If I file for unemployment in Washington how much will I get weekly?

Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount (WBA) based on your wages from the highest quarter in your base period. Generally it's about 3.85% of your highest quarter wages, but there's a maximum weekly amount that changes each year. For 2025 I think the max is around $999 per week.

The formula is pretty straightforward - they take your total wages from your highest earning quarter in the base period and multiply by 0.0385. So if you made $13,000 in your best quarter, your WBA would be around $500. You can actually estimate this yourself if you have your pay stubs.

I was in a similar situation last year and had to call Washington ESD multiple times to understand my benefit calculation. The phone lines are absolutely horrible - I spent hours on hold just to get basic information. If you're having trouble reaching them, I discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me through to an agent in like 10 minutes. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

DONT COUNT ON GETTING THE MAXIMUM!!! I made $60k and only got like $380 a week because my wages were spread out weird. The Washington ESD system is designed to screw people over.

You should also know that Washington has a one-week waiting period before you start receiving benefits. So even if you're approved immediately, you won't get paid for your first week. Plan accordingly.

also you gotta do the job search requirements every week or they'll cut you off. its like 3 job contacts per week minimum and you have to keep records

I'm so confused by all this base period stuff. What if I just started a new job 6 months ago? Do they look at my old job from 2 years ago?

Been through this whole process twice now and honestly the hardest part isn't figuring out your benefit amount - it's actually getting your claim processed without issues. Mine got stuck in adjudication for weeks both times.

Just want to mention that if you're thinking about filing, don't wait! You can't backdate your claim in Washington, so every week you wait is money you lose.

The other thing nobody tells you is that your benefit year lasts 52 weeks from when you file, but you only get 26 weeks of benefits unless there's extended benefits available. So plan accordingly.

honestly just file online and see what happens. the washington esd website will estimate your benefits when you apply. easier than trying to calculate it yourself

One more tip - if your calculated benefit seems too low, double-check that Washington ESD has all your wage information. Sometimes employers don't report correctly and you have to provide pay stubs to get it corrected.

Does anyone know if bonuses count toward the benefit calculation? I got a decent bonus last year in my highest quarter.

Just filed last month and my experience was pretty smooth actually. Got approved in about 10 days and my first payment 3 days after that. The benefit calculator on their site was pretty accurate too.

If you get stuck trying to reach Washington ESD for questions about your benefit amount, I had good luck with that Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier. Used it when my claim showed weird wage info and needed to talk to someone. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.

Remember you can also do a partial claim if you're working reduced hours instead of being completely unemployed. The benefit calculation is different but might be worth looking into.

The maximum benefit amount changes every year based on the state's average wage. For 2025 I think it's $999 but double-check the Washington ESD website for current numbers.

Pro tip: when you file, have your Social Security number, employment history for the last 18 months, and bank info ready. Makes the process go much faster.

One last thing - make sure you understand the difference between your weekly benefit amount and your maximum benefit amount. Your weekly amount is what you get each week, but your maximum is the total you can receive over the entire benefit year.

Good luck with your claim! The whole process can be stressful but once you get through the initial filing it's pretty routine. Just don't forget to file your weekly claims on time or you'll lose benefits.