Washington ESD unemployment weekly benefit amount - how much is unemployment in 2025?

So if my highest quarter was around $11,500, that would be about $442 per week? That's actually better than I expected.

Yes, that sounds about right. Just remember you also have to meet the minimum earnings requirements in your base period to qualify.

The maximum did increase for 2025. It's now $999 per week, which is tied to the state average weekly wage.

thanks for clarifying that! good to know it went up

I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com. They actually get you through to Washington ESD agents without the crazy hold times. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustration trying to get my benefit amount questions answered.

You could also try calling right when they open at 8am. Sometimes that works better than calling later in the day.

I agree it's confusing, but the information is on your determination letter when you get approved. It breaks down your base period wages and shows exactly how they calculated your weekly benefit amount.

Yeah but by then you've already filed and waited weeks. Would be nice to know beforehand what to expect.

Good point, I didn't think about taxes. Is it 10% they withhold if you choose that option?

Yes, they withhold 10% for federal taxes if you elect that option when filing your weekly claims.

The minimum weekly benefit amount in Washington is $295 per week as of 2025. But you still have to meet the minimum earnings requirements to qualify at all - you need at least $3,000 in your base period and earnings in at least two quarters.

Thanks! That's helpful to know there's a minimum floor.

Correct, there's a cap. Unemployment is designed to be temporary assistance, not full wage replacement. The maximum is tied to the state's average weekly wage and gets adjusted annually.

makes sense i guess, just seems low for high earners

Yes, overtime is included in your base period wages since it's part of your reported earnings to Washington ESD. Any wages your employer reported should count toward your benefit calculation.

Awesome, that should help my weekly amount then since I had quite a bit of OT in my highest quarter.

Three weeks does seem long. Mine took about 10 days. You might want to check if your claim is in adjudication - that can delay the determination letter significantly.

I had a similar delay and used Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD to check on my claim status. They were able to tell me it was held up because they needed additional employment verification. Worth calling to find out what's causing the delay.

I didn't know there was a calculator on their website! That would have saved me from posting this question. I'll check it out.

It's under the 'Before You Apply' section. Super helpful for planning purposes.

Yes, I think you can earn up to your weekly benefit amount before they start reducing it dollar for dollar. So if your weekly benefit is $400, you can earn up to $400 from part-time work and still get some unemployment.

That's right, it's called the partial benefit formula. Really helpful if you can find some part-time work while looking for full-time employment.

I hear you on the phone frustration. That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr - their system actually gets you connected to Washington ESD agents without the endless hold times and disconnections. Made a huge difference in getting my issues resolved.

The system is definitely overwhelmed. I've had better luck using the online messaging system for non-urgent questions, though they take a few days to respond.

Good to know about the 26 week limit. Hopefully I'll find something before then, but it's reassuring to know I have that safety net.

Exactly, it's meant to give you time to find suitable employment. Just make sure you're actively job searching and meeting the weekly requirements.

Your weekly benefit amount stays the same throughout your benefit year. It's based on your base period wages, which are already determined when you file. A recent raise wouldn't affect your current claim, but it would be included if you had to file a new claim in the future.

Makes sense, thanks for clarifying!

Yeah that trips up a lot of people. The base period is usually quarters 2-5 before you file, not the most recent four quarters. There's an alternate base period they can use in some cases if you don't qualify with the regular one.

Wish they explained that better upfront. Would have helped set expectations.

Is that legit? Seems too good to be true that there's actually a way to skip the hold times.

I was skeptical too, but it actually worked. Got connected to a Washington ESD agent in minutes instead of hours. They helped clarify my benefit calculation that I'd been trying to understand for weeks.