What is max unemployment benefits Washington ESD pays in 2025?

Thanks! So with my salary I should qualify for close to the max then? How do I know what my base period wages were?

You can check your base period wages in your Washington ESD account once you file your claim. They'll show you exactly which quarters they're using and the total wages for each quarter.

It increased significantly over the past few years. The $999 is the current maximum for 2025. Most people don't qualify for the full amount though - you need to have earned quite a bit during your base period.

wow thats way more than i expected, no wonder everyone talks about washington having good unemployment benefits

I had the same problem last month until someone told me about Claimyr. It's a service that calls Washington ESD for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works. Game changer for getting through to ESD.

Interesting, I'll check that out. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get answers about my claim.

Claimyr actually worked for me too. Used it when my claim got stuck in adjudication and needed to talk to someone urgently. Much better than spending entire days redialing.

You've got the right idea but the math is off. It's your highest quarter divided by 13, but then capped at the maximum of $999. So $25,000 ÷ 13 = $1,923, but since that exceeds $999, you'd get the maximum $999 per week.

Oh right, the cap! Thanks for catching that. So basically anyone who made over $12,987 in their highest quarter gets the max benefit.

This helps a lot. I should definitely qualify for the maximum then based on my previous salary.

Good point. With my work history that shouldn't be an issue, but I can see how that could trip up people with irregular employment.

Exactly. Also worth mentioning that your benefits last for up to 26 weeks in most cases, so at the max rate that's potentially $25,974 total.

Have you tried calling them directly about the verification issues? I know the phones are terrible but if you can get through to an adjudication specialist they can sometimes expedite things.

I've tried calling probably 100 times. Either busy or they hang up after hours of waiting. It's like they don't want to actually help people.

That's exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier in this thread. It's designed specifically for this problem - getting through to ESD when the regular phone system fails you.

That's before taxes. Washington doesn't have state income tax, but you'll still owe federal taxes on unemployment benefits. You can choose to have 10% withheld when you certify your weekly claims.

Thanks! So really it's more like $899 take-home if you have them withhold the 10% for federal taxes.

For a claim filed in January 2025, your base period would be October 2023 through September 2024. So Q4 2023, Q1 2024, Q2 2024, and Q3 2024.

That makes sense. I was working at my previous job during all those quarters so I should have good wages reported.

Yes, your benefit amount is based on your actual reported wages during the base period. Lower wages = lower weekly benefit amount, even if you're working full time now.

that sucks, i was only working part time while finishing school but now i need full benefits

How do you request that? Is it something you do when filing the initial claim?

You can request it when filing or contact ESD after filing if you think it would help. They'll recalculate using the four most recent completed quarters instead.

Extended benefits are triggered automatically when the state's unemployment rate meets certain thresholds. Right now we're not in an extended benefit period, so the standard 26 weeks is what's available.

Got it. So $999 x 26 weeks = $25,974 maximum total if you qualify for the full amount and use all your weeks.

The official source is the Washington ESD website at esd.wa.gov. They publish the current benefit table each year. Third-party sites often have outdated information.

Thanks, I'll check the official site. Better to get it straight from the source.

It only changes once per year, usually effective in January. So the $999 maximum will stay the same throughout all of 2025.

Different states have different maximums based on their wage levels and cost of living. Washington's benefits are definitely among the higher ones nationally, but not necessarily the absolute highest.

Makes sense. At least $999/week is still pretty good compared to a lot of states.

There's usually a one-week waiting period for new claims, then payments typically process within 2-3 business days after you submit your weekly claim certification. If it's been longer than that, there might be an issue with your claim.

It's been 10 days since I certified my first week. Should I be worried?

That's definitely longer than normal. You should call ESD to check if there are any issues holding up your payment. If you can't get through on the phone, Claimyr can help you reach an agent to check your payment status.

Exactly right. It's all based on your W2 wages during the base period. Freelance income typically doesn't count toward regular unemployment benefits unless you were paying into the system as self-employed.

Perfect. I had a full-time job for most of my base period before going freelance, so I should qualify.

Good reminder. What are the current job search requirements in Washington?

You need to complete at least 3 job search activities each week and keep a log. This can include applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking activities, etc.

Thanks, I'll make sure to keep track of my job search activities from the start.