did they charge you anything for helping you get through?

They do charge for the service but it was worth it for me since I needed answers quickly about my benefit amount and couldn't waste more time on hold.

Interesting, might have to check that out. I've been trying to reach Washington ESD for weeks about my benefit calculation.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr.com - it's a service that helps you get through to ESD agents. I watched their demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ and decided to try it. Got connected to an agent in like 15 minutes instead of spending hours on hold.

Really? That actually works? I'm so frustrated with trying to call them myself.

Yeah it really does work. They basically navigate the phone system for you and get you connected to a real person. Worth it just to avoid the phone tree hell.

That does sound low for your income level. Did you work consistently throughout your base period? If you had gaps in employment or lower earnings in some quarters, it could affect your weekly benefit amount.

I worked the whole time! This is ridiculous. I'm going to appeal this decision.

What do you mean by overpayment? Like they make you pay the money back?

Yes, if you don't report your earnings correctly they can determine you were overpaid and demand repayment. Always report your gross wages, not net, and report them for the week you worked, not when you got paid.

Good point about taxes. I didn't think about that. Can you have them withhold federal taxes automatically?

Yes, when you file your weekly claims through the Washington ESD website, there's an option to have 10% withheld for federal taxes. You can change this setting anytime.

I tried that but I'm not sure which quarters count as my base period. Do I use last year's quarters or this year's?

It depends on when you file. If you file in January-March 2025, your base period would be October 2023 through September 2024. The base period is always the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters.

6 weeks?! That's crazy long. Were you able to get back pay for all those weeks?

yeah they back paid everything once it was approved. just had to keep filing weekly claims the whole time

That's helpful to know, gives me a better idea of what to expect. Did you have any trouble getting approved?

nope, pretty straightforward since I was laid off. partial unemployment might be trickier though

That formula is helpful! So if my two highest quarters were $13,000 each, that would be $26,000 x 0.037 = $962 per week?

Exactly! But remember the maximum weekly benefit amount is $1,019 in 2025, so you'd get $962 in your case.

This is super helpful, I've been trying to figure out my benefit amount for weeks. Washington ESD really needs to make this clearer on their website.

Oh that's good to know! I was worried I might not qualify for much since I haven't been working that long.

Yeah, as long as you meet the monetary eligibility requirements, you're guaranteed at least the minimum. You need to have earned at least $7,200 in your base period total.

What are the job search requirements exactly? Do I have to apply for a certain number of jobs?

You need to make at least 3 job search activities per week and keep a log. This can include applying for jobs, networking, going to job fairs, etc. You have to report this when you file your weekly claims.

What counts as a job search activity? Is applying to jobs online enough?

yeah applying online counts, but you need to keep a log of everything. networking events, career fairs, interviews all count too

While the system can be frustrating, most people who follow the rules correctly do get their benefits. Just be accurate with your reporting and respond to any requests for information quickly.

maybe for you but I know plenty of people who got screwed over by ESD for no good reason

How long did it take for your claim to get approved? I'm worried about how long the process takes.

Mine took about 3 weeks from filing to first payment. Some people get approved faster, others take longer if there are issues with their claim.

How much does that service cost? Seems like you shouldn't have to pay to talk to a government agency.

i don't remember the exact cost but it was worth it to actually get through to someone instead of wasting hours on hold. saved me a lot of frustration

The weekly claim questions are confusing. What happens if I answer something wrong by accident?

You can usually correct mistakes by calling them or filing an amended claim, but it's better to be careful the first time. Take your time reading each question.

I didn't know that! So I have to pay taxes on the unemployment money?

Yes, unemployment benefits are subject to federal and state income tax. You can choose to have 10% withheld when you file your weekly claims, or pay estimated taxes quarterly.

I've only had one job so hopefully that makes it easier. What kind of documentation did you need?

Pay stubs, W-2s, and sometimes they wanted verification directly from employers. Having everything organized upfront helps speed up the process.

So true! I spent more time trying to get through to them than actually working on my claim.

That's exactly why services like Claimyr exist - to help people navigate the bureaucracy and actually get connected to agents who can help.

I should probably file soon then. How do I start the process?

You can file online through the Washington ESD website. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the past 18 months.

Right, someone explained that earlier. So I might qualify for $250 per week but only get $75 after they deduct my part-time wages.

Exactly. The partial unemployment system is designed to supplement your reduced income, not replace it entirely. But every little bit helps when you're struggling financially.

Any tips for the job search requirements? I'm not sure what counts as a valid job search activity.

Applying for jobs online, going to career fairs, networking events, informational interviews, even taking classes related to your field can count. Just document everything with dates and details.

Thanks for all the help everyone! I feel much more confident about filing my claim now. Hopefully it goes smoothly.

Good luck! Come back and let us know how it goes. Your experience might help other people in similar situations.

That sounds about right for your income level. Did you have any issues with adjudication or was it pretty straightforward?

Mine was straightforward since I was laid off due to lack of work. If you quit or were fired for cause, it gets more complicated.

Definitely worth trying Claimyr if you've been stuck that long. They got me through to an agent in less than an hour when I was having similar issues.

Thanks, I'll check out their website. This is so frustrating dealing with the phone system.

I haven't filed yet, but good to know they send a detailed breakdown. That would definitely help me understand the calculation.

Yeah, it shows your quarterly wages, the formula they used, and your weekly benefit amount. Keep that letter safe - you might need it for appeals or other purposes.

Washington adjusts the maximum benefit amount annually based on the state's average weekly wage. It's been increasing each year, and for 2025 it's $1,019 per week.

damn that's a big jump from what I got in 2023. wish I was unemployed now instead of then lol

10 days is really fast! Was there anything special about her situation that made it go quicker?

I think it was just lucky timing. No issues with her employment history and she was clearly laid off due to company downsizing.

Unfortunately yes, Washington ESD uses your base period which is the first four of the last five completed quarters. So recent wage increases might not be reflected in your benefit calculation.

That's so unfair. I was making $20K more annually at my new job but they'll base it on my old salary?

You might be able to use an alternate base period if it results in a higher benefit amount. Worth asking Washington ESD about when you file.

Good to hear another success story with that service. I'm definitely going to try them if I can't get through on my own.

Yeah, the agent was really helpful explaining the whole base period calculation. Much better than trying to figure it out from the website.

I tried that calculator but it was confusing. Asked for quarterly wages but I only know my annual salary and recent pay stubs.

Yeah, you need to dig up your W-2s or pay stubs to get the quarterly breakdown. It's worth doing though to avoid surprises.

Of course, I'm definitely planning to look for work actively. Just trying to understand what financial support I'll have during the search.

Good attitude. Just mentioning it because some people don't realize there are ongoing requirements to keep getting benefits.

That's a good point. I guess I need to look at my actual quarterly earnings rather than just my annual salary.

Exactly. If you had a big raise mid-year or gaps in employment, it can really affect the calculation in unexpected ways.

Wait, so I won't get paid for the first week at all? That seems unfair.

Nope, it's called a waiting week. Pretty much every state has some version of this. Just plan for it financially.

That's great advice. I was waiting to understand everything perfectly before filing, but maybe I should just get started.

Definitely file ASAP. You can't get benefits for weeks before you file, so don't lose time trying to figure out every detail first.