Washington ESD unemployment benefit amounts - how much does unemployment pay in 2025?

Thanks! So they don't just take a percentage of my current salary? It's based on actual quarters from the past?

Exactly. They look at the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file. So timing matters when you apply.

Yeah I got denied initially because I hadn't worked long enough. Had to wait and reapply later when I had more work history.

Good to know about the minimum. I've been at my current job for 2 years so hopefully my base period looks decent.

I didn't know I could see that info ahead of time. Is the calculation straightforward once I have those quarterly numbers?

Pretty much. Take your highest quarter, multiply by 0.0385, and that's roughly your weekly amount. But Washington ESD will do the official calculation when you file.

Just remember you have to be able and available for work and actively job searching to keep getting benefits. The money isn't automatic.

How much did that cost? I've been trying to call for days about my claim.

It was worth it to finally get answers. Way better than spending hours on hold getting nowhere. The agent walked me through exactly how they calculated my benefit amount.

Never heard of that service but might be worth trying. I gave up calling Washington ESD after getting disconnected 5 times in one day.

Good point about taxes. So the weekly amount they give you is before any tax withholding?

Exactly. If you don't have taxes withheld, you'll owe at tax time. I learned that the hard way my first year on unemployment.

That's encouraging. Were those amounts after taxes or before?

before taxes. I had them withhold the 10% federal so my actual deposits were less but saved me hassle at tax time

This is super important. A lot of people don't realize the benefit year vs. weeks payable distinction.

So if I exhaust my 26 weeks, I can't file a new claim until my benefit year ends? Even if I worked more in the meantime?

Right, you'd have to wait for a new benefit year to start, unless you qualify for extended benefits during high unemployment periods.

Same here. The online calculator tools don't really help much either.

The key is understanding it's not based on your most recent pay but on your earnings history over specific quarters. That trips up a lot of people.

That's good to know. Is there a limit to how much you can earn before they cut off benefits completely?

It's complicated but generally if you earn more than 1.5 times your weekly benefit amount, you won't get any unemployment that week. Less than that and they'll pay you partial benefits.

Just make sure you report ALL earnings or you could face an overpayment penalty later. Washington ESD gets wage reports from employers.

Really? I might have to try that. Been waiting for a callback from Washington ESD for over a week now.

Yeah, way faster than trying to call directly. The agent even helped me understand why my weekly amount was what it was.

Yes, bonuses count as wages for that quarter. Anything your employer reported as wages on your W-2 gets included in the calculation.

Sweet! That should help my numbers then. Thanks for the info.

They adjust the maximum benefit amount annually based on the state's average weekly wage. It goes up most years but not by huge amounts.

Makes sense. Inflation and all that.

Same here. Those last few weeks were stressful knowing the benefits were running out.

Is there any way to extend benefits beyond 26 weeks if you're still looking for work?

Only during periods of high unemployment when federal extended benefits kick in. Otherwise, you'd need to wait for a new benefit year and requalify.

This is huge. I waited like 3 weeks to file thinking I'd find something quickly and basically lost out on those weeks of benefits.

Good to know. I'm not unemployed yet but want to understand the process in case it happens.

Yeah they're pretty strict about that. Miss documenting your job search and they can deny benefits for that week.

What counts as a job search activity? Just applying for jobs or other stuff too?

Applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, career counseling, online job search. Has to be stuff that could actually lead to employment.

I'm convinced at this point. Regular calling is hopeless.

Yeah, saved me so much frustration. The agents they connect you with are the same ones you'd eventually reach calling directly, just faster.

That's reassuring. Hopefully I never need to use it but good to know it's there.

Definitely better than some states where the max is like $400/week. Washington takes care of its unemployed workers relatively well.

So true. The ongoing requirements are just as important as the initial application.

Thanks everyone for all the detailed info. This thread answered way more questions than I expected!

Good luck with whatever situation you're dealing with. The system can be confusing but the benefits really do help when you need them.