If I get laid off how much unemployment will I get from Washington ESD?

Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your earnings from the last 4 quarters. It's roughly 50% of your average weekly wage, but there's a maximum cap. For 2025, the max weekly benefit is around $1015. With your salary, you'd probably get somewhere between $600-800 per week, but the exact amount depends on your quarterly earnings history.

The formula is kind of complicated but basically they take your highest earning quarter from your base period and divide by 26. Then there's some additional calculations. Your best bet is to use the benefit calculator on the Washington ESD website to get an estimate.

One thing to keep in mind is you have to be able and available to work and actively seeking employment. You'll need to file weekly claims and document your job search activities. Most people need to apply to at least 3 jobs per week.

Just went through this myself last year. The hardest part isn't figuring out your benefit amount, it's actually getting through to Washington ESD when you have questions or problems. Their phone lines are constantly busy and the hold times are insane. I spent weeks trying to reach someone when my claim got stuck in adjudication.

Don't forget about the waiting week! You won't get paid for your first week of unemployment even if you file right away. So plan for that gap in income.

File your claim as soon as possible after you're laid off. Don't wait thinking you might find a job quickly. The process takes time and you can't get benefits retroactively for weeks you didn't file.

i filed 2 months ago and still havent gotten anything. claim is stuck in adjudication and no one will tell me why. this system is broken

Also remember that unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld or pay them when you file your return, but don't forget about that aspect.

If you're lucky enough to get severance pay, that might affect when you can start collecting unemployment. Washington ESD considers severance as wages, so there might be a delay.

Make sure you understand the difference between being laid off vs fired for cause. Being laid off due to lack of work makes you eligible, but if you're terminated for misconduct, you might be disqualified.

I went through this exact situation 6 months ago. Filed my claim online which was pretty straightforward, but then had to wait forever for my first payment because of some verification issue. When i finally got someone on the phone at Washington ESD, it was resolved in 5 minutes - the delay was completely unnecessary.

Don't expect to live comfortably on unemployment benefits. Even at the maximum amount, it's usually way less than what you're used to making. Start cutting expenses now if you think a layoff is coming.

The online system for filing weekly claims isn't too bad once you get used to it. Just make sure to file every week even if you haven't heard anything about your claim status yet.

Whatever you do, be completely honest on your application and weekly claims. If they find out you misrepresented anything, you could face penalties and have to pay back benefits.

also look into other resources while you're unemployed. workforce development programs, food assistance, etc. every bit helps when you're between jobs

The amount you get also depends on whether you have any part-time work while collecting. If you work part-time, your weekly benefit gets reduced but you might still get something.

I've been through the unemployment process twice now and the key thing is to stay organized. Keep records of everything - your application, weekly claims, job search activities, any correspondence with Washington ESD. You never know when you might need to reference something.

One last thing - if you think the layoff might be temporary (like a seasonal shutdown), ask about standby status. It's different from regular unemployment and might be easier if your employer expects to call you back.

Thanks everyone for all this helpful information! This is way more detailed than anything I could find on the Washington ESD website. Sounds like I should expect around $600-800/week based on my salary, but I'll use that benefit calculator someone mentioned to get a better estimate. The waiting week and potential delays are definitely concerning - I'm going to start building up some extra savings now just in case. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences, especially about the challenges with getting through to Washington ESD if issues come up. Hopefully I won't need any of this advice, but at least now I know what to expect if the worst happens.