Washington ESD unemployment benefit amount 2024 - how much can I expect?

Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount using your highest earning quarter from your base period. For 2024, the maximum weekly benefit is $999 and minimum is $295. They take your highest quarter wages, divide by 26, then multiply by 0.0385 to get your weekly amount.

The maximum weekly benefit amount in Washington for 2024 is $999. Your actual amount depends on your earnings during your base period, which is typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. Washington ESD calculates it as roughly 3.85% of your total base period wages, divided by 52 weeks.

I just went through this process last month. The weekly benefit calculator on Washington ESD's website is pretty accurate. You enter your quarterly wages and it gives you an estimate. For someone making $65k, you'll likely get somewhere between $800-950 per week depending on your exact base period earnings.

I just went through this process last month. Made about $48K annually and my weekly benefit came out to $647. The Washington ESD website has a benefit calculator but it's not always accurate.

Wait I'm confused - I thought the max was like $700 something? When did it go up to almost $1000??

Just remember you can only collect for 26 weeks maximum in Washington, and you have to meet all the job search requirements. You need to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep detailed records in your job search log.

The benefit amount is nice but getting approved is the real challenge. My claim has been in adjudication for 6 weeks now and I can't get anyone at Washington ESD to tell me what's going on. The automated system just says 'adjudication in progress' with no timeline.

The 2024 rates are definitely higher than last year. I think the max went up to $999 from like $950 or something. But honestly, trying to calculate it yourself is confusing because they use some weird base period calculation.

also dont forget about the waiting week - you have to serve one week where you file but dont get paid before benefits start

I make less than you but still got $743 per week when I was on unemployment last year. The formula is pretty generous in Washington compared to other states. Just make sure you file your weekly claims on time every week or you'll lose those weeks permanently.

One thing to consider - if you're thinking about filing because you might lose your job, start documenting everything now. Washington ESD will want to know the circumstances of your separation, and having documentation can speed up the process.

Washington ESD is actually pretty decent with benefit amounts. The real pain is dealing with their phone system and getting help when you need it. I've been calling for 3 days straight about an overpayment notice and keep getting hung up on.

If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD to ask about benefit amounts, I found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to a real person. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ and the website is claimyr.com. Might be worth checking out if you need to speak with someone directly about your specific situation.

For anyone reading this thread - the key thing about Washington unemployment is that your benefit amount is based on your highest earning quarter in your base period, not your most recent earnings. So if you had a really good quarter earlier in the year, that could help your weekly benefit amount.

Here's the actual formula for 2024: Your weekly benefit amount is calculated by taking your two highest quarters of earnings in your base period, adding them together, dividing by 52, then multiplying by 0.0385. The result is your weekly benefit amount, subject to the minimum of $295 and maximum of $999.

Just want to add that you can check your quarterly wage history on your Washington ESD account before filing to see exactly what wages they have on record. Sometimes employers don't report correctly and it's better to catch that early.

honestly i gave up trying to calculate mine ahead of time. just filed and waited to see what they gave me. came out to about 60% of what i was making weekly which seemed reasonable

The $999 max is nice but remember most people don't qualify for the full amount. Your benefit is capped at 63% of your average weekly wage during your base period, so even high earners might not hit the maximum.

Washington also has some of the better extended benefit programs if you exhaust your regular 26 weeks, depending on the state's unemployment rate. Worth knowing about if you end up in a long job search.

Bottom line - Washington ESD has decent benefit amounts but the system can be frustrating to navigate. Having realistic expectations about both the money and the process will help. Good luck if you end up needing to file!

The Washington ESD benefit amounts also depend on if you have any dependents. You can get additional money for dependent children - I think it's like $25 per child per week but don't quote me on that.

Be careful about the tax implications too. Washington doesn't tax unemployment benefits but federal taxes still apply. You can choose to have taxes withheld or pay them later.

WASHINGTON ESD SUCKS AT EXPLAINING THEIR BENEFIT CALCULATIONS! I've been trying to figure this out for weeks and their website is useless. The phone lines are always busy and when you do get through they give you different answers every time.

For what it's worth, I used Claimyr twice now and both times got through to Washington ESD within a few hours. First time was to check on my claim status, second time was to ask about my benefit calculation. Way better than trying to call myself.

The benefit amounts for 2024 are definitely higher than 2023. I remember when the max was only like $790 a few years ago. At least they're keeping up with inflation somewhat.

Just to add another data point - I made $55K last year and my weekly benefit is $671. That's with no dependents and standard deductions. Hope that helps with your estimate.

One thing to keep in mind is that your benefit amount is locked in when you file your initial claim. Even if the rates change later in 2024, you'll keep getting the same weekly amount for the duration of your claim year.

I tried using that Claimyr service someone mentioned and it actually worked great. Got connected to Washington ESD in about 2 hours and was able to get my exact benefit calculation explained. Worth it if you're having trouble getting through on your own.

Bottom line - if you made $52K annually you're probably looking at somewhere between $600-700 weekly benefit. The exact amount depends on how your wages were distributed but that's a reasonable estimate based on the 2024 rates.