Washington ESD unemployment benefits how much can I expect to receive weekly?
I just lost my job last week and I'm trying to figure out how much I can expect from Washington ESD unemployment benefits. I was making about $52,000 a year at my previous job. Does anyone know how they calculate the weekly benefit amount? I've heard different things from people and I'm trying to budget while I look for work. Also wondering if there are any deductions or taxes taken out automatically?
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Freya Larsen
Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your highest earning quarter from the base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters). They take that quarter's earnings and divide by 26 to get your weekly benefit amount. Maximum weekly benefit for 2025 is $999 per week. You can estimate yours by looking at your highest quarterly earnings on your wage statement.
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Ravi Kapoor
•Thanks! So if my highest quarter was around $14,000, that would be about $538 per week? That seems reasonable.
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Freya Larsen
•That sounds about right. Just remember you'll need to file weekly claims and meet job search requirements to keep receiving benefits.
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GalacticGladiator
yeah the calculation is confusing but basically take your best quarter divide by 26 thats your weekly amount. mine was like $420/week when i was on unemployment last year
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Ravi Kapoor
•Did you have taxes taken out automatically or did you have to pay them later?
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GalacticGladiator
•i had them take out 10% for federal taxes, you can choose that when you file your weekly claim
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Omar Zaki
I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks to ask about my benefit calculation and it's impossible! The phone lines are always busy and when I do get through I get disconnected. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there?
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Chloe Taylor
•I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really saved me hours of calling.
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Omar Zaki
•Never heard of that before. Does it actually work or is it just another scam?
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Chloe Taylor
•It's legit. I was skeptical too but they actually got me connected to a real Washington ESD agent who answered all my questions about my benefit amount calculation.
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Diego Flores
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS BROKEN!!! I filed 6 weeks ago and still haven't received a single payment. My claim is stuck in adjudication and no one will tell me why. Meanwhile I'm about to lose my apartment because I can't pay rent. This is ridiculous!
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Freya Larsen
•Adjudication can take time especially if there are questions about your separation from work. Have you checked your SecureAccess Washington account for any pending issues?
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Diego Flores
•Yes I've checked everything a million times. No pending issues showing but still no payments. I'm going insane here.
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Chloe Taylor
•This is exactly when Claimyr helped me the most. I was stuck in adjudication limbo and they got me through to an agent who explained what was holding up my claim. Worth checking out.
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Anastasia Ivanova
Just want to add that the benefit amount also depends on your total base period wages, not just the highest quarter. You need to have earned at least $3,850 in your base period to qualify. And your total base period wages determine how many weeks of benefits you can receive.
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Ravi Kapoor
•Good point! I think I earned around $48,000 in my base period so I should be fine for the minimum.
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Anastasia Ivanova
•Yeah you're definitely above the minimum. You'll likely get the full 26 weeks of benefits if needed.
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Sean Murphy
be careful about the job search requirements too! you have to apply for 3 jobs per week and keep a log. i almost got disqualified because i wasnt keeping good records
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Ravi Kapoor
•Oh wow I didn't know about the job search log. Is there a specific format they want?
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Sean Murphy
•yeah they want company name, position, date applied, how you applied. keep everything detailed or they'll come after you
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StarStrider
I remember when I first calculated my benefits I was so confused by all the quarters and base periods. But once you understand it's pretty straightforward. The key is looking at your wage statement from Washington ESD to see your quarterly earnings.
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Ravi Kapoor
•Where do I find my wage statement? Is that something they mail automatically?
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StarStrider
•You can access it through your SecureAccess Washington account online. It shows all your reported wages by quarter.
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Zara Malik
One thing to remember is that if you work part-time while collecting benefits, they'll reduce your weekly benefit amount. It's not dollar for dollar though - there's a formula they use.
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Ravi Kapoor
•That's good to know. I might pick up some freelance work while job hunting.
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Zara Malik
•Just make sure to report any earnings when you file your weekly claim. Being honest about part-time work is crucial.
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Luca Marino
does anyone know if the maximum benefit amount changed for 2025? i thought it was lower last year
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Freya Larsen
•Yes it increased. The maximum weekly benefit amount is tied to the state average weekly wage, so it goes up most years.
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Luca Marino
•thats good news at least something is going up with inflation
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Nia Davis
I'm still waiting for my determination letter to see my exact benefit amount. Filed 2 weeks ago and nothing yet. Is this normal?
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Freya Larsen
•Yes, it can take 2-3 weeks to get your determination letter after filing your initial claim. Be patient but keep filing your weekly claims.
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Nia Davis
•Okay thanks. I was worried something was wrong with my application.
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Mateo Perez
Pro tip: set up direct deposit for your benefits! Getting paper checks takes forever and they can get lost in the mail. I learned this the hard way.
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Ravi Kapoor
•Good advice! I'll make sure to set that up when I file my claim.
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Mateo Perez
•Yeah do it right away. The electronic payments are so much faster and more reliable.
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Aisha Rahman
washington esd is so slow with everything. took them 3 weeks just to process my initial claim and another week for the determination letter. but once you get approved the payments come pretty regularly
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Ravi Kapoor
•That's reassuring to hear. I'm prepared to wait but good to know it speeds up eventually.
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Aisha Rahman
•yeah just be patient with the initial stuff. once its rolling its not too bad
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CosmicCrusader
Remember that unemployment benefits are taxable income! I made the mistake of not having taxes withheld and owed a bunch at tax time. You can choose to have 10% federal tax withheld when you file your weekly claims.
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Ravi Kapoor
•Thanks for the warning! I'll definitely opt for the tax withholding to avoid a surprise bill later.
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CosmicCrusader
•Smart move. Better to have it taken out gradually than get hit with a big tax bill in April.
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Ethan Brown
if you have questions about your benefit calculation that you cant find answers to online, seriously try that claimyr thing someone mentioned. i was skeptical but it actually worked and saved me hours of trying to call washington esd
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Ravi Kapoor
•Multiple people have mentioned it now so it must be worth looking into. Thanks for the recommendation!
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Ethan Brown
•yeah its not free but honestly worth it when you need real answers about your claim
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Yuki Yamamoto
Don't forget about the waiting week! Your first week of unemployment is a waiting week and you won't get paid for it, even though you have to file the weekly claim.
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Ravi Kapoor
•Wait what? So I don't get paid for the first week even if I'm eligible?
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Yuki Yamamoto
•Correct, it's called a waiting week. You still have to file the weekly claim but you won't receive payment for that first week.
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Carmen Ortiz
the whole calculation thing gave me such a headache when i first applied. but honestly once you get your determination letter it spells everything out pretty clearly
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Ravi Kapoor
•Looking forward to getting mine then. All this estimating is making me nervous.
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Carmen Ortiz
•yeah dont stress too much about estimating. the official letter will have all the exact numbers
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Andre Rousseau
Make sure you understand the difference between your weekly benefit amount and your maximum benefit amount. The weekly is what you get each week, the maximum is the total you can receive over all your weeks of eligibility.
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Ravi Kapoor
•Good distinction! So if I get $538 per week for 26 weeks, my maximum would be around $14,000 total?
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Andre Rousseau
•Exactly! That's how it works. Your maximum benefit amount is your weekly benefit times the number of weeks you're eligible for.
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Zoe Papadakis
been on unemployment twice and the benefit calculation has always been fair in my experience. washington esd may be slow but they generally get the math right
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Ravi Kapoor
•That's reassuring to hear from someone with experience. Thanks for sharing!
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Zoe Papadakis
•no problem. the system has its problems but the benefit amounts are usually calculated correctly
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Jamal Carter
Just remember to keep filing your weekly claims even if you haven't received your determination letter yet. You can backfile but it's easier to just stay current from the beginning.
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Ravi Kapoor
•Good advice! I'll start filing weekly claims right away even while waiting for the determination.
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Jamal Carter
•Yes definitely do that. It keeps everything on track and you won't miss any potential payments.
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