What is the highest amount of unemployment you can receive in Washington ESD?

Wow that's higher than I expected! So if I made $85k last year, what would my actual weekly amount be?

It depends on your quarterly earnings breakdown. Washington ESD calculates it as your highest quarter earnings divided by 26, then they look at your total base period earnings. You'd need to check your wage history in your online account.

Thanks! How do they calculate which quarter counts as my highest earning quarter?

Washington ESD looks at the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed. So if you filed in January 2025, they'd look at quarters from April 2023 through September 2024.

It's actually $999 now, they increased it from last year. The monetary determination will show your exact weekly benefit amount based on your earnings history.

What other factors? I thought it was just based on your wages.

They also look at your total base period earnings to make sure you earned enough to qualify. Plus there's a minimum threshold you need to meet in quarters outside your highest quarter.

Never heard of that service before. Is it legit?

Yeah it's real. I was skeptical too but it actually worked. They call Washington ESD for you and get you connected to an agent. Saved me so much time trying to get through myself.

Is that legit? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks about my benefit calculation.

Yeah it worked for me. They basically handle the calling and waiting so you don't have to sit on hold for hours. Worth checking out if you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD.

Yes, Washington adjusts the maximum benefit amount annually based on the state's average wage. It's been increasing pretty steadily.

Good thing too with how expensive everything is getting!

You can appeal your monetary determination if you think it's wrong. You have 30 days from when you received the letter to file an appeal.

I tried that but can't even get through to talk to someone about the appeal process. It's like they don't want to help people.

That's helpful math, thanks! I think I should be getting close to the max then.

Keep in mind you also need to meet the minimum earnings requirement across all quarters in your base period, not just the highest one.

That gives me hope! Did you have any issues with the adjudication process?

Nope, my claim was approved pretty quickly since it was a clear layoff situation. The hardest part was just getting all the initial paperwork submitted correctly.

About $577 per week if my calculation is right. $15,000 x 0.0385 = $577.50

awesome thanks! that sounds about right for what mine shows

What are the job search requirements? I haven't started receiving benefits yet.

You need to make 3 job search contacts per week and register with WorkSourceWA. They can ask for proof anytime so keep detailed records.

This is getting confusing. So there's a weekly max AND a total max?

Exactly. The weekly amount is what you get each week, but there's also a limit on how many weeks you can collect based on how much you earned total.

That makes sense. If someone had one really good quarter but low earnings in the other quarters, they'd hit the 1/3 total base period wage limit pretty quickly.

The dependent allowance is separate. You can get up to $25 per week for dependents ON TOP of your regular weekly benefit amount.

Sweet! So theoretically someone could get $1024 per week if they have dependents and qualify for the max?

Correct, assuming they meet all the requirements for both the maximum benefit and the dependent allowance.

Two weeks isn't unusual, especially if your claim needs any kind of review or adjudication. You should receive it within 3-4 weeks typically.

If you're anxious about it, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier can help you get through to check on your claim status. Sometimes there are issues that need to be resolved before they can process your monetary determination.

Can you explain the base period thing? I'm confused about which quarters they use.

They use the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed. So if you file in January 2025, they'd use Q1 2024 through Q4 2024 as your base period.

Wait, unemployment is taxable? I had no idea!

Yes, it's considered income by the IRS. You'll get a 1099-G form at the end of the year. Better to have taxes withheld than owe a big bill later.

That's a solid amount! Congrats on getting it processed quickly.

The $999 figure is correct for 2025. Some older websites might not be updated with the current year's maximum. Always check the official Washington ESD website for the most current information.

Thanks for clarifying! I was getting confused by all the different amounts I was seeing.

You'd still only get the maximum of $999 per week. The benefit amount caps out regardless of how much you earned above the threshold.

That seems unfair but I guess I understand why they have a cap.

That's exactly what I'm hoping for. Want to find the right fit, not just any job.

Like I mentioned earlier, try Claimyr. I was in the same situation and they got me connected to an agent within a reasonable time. Way better than trying to call myself.

I'll check it out, thanks. I'm desperate at this point and need to get this sorted out.

Washington adjusts the maximum benefit amount annually based on average wages in the state. It's typically announced in the fall for the following year.

Good to know! So it should keep up with inflation somewhat.

Seems like a few people have had success with that. Might be worth trying if I need to talk to someone.

I was skeptical about using a third party service but honestly washington esd phone system is so backed up it might be the only way to actually talk to someone

Yes, you can request a redetermination if you think there's an error. Contact Washington ESD within 30 days of receiving your monetary determination letter.

I'll look into that. Thanks for the info!

Glad we could help! Make sure to keep filing your weekly claims on time to avoid any issues with your benefits.

Will do! Already set up reminders so I don't forget.

Good point! I forgot about that. Can you have taxes withheld automatically?

Yes, you can choose to have 10% federal taxes withheld when you file your weekly claims. Washington has no state income tax so that's not a concern.

No, it doesn't matter if the wages came from one job or multiple jobs. Washington ESD just looks at your total wages for each quarter regardless of how many employers reported them.

ok cool that makes sense. thanks!

Can you extend beyond 26 weeks if you still haven't found work?

Sometimes there are extended benefit programs during high unemployment periods, but those aren't available right now. 26 weeks is the standard maximum.

Thanks for the actual formula! I've been trying to figure out exactly how they calculate it.

This is super helpful. I'm going to try calculating it myself before my claim gets processed.

And you need to have earned wages in at least 680 hours during your base period too, right?

Yes, the 680 hours requirement is in addition to the wage requirement. Both have to be met.

That's a decent amount! Did you have any issues with the weekly claims process?

No problems so far. I just make sure to file every Sunday morning and keep detailed records of my job search activities.

How much does something like that cost?

I'd rather not get into specifics about cost, but it was worth it for the time and stress it saved me. You can check their website for details.

Where do they announce the new amounts each year?

Washington ESD usually publishes the updated amounts on their website and sends out notifications to employers. They typically announce changes in the fall for the following year.

Higher wage claims sometimes take longer because they review them more carefully. Mine took about 3 weeks but eventually got approved.

Good to know it's not just me. I'll try to be patient but it's nerve-wracking waiting for approval.

That's a good point. The timing of when you file really matters for the calculation.

Exactly. If you got laid off in January, your base period wouldn't include Q4 of the previous year where you might have had higher earnings.

I'm getting desperate trying to reach someone about my claim. I'll definitely check out that video demo.

Same here. I've been calling for weeks with no luck. Thanks for the recommendation!

This thread has been super helpful. I feel like I understand the process much better now. Thanks everyone!

Glad we could help! Good luck with your claim.