How to determine unemployment benefits amount in Washington - confused about calculation

Washington ESD uses your highest earning quarter from your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 quarters before you filed). They take that amount and divide by 26 to get your weekly benefit. There's also a minimum and maximum - I think the max is around $999 per week for 2025.

I had a similar situation with multiple jobs. The tricky part is making sure all your employers reported your wages correctly to Washington ESD. Sometimes smaller employers or delivery apps don't report properly.

honestly the phone system is terrible for getting accurate info. I spent hours trying to get through to someone at Washington ESD and kept getting disconnected. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to a real person within like 20 minutes. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Totally worth it when you need actual answers about your specific situation.

The benefit amount depends on your base period wages. Washington ESD looks at the first 4 quarters of the last 5 completed quarters before your claim. Your weekly benefit is your highest quarter divided by 26, but it can't exceed the state maximum. For 2025 the max weekly benefit is $999.

Make sure you're looking at gross wages, not net. Washington ESD uses your gross earnings before taxes and deductions for the calculation.

ugh the washington esd system is so confusing!! I filed 3 weeks ago and still haven't gotten my determination letter. How long is this supposed to take???

Been through this process twice now. One thing that tripped me up - if you worked in multiple states you might have wages in other state systems that Washington ESD can't see automatically. You'd have to file an interstate claim.

The online calculator is usually pretty accurate if you enter everything correctly. Did you include all your quarterly wages from both jobs?

Wait, so gig work doesn't count at all? That's like half my income!

I used Claimyr too when I couldn't get through to Washington ESD about my benefit calculation. The agent was able to explain exactly which quarters they used and why my amount was what it was. Super helpful.

Another thing to check - make sure your Social Security number is correct on your claim. If there's a mismatch, your wage records won't pull up properly.

been waiting 4 weeks for my determination and getting desperate. rent is due and I have no idea what my benefits will be or when they'll start

For anyone still confused about the calculation: Washington ESD takes your total wages from your highest earning quarter in your base period, divides by 26, and that's your weekly benefit amount (subject to minimum/maximum limits). Base period is typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters.

Don't forget you also have to meet the minimum earnings requirement. I think you need at least $1,320 in your highest quarter to qualify.

The determination letter will show you exactly how they calculated your benefit amount, including which quarters they used and what wages were counted. Just be patient - it's coming.

One more tip - if you think your benefit amount is wrong when you get your determination, you can appeal it. You have 30 days from the date of the notice.

this whole thread has been really helpful! I was just as confused about the calculation

Washington ESD really needs to make their website clearer about this stuff. The calculator is buried and the explanation is written in government speak.

For what it's worth, I got my determination letter exactly 2 weeks after filing. Hang in there OP!

Just to follow up on the Claimyr thing - I've used it twice now when I needed to talk to Washington ESD about benefit issues. Both times got connected within 30 minutes vs hours of trying on my own. Worth checking out if you're stuck.

Thanks everyone for breaking down the calculation formula! I was also confused about this when I first applied. One thing that helped me was keeping all my pay stubs organized by quarter so I could double-check the wage amounts against what Washington ESD had on file. Also, if you're still waiting for your determination letter, you can check your claim status online in eServices - sometimes there's useful info there even before you get the official letter in the mail. The waiting is definitely frustrating but at least now you have a good idea of what to expect based on your highest quarter earnings.

I've been through this exact same confusion! One thing that really helped me understand my benefit calculation was realizing that Washington ESD only looks at W2 wages, not 1099 income. So if a significant portion of your delivery work was as an independent contractor, that could explain why the numbers don't match up. Also, double-check that you're using gross wages (before taxes) when doing your own calculations. When I finally got my determination letter, it showed exactly which quarters they used and broke down all the wage sources. The formula itself is pretty straightforward once you have the right numbers: highest quarter ÷ 26 = weekly benefit (capped at the state maximum). Hang in there - the waiting is the worst part but the letter should arrive soon!

I went through something very similar when I filed last year! Having multiple income sources definitely makes the calculation more confusing. One thing that really helped me was calling the Washington ESD customer service line early in the morning (like right when they open at 8am) - I had much better luck getting through then versus later in the day. The agent was able to walk me through exactly which wages counted and explained that they use a "base period" which might not include your most recent work. In your case with $28K total earnings, if most of that was from your W2 retail job, you should be in decent shape. The 1099 delivery income won't count toward your regular UI benefits, but your retail wages should give you a solid weekly amount. Keep checking your eServices account too - sometimes the benefit determination shows up there before the physical letter arrives. The whole process is nerve-wracking but hang in there!