Washington ESD unemployment benefit rates - how much is unemployment benefit in 2025?

Thanks! So if I made around $11,440 in my highest quarter ($22/hr x 40hrs x 13 weeks), that would be about $440 per week?

Yes, that sounds about right! $11,440 x 0.0385 = $440.44, so you'd likely get $440 weekly before taxes.

This is so confusing. I thought they just looked at your last job's pay rate. So they actually look back over a year?

Right, they need to see your full earnings history to determine both if you qualify and how much you get. It's not just based on your most recent job.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr.com - they help you get through to Washington ESD agents. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. It saved me hours of calling and getting disconnected.

Really? How does that work? I'm desperate at this point, I've been calling for three weeks straight.

They basically handle the calling for you and connect you when an agent becomes available. No more sitting on hold for hours or getting hung up on.

I don't have any dependents, but good to know for others reading this!

Wait, I have two kids and never knew about this extra money. Do I need to provide proof when I file?

Yes, you'll need birth certificates or other documentation. You can add dependents to an existing claim too if you forgot initially.

Good point, I hadn't thought about taxes. Better to have them withhold it upfront.

I learned this the hard way last year - owed $1,200 in taxes because I didn't have anything withheld from my UI benefits.

Washington ESD doesn't have an official calculator, but the basic formula is: (Highest quarter wages ÷ 26) × 0.50 = weekly benefit amount, up to the maximum of $999.

Thanks, that's much simpler than the percentage calculation!

Actually, that formula isn't quite right. The official calculation is more complex and uses different percentages based on your wage level.

That's great! How long did it take to get connected through Claimyr?

About 45 minutes, which is way better than the hours I spent trying to call directly. Totally worth it for getting real answers.

So if my weekly benefit is $400, I can earn $400 from part-time work and still get my full UI check?

Not exactly - there's a disregard amount and then graduated reductions. It's worth calling Washington ESD to understand the exact formula for your situation.

The working while on UI rules are really confusing. I always report my part-time earnings just to be safe.

What counts as a valid job search contact? Just applying online or do you need to do more?

Applying for jobs, networking events, career fairs, informational interviews - there's a list on the Washington ESD website of what qualifies.

Wow, $847 is close to the maximum! You must have had high wages in your base period.

Yeah, I was making $85k annually as a project manager before I got laid off. The maximum really helps when you have higher living expenses.

That's a good reminder about filing weekly claims on time. I almost forgot one week and panicked thinking I'd lose benefits.

So there's both a weekly limit and a total limit? This is getting complicated.

Exactly. If you made $20,000 in your base period, that's your maximum total benefit even if 26 x weekly benefit would be higher.

Yes, if you don't have enough wages in the standard base period, Washington ESD can use the alternate base period which includes more recent earnings. It's automatic if you don't qualify the regular way.

Good to know, thanks! I was worried because I just started working again after being out of the workforce for a while.

$295 is still better than nothing though! Every bit helps when you're unemployed.

Absolutely! I'm grateful for any help, and it covers my basic expenses while I look for full-time work.

How long did the appeal process take? And did you need to provide additional documentation?

It took about 6 weeks total and yes, I had to provide pay stubs and tax forms to prove the missing wages. Worth the effort for the extra money.

This is really helpful to know. I think my calculation might be wrong too because it seems low compared to what I was making.

Good to hear another positive experience with that service. Seems like a lot of people have trouble getting through to Washington ESD directly.

Yeah, Claimyr definitely saved me a lot of frustration. The Washington ESD phone system is just overwhelmed most of the time.

I've only worked in Washington so that shouldn't be an issue for me, but good point for others!

I worked in Oregon for part of last year but most of my wages were in Washington. Do I still file with Washington ESD?

Probably, but you should check with Washington ESD since they can combine wages from different states in some cases.

I agree, it's pretty overwhelming at first. But at least there are helpful people on forums like this to explain things!

The Washington ESD website has gotten better over the years but it's still not the most user-friendly for first-time filers.

Thanks for all the advice everyone! I'm going to file my claim this weekend. Sounds like I should expect around $440/week based on my wages.

That sounds about right! Good luck with your claim and job search. Don't forget to file your weekly claims on time once you're approved.

Will do! This thread has been super helpful for understanding how the whole process works.