Maximum ESD weekly benefit amount in 2025? Need to budget for layoff

The maximum weekly benefit amount (WBA) for Washington state ESD in 2025 is $1,030 per week before taxes. It's calculated as 63% of your average weekly wage during your base year, up to that maximum. Your base year is the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. With your income level, you'd likely qualify for the maximum or close to it. Regular UI benefits last up to 26 weeks, though extensions are occasionally available during high unemployment periods (none currently active). Make sure to have pay stubs or W2s ready when you file. Also remember that unemployment is taxable income, so consider having taxes withheld upfront to avoid surprises later.

I got laid off last yr and the max was like $960 or something. The calculatin depends on how much u made in ur best quarters. they look at like a year and a half of work history i think?? but yeah if u make decent $ ull prob get the max

JUST A WARNING - even if you qualify for the max, ESD takes FOREVER to process claims!!! I applied in January and didn't see a penny for 6 WEEKS because they put me in "adjudication" for no reason. Called hundreds of times and couldn't get through. The system is BROKEN!!! Good luck actually getting your money when you need it.

double check wether u qualify for standby status with ur layoff!!! its a thing where u dont have to do job searches for like 8 weeks if ur employer is bringing u back. i didnt know about it and wasted time doing all those stupid work search activities when i couldve been on standby

dont forget to apply for SNAP benefits too if ur gonna be on unemployment, the income limits are higher than most people think and it helps with groceries

Regarding your severance question - it depends on how your employer reports it. If they report it as a lump sum payment for your past work, it typically won't affect your unemployment eligibility. But if they report it as continuation of wages over several weeks, ESD may consider you still employed during that period. The best practice is to apply immediately after your last working day and report any severance honestly on your application. ESD will determine how it affects your claim. Waiting to apply could cause you to lose benefits since claims aren't backdated unless there's a very good reason for the delay. Also, yes, there is a waiting week in Washington. The first week you're eligible is unpaid but you still need to file a weekly claim for it.

Hey, I just went through this in January. Here's what I learned: the max benefit amount can be misleading because it doesn't account for deductions. I qualified for the maximum but after federal taxes (had them withhold 10%) and healthcare continuation payments, my actual deposit was about 22% less than the gross amount. Also, be prepared for the MyClaims website to crash constantly. I found that logging in very early morning (like 6am) or late evening after 8pm was much more reliable than during business hours. One more tip - even though you have to do 3 job search activities per week, only one needs to be an actual job application. The others can be things like updating your resume, attending a WorkSource workshop, or networking activities. Document everything carefully though!