How much will I get paid on unemployment - Washington ESD benefit calculation help?
I just applied for unemployment with Washington ESD and I'm trying to figure out how much my weekly benefit amount will be. I was making $52,000 a year at my last job before I got laid off. I've been working there for about 2 years. Does anyone know how Washington calculates the weekly benefit amount? I'm seeing different numbers online and getting confused about the base period and all that. Really need to know what to expect so I can budget properly.
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Chloe Robinson
Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your earnings during your base period, which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you filed. Your weekly benefit will be roughly 3.85% of your average quarterly earnings during your base period, up to a maximum of $999 per week in 2025. With your salary of $52k, you'd probably get around $500-600 per week depending on how long you worked at that wage.
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Omar Hassan
•That's really helpful! So it's based on quarters, not just my most recent pay? I started this job in early 2023 so I should have good earnings history.
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Diego Chavez
•yeah the base period thing confused me too when i first filed. they look at your highest earning quarter and use that to calculate everything
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NeonNebula
I make about the same as you and I get $587 per week from Washington ESD. But it took FOREVER to get my first payment because my claim got stuck in adjudication for like 6 weeks. The payment calculation was pretty accurate though once it finally got approved.
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Omar Hassan
•6 weeks in adjudication?? That's terrifying. Did they tell you why it took so long?
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NeonNebula
•Never got a clear answer honestly. Just kept saying they were reviewing my claim. The whole system is so slow and hard to get anyone on the phone.
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Anastasia Kozlov
•If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me through to an agent in like 20 minutes. They have this demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting hung up on.
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Sean Kelly
The maximum weekly benefit amount in Washington for 2025 is $999, but most people don't get that much. You need to have been making around $65,000+ annually to hit the maximum. Your benefit calculation will also depend on whether you have any dependents to claim - you can get additional money for dependent children.
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Omar Hassan
•I don't have any kids so no dependents. Good to know about the maximum though, helps me set realistic expectations.
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Zara Mirza
•wait you can get extra money for kids?? i have 2 kids and nobody told me this when i filed my claim last month
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Sean Kelly
•Yes! You can get up to $25 per week for each dependent child under 18. You need to report them when you file or call Washington ESD to add them to your existing claim.
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Luca Russo
Just be prepared that even once you know your benefit amount, it can take weeks to actually see any money. I've been waiting 3 weeks since my claim was approved and still haven't gotten my first payment. The system is completely broken.
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Omar Hassan
•That's really scary. Are you still filing your weekly claims while waiting for payment?
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Luca Russo
•Yeah I'm still filing every week like they tell you to. Just feels pointless when nothing comes through.
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Nia Harris
•Keep filing! I had the same issue and when my payments finally started they backdated everything. You'll get all the weeks you filed for.
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Diego Chavez
i think washington uses some formula where they take your highest earning quarter and divide by 26 or something like that. dont quote me on the exact math but thats the gist of it
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Chloe Robinson
•Close! It's actually your average quarterly earnings times 3.85%, with a minimum of $295 and maximum of $999 per week. The calculation is more complex than just dividing by 26.
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Diego Chavez
•ok yeah that sounds right. i just know my check is way less than what i was making lol
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GalaxyGazer
Whatever amount they calculate for you, remember you'll need to pay taxes on unemployment benefits. They don't automatically withhold federal taxes unless you request it, so plan accordingly or you'll get hit at tax time.
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Omar Hassan
•Oh wow I didn't even think about taxes. Can I have them withhold taxes when I set up my claim?
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GalaxyGazer
•Yes, you can request 10% federal tax withholding when you file your weekly claims. Washington state doesn't have income tax so no state withholding needed.
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Mateo Sanchez
•definitely do the tax withholding if you can afford to. learned that lesson the hard way last year when i owed like $3000 at tax time
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Aisha Mahmood
The Washington ESD website has a benefit calculator but it's not always accurate. I used it and it said I'd get $420 per week but I actually get $380. Close enough I guess but still annoying when you're trying to budget.
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Omar Hassan
•I saw that calculator but wasn't sure how reliable it was. Good to know it's at least in the ballpark.
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Ethan Moore
•The calculator is just an estimate. Your actual benefit depends on your specific work history and how Washington ESD interprets your base period earnings.
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Yuki Kobayashi
If you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD about your benefit calculation, good luck getting through on the phone. I tried calling for 2 weeks straight and never got through. Finally used this thing called Claimyr that my brother recommended and got connected to an agent the same day. They have a website at claimyr.com if you want to check it out.
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Omar Hassan
•How does that work? Do they just help you get through faster somehow?
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Yuki Kobayashi
•Yeah basically they handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when an agent picks up. Saved me so much time and frustration.
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Carmen Vega
•I was skeptical about using a third party service but honestly after spending hours getting nowhere with Washington ESD phone lines, Claimyr was a lifesaver. Got my benefit questions answered in one call.
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QuantumQuester
Your benefit amount also depends on if you qualify for the maximum 26 weeks or less. If you haven't worked long enough or didn't earn enough, you might only qualify for partial benefits or fewer weeks total.
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Omar Hassan
•I've been working full time for over 2 years so I should qualify for the full 26 weeks, right?
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QuantumQuester
•Probably, but Washington ESD looks at your total base period earnings to determine duration. With 2 years of steady work at $52k you should be fine for the full 26 weeks.
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Andre Moreau
Don't forget you'll need to do job searches every week to keep getting benefits. Washington requires 3 job search activities per week and you have to log them in WorkSourceWA. The benefit amount doesn't matter if you can't meet the work search requirements.
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Omar Hassan
•Right, I signed up for WorkSourceWA already. The 3 job searches per week seems manageable.
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Zoe Stavros
•Make sure you understand what counts as a valid job search activity. Just browsing job websites doesn't count - you need to actually apply or make contact with employers.
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Jamal Harris
•The work search log is super important. I know someone who got disqualified for not keeping proper records even though they were actively looking for work.
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Mei Chen
Bottom line - with your $52k salary you're probably looking at $500-600 per week in unemployment benefits. Just be patient with the system because everything takes forever to process, even when there are no issues with your claim.
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Omar Hassan
•Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! This gives me a much better idea of what to expect.
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Liam Sullivan
•Yeah this thread was really helpful. I'm in a similar situation and was totally confused about how the calculations work.
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Anastasia Kozlov
•If anyone needs to contact Washington ESD about their benefits and can't get through on the phone, definitely check out Claimyr. The video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ explains exactly how it works and it's been a game changer for actually reaching agents.
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