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

Thanks! So if I was making around $4200/month that should put me close to the max right?

Yeah probably close to it. Washington ESD looks at your quarterly earnings though, not monthly, so it depends on how consistent your pay was.

I tried that but got confused about which quarters count as my base period. Is it the last 4 quarters I worked?

Not exactly - your base period is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file. So if you file in January 2025, your base period would be October 2023 through September 2024.

I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr. They actually call Washington ESD for you and get you connected to an agent. Check out claimyr.com - there's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

That sounds too good to be true. How much does it cost and do you have to give them your personal info?

It's actually pretty straightforward - they just need to know what you're calling about and they handle the calling and waiting for you. Way better than spending hours trying to get through yourself.

I don't have any dependents so that doesn't apply to me. Good to know though!

Good point. Can you have Washington ESD automatically withhold taxes or do you have to request that?

Yeah you can elect to have 10% withheld for federal taxes when you file your initial claim. There's a checkbox for it.

I wish I had done that from the beginning. Got hit with a big tax bill this year because I didn't withhold anything.

Yeah I'm worried about that too. My mortgage is $2800 so even if I get close to the max it's going to be tight.

At least Washington has better benefits than most states. Some places the max is like $400 per week which is basically nothing.

What are the job search requirements? I heard they changed recently.

You need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of them. Washington ESD can audit your job search activities so make sure you're documenting everything properly.

And you have to register with WorkSource Washington within a certain timeframe or they'll stop your benefits.

That's helpful to know. Gives me a better idea of what to expect since our salaries were similar.

$295 seems really low. Is that the minimum benefit amount?

Yeah that's the minimum. You have to have earned at least a certain amount in your base period to qualify for benefits at all.

How do they find out if you don't report work? Do they cross-reference with employers?

Yes, Washington ESD gets wage reports from employers so they'll eventually find out. It's not worth the risk - just report everything honestly.

That's exactly why I started using Claimyr. They handle all the calling and waiting so you don't have to waste your whole day trying to get through. Saved me so much time and stress.

I might have to try that. I can't keep spending entire days trying to reach someone at Washington ESD.

I got a small severance package. Does that affect my benefits right away or just for the weeks when I'm receiving the severance?

It depends on how the severance is structured. If it's paid as a lump sum it might be allocated over several weeks. If it's paid weekly it affects those specific weeks.

Good advice. I was planning to wait until next week but I'll file today instead.

Definitely file today. Even if there are issues with your claim it's better to get the process started early.

The $999 is just the regular Washington state unemployment benefit. The federal pandemic programs like PEUC and PUA ended in 2021, so there's no extra federal money anymore.

ok thanks, wasn't sure if there were any new programs I missed

What's the maximum total amount you can receive? Is it just 26 weeks times your weekly amount?

In Washington you can typically receive up to 26 weeks of benefits, but the exact amount depends on your earnings during the base period. Some people might be eligible for fewer weeks if their earnings were lower.

The maximum benefit amount is usually about 30% of your total base period wages, but it can't exceed 26 times your weekly benefit amount.

Totally agree. I've been trying to resolve an issue with my claim for weeks and can never get through to anyone.

This is exactly why services like Claimyr exist. When you can't get through to Washington ESD on your own, they handle the calling for you and actually get you connected to an agent who can help.

That's reassuring. I was getting worried about getting all the numbers perfect but sounds like they handle the calculations.

Exactly. Just make sure you report your earnings accurately when you file and they'll calculate your benefit amount based on their formulas.

What's standby status? I haven't heard that term before.

Standby is when your employer temporarily lays you off but expects to recall you within a specific timeframe. You don't have to do job search activities but you have to be available to return to work when called.

How long did it take from filing to getting your first payment?

About 10 days total. Filed on a Tuesday, got my debit card in the mail Friday, and the first payment was there the following Tuesday after I did my weekly claim.

How would you know if they made a mistake? Do they show you how they calculated it?

You'll get a monetary determination letter that shows your base period wages and how they calculated your weekly benefit amount. Review it carefully to make sure all your wages are included correctly.