How much will I get for Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

Washington ESD uses your earnings from your base year (the first 4 quarters of the last 5 completed quarters) to calculate your weekly benefit amount. Generally, you'll get about 60-70% of your average weekly wage, up to the maximum weekly benefit amount which is currently $999 per week in 2025. Since you were making $22/hour full-time, that's roughly $880 per week gross, so you'd probably qualify for around $550-620 per week before taxes.

Just remember you have to meet the base year earnings requirement too. You need at least $3,850 in your base year total, plus earnings in at least two quarters. If you've been working full-time for 2 years you should be fine, but it's something to check on your Washington ESD account.

The hardest part isn't figuring out your benefit amount - it's actually getting through to Washington ESD when you have questions or issues. I spent weeks calling and either getting busy signals or being disconnected. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual agent who could explain my benefit calculation. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Don't forget about the waiting week! Your first week of unemployment won't be paid, but after that you should get benefits as long as you file your weekly claims on time and meet the job search requirements.

the benefit calculator on their website is pretty accurate if you have your pay stubs handy. just plug in your quarterly earnings and it'll give you an estimate

Manufacturing layoffs are usually pretty straightforward for UI claims since it's clearly not your fault. You shouldn't have any issues with eligibility as long as you weren't fired for misconduct. The benefit amount calculation is the easy part - it's dealing with Washington ESD's phone system that's the nightmare.

I was in a similar situation last year - laid off from a factory job making about the same hourly rate. Ended up getting $587 per week for 26 weeks. The process was pretty smooth once I figured out how to navigate their website. Just make sure you have all your employment dates and employer info ready when you apply.

Don't get your hopes up too high. I know people who applied months ago and still haven't seen a dime because their claims are stuck in 'adjudication' forever. Washington ESD is a mess.

The benefit amount is just one piece of the puzzle. Make sure you understand all the requirements - the job search stuff, reporting any work or income, and filing on time every week. Missing a week means you lose that week's benefits permanently.

I've been through this process twice now and the benefit amount has always been pretty close to what their calculator estimated. The real challenge is when you need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD about your claim. Last time I had an issue, I used Claimyr to get through and it saved me probably 20+ hours of calling.

One thing to keep in mind is that unemployment benefits are temporary. In Washington, you get up to 26 weeks of regular benefits. Use that time wisely to find your next job rather than just relying on the payments.

max benefit in washington is $999/week but you probably wont get that unless you were making like $70k+ per year. most people get somewhere between 40-60% of their previous income

The whole system is designed to be confusing on purpose. They don't want you to know exactly what you're entitled to. Just apply and see what happens - you can always appeal if the amount seems wrong.

Quick tip - when you apply, have your Social Security card, driver's license, and information about your last employer ready. The application will ask for specific dates and addresses. Also, if you have direct deposit info that speeds up getting your payments.

Been there, done that. Manufacturing layoffs are pretty common and Washington ESD sees them all the time. Your benefit amount will depend on your exact wage history, but with steady work for 2 years you should qualify for a decent weekly amount. Just be patient with the system and don't panic if it takes a few weeks to get your first payment.