How much will I get on Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount using your highest earning quarter from the past 18 months. They take that quarter's wages, divide by 26, then you get roughly 50% of that amount (up to the state maximum). For 2025, the maximum weekly benefit is $1019. You should be able to see your exact amount once your claim is processed.

Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your highest earning quarter from the past 5 quarters (base period). For someone making $18/hour at 32 hours/week, you'd be earning around $2,304 per month. The maximum weekly benefit in Washington is currently $999, but most people get much less. Your benefit will likely be around 50-60% of your average weekly wages during your highest quarter.

Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your highest earning quarter in your base year. They take your total wages from that quarter and divide by 26. The maximum weekly benefit for 2025 is around $999 but most people get less than that. You'll need to look at your wage history in your eServices account to get an exact estimate.

mine took forever to calculate, had to call washington esd like 10 times before anyone could tell me what was going on with my claim

just filed mine last week and still waiting to hear back... the whole process is confusing af. called washington esd like 50 times and keep getting busy signals

Thanks! So if I was making about $576 per week, I might get around $300-350 weekly? That would actually help a lot with my basic expenses.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to check on your benefit calculation, I recently discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com). It's a service that helps you get connected to ESD agents without waiting on hold for hours. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works. Really helped me when I needed to resolve questions about my weekly benefit amount.

That sounds about right. Just remember you have to file your weekly claims every week and do job searches to keep getting paid.

The formula is pretty straightforward but it depends on your work history. At $22/hour for 35 hours that's about $770 per week gross. If you worked consistently for the past year you're probably looking at somewhere between $400-600 per week in benefits, but that's just a rough estimate.

The exact formula is your highest quarter earnings divided by 26, then they take about 50% of that. But there's also a minimum and maximum. You can actually get an estimate by logging into your SecureAccess Washington account once you file your initial claim.

The wage calculation can be confusing because Washington ESD looks at your base period wages, not just your most recent job. If you had multiple jobs or gaps in employment, it might affect your benefit amount. You can check your wage history in your SecureAccess Washington account once it's updated.

Here's the basic formula: Washington ESD takes your two highest earning quarters from your base period, adds them together, divides by 52, then you get about 50% of that weekly average. There's also a minimum weekly benefit of $295 and maximum of $1019 for 2025.

I got $445 per week when I filed last year. Was making about $19/hour at 40 hours. The amount depends on your base year wages so it's different for everyone. You should apply ASAP though because there's always delays.

I haven't filed yet - should I do that right away? I got laid off yesterday.

Definitely file ASAP! There's a waiting week but the sooner you file the better. I had trouble getting through to Washington ESD on the phone when I had questions about my benefit amount. Spent literally hours on hold. Someone mentioned this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you actually reach ESD agents without the endless hold times. Haven't tried it myself but might be worth checking out if you need to talk to someone directly.

update - still cant get through to anyone at washington esd. this is ridiculous. how are we supposed to get help with our claims?

The whole Washington ESD system is a joke. They make it impossible to get accurate information and the benefits are barely enough to survive on. I've been trying to get someone on the phone for weeks just to understand why my benefit amount changed.

Does anyone know if the benefit amount can change week to week? My first payment was $387 but my second one was only $301 and I have no idea why.

Oh wow, that's interesting. I'm definitely going to need help navigating this whole process.

i just filed my claim yesterday too and still haven't heard anything back. how long does it usually take to find out your benefit amount?

Just remember that your benefit amount is calculated using wages from your base year, which is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed. So if you file in 2025, they're looking at your 2024 wages primarily.

ive been on unemployment for 3 months now and yeah the phone thing is the worst part of dealing with washington esd. i tried that claimyr thing someone mentioned and it actually worked. they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. basically they handle the calling and waiting so you dont have to sit there for hours

just a heads up the job search requirements are pretty strict now so make sure you're keeping track of all your applications. they want 3 job contacts per week minimum

THE PHONE SYSTEM IS BROKEN!!! Been trying to call Washington ESD for 3 days straight and either get busy signal or they hang up after 2 hours on hold. This is unacceptable for people who need help with their benefits!

You can also estimate your benefits using the online calculator but it's not always accurate. The best way is to actually file your claim and see what Washington ESD determines your weekly benefit amount to be.

The benefit calculation seems really complicated but basically if you worked part-time like OP, your benefits will be lower. I worked full-time at $25/hour and get about $520 per week. It's roughly half your average weekly wages up to the state maximum.

been on unemployment twice and both times the amount was different even though i was making similar wages. the system is weird and inconsistent imo

How much does something like that cost though? If I'm already tight on money...

For anyone still having trouble getting through to Washington ESD about benefit calculations or other claim issues, I can't recommend Claimyr enough. Saved me hours of frustration trying to navigate their phone system. The video demo really shows how much easier it makes the whole process.

Just want to add that your benefit amount also depends on whether you qualify for the dependency allowance. If you have kids or a spouse who meets certain criteria, you can get extra money per week.

Don't worry about costs right now - focus on getting your claim filed. The benefit calculation also depends on when you worked. If you just started this job recently, they might look at previous employment too. Washington ESD uses a 'base period' which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters.

I worked at a restaurant before Target for about 8 months, making $16/hour. Would that help my benefit amount?

YES that previous job definitely counts! Washington ESD will look at ALL your covered employment during the base period. Since you had two jobs, they'll calculate based on your total earnings. This might actually bump up your weekly benefit amount.

That's great news! I was worried I hadn't worked long enough at Target to qualify.

Just to set expectations - even after you file, it takes about 2-3 weeks to get your first payment. And remember there's that unpaid waiting week. Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even if you don't see money right away.

Good to know about the delay. I'll need to figure out how to cover expenses in the meantime.

the washington esd website sucks for getting real answers about benefit amounts. everything is so vague until you actually get approved. i remember being so anxious about how much id get

Yeah I'm definitely anxious about the whole thing. This is all new to me.

One more thing - make sure you have all your employment information ready when you file. Washington ESD will verify everything with your employers. Having your pay stubs and employment dates handy will make the process smoother.

I have most of my recent pay stubs but might need to track down some older ones from the restaurant job.

If you run into any issues or delays with your claim, that Claimyr service mentioned earlier is actually pretty helpful. I used them when my claim got stuck in adjudication for weeks. Way better than trying to call Washington ESD directly.

Good to know there are options if I run into problems. Hopefully everything goes smoothly!

make sure you understand the job search requirements too. you have to do like 3 job searches per week and keep a log. washington esd is pretty strict about that stuff

I didn't know about the job search requirement. Is there a specific way I need to document that?

Yes, you need to keep a detailed job search log with employer names, dates, contact methods, and positions applied for. You can do this through WorkSourceWA or keep your own records. The requirement is 3 job search activities per week for each week you claim benefits.

That seems manageable. At least I'll be actively looking for work anyway.

Washington ESD has gotten better about processing claims but adjudication issues still happen. My claim took forever because they had questions about my last day of work. Just be really accurate with all your dates and information.

I'll make sure to double-check everything before submitting. Thanks for the heads up!

honestly the hardest part isnt figuring out the benefit amount its dealing with washington esd when something goes wrong. thats why i ended up using claimyr - saved me so much frustration trying to get through on the phone

I keep seeing people mention this service. Might be worth bookmarking just in case.

For what it's worth, $300-350 per week sounds about right for your situation. I was making similar wages and got around $320 weekly. Just remember it's taxable income so you might want to have them withhold taxes.

Oh right, I hadn't thought about taxes. I'll definitely elect to have them withheld.

File online through SecureAccess Washington - it's way faster than trying to do it over the phone. The system will walk you through everything and give you an estimate of your benefit amount once you complete the application.

Perfect, I'll do that today. Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice!

Good luck with your claim! The process seems overwhelming at first but it's really not too bad once you get started. Most people don't have major issues if they provide accurate information upfront.

I feel much more confident about the whole process now. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to help!

just remember to certify every week even if your claim is still pending. missing a weekly claim can cause delays and complications with washington esd

Good point - I'll set a reminder to file every week no matter what.

One last tip - keep records of everything. Save all your confirmation numbers, print important pages, and document any issues. Washington ESD's system can be glitchy and having records helps if you need to prove something later.

Will do! I'll start a folder with all my unemployment paperwork.

You've got this! The benefit amount should help cover your basics while you job hunt. Just stay on top of the weekly claims and job search requirements and you should be fine.

Thanks for all the encouragement! Feeling much better about this whole situation now.

One thing to keep in mind - unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld or pay them when you file your tax return. Just something to consider when budgeting.

Whatever you do, don't lie about your wages or work history when you file. Washington ESD cross-references everything and if they catch discrepancies it can delay your claim or even result in fraud charges.

my cousin got like $800 a week but she was making way more than you. i think the max is around $999 now but most regular people get like $300-500 range

File your claim online as soon as possible. Even if you're not sure about all the details, you can always provide additional information later. The sooner you file, the sooner your claim can be processed.

Still can't believe how low unemployment benefits are in this state. $46 a week won't even cover groceries for most people. The whole system needs an overhaul.

Thanks everyone for all the info. Sounds like I should expect around $46/week based on my part-time wages. Not much but better than nothing I guess. Now I just need to focus on finding a full-time job ASAP.

One more thing - make sure you're not turning down suitable work offers or your benefits could be suspended. Washington ESD defines suitable work pretty broadly after you've been unemployed for a certain period.

The monetary determination letter you get will break down exactly how they calculated your benefit amount. Keep that letter safe because you'll need it if there are any disputes later.

For what it's worth, even though the benefit amount seems low, don't forget about potential food assistance and other programs you might qualify for while unemployed. Every bit helps stretch your budget.

Just remember that your unemployment benefits are taxable income, so you might want to have taxes withheld or set aside money for tax time. Learned that the hard way last year.

I've been on unemployment twice and both times my benefit amount was different even though I thought I had similar work history. The wage calculation can be tricky depending on which quarters they use for your base period.

The whole process is designed to be confusing so fewer people successfully claim benefits. That's why services like Claimyr exist - because Washington ESD makes it nearly impossible to get help through normal channels.