What is the highest unemployment pay Washington ESD will give you?

Thanks! So if I made $95k last year, would I qualify for the maximum amount?

It depends on how your earnings were distributed across quarters. You need to have earned at least $61,236 in your highest quarter to get the max benefit. Washington ESD calculates it as roughly 1/26th of your highest quarter earnings.

That's the maximum for people who earned high wages. Most people get much less - the average is around $550 per week. And you can only collect for 26 weeks maximum, so it's not like people are getting rich off unemployment.

Plus you have to actively search for work and report your job search activities every week. It's not free money - there are requirements you have to meet.

Have you tried calling right at 8am when they open? I've heard that's the best time to get through.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get through to Washington ESD agents when you can't reach them on your own. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

Never heard of that service before. Does it actually work or is it just another scam?

Wait I thought it was just the highest quarter divided by 26? Now I'm confused about how they calculate it.

You're right, I misspoke. It's the highest quarter divided by 26, not two quarters divided by 52. Same result mathematically but important to be accurate about the actual formula Washington ESD uses.

Yes, that math works out. But remember, most people don't earn their income evenly across quarters. Bonuses, overtime, seasonal work - it all affects which quarter ends up being your highest.

I got laid off from Amazon last year and qualified for the maximum. The key is having consistently high earnings, not just a good annual salary. My quarterly earnings were around $24k each quarter.

You can't quit and collect unemployment. You have to be laid off or fired for reasons that aren't your fault. If you quit voluntarily, Washington ESD will disqualify you from receiving benefits.

Plus unemployment is temporary. Even at the maximum rate, you're only looking at about $26k for the full 26 weeks. Not exactly a career plan.

Adjudication delays are really common right now. That's another situation where Claimyr helped me - I was able to reach an agent who explained what documents they needed to complete my adjudication.

I might have to try that. How long did it take them to help you connect with someone?

Pretty quick - within a few minutes I was connected to a Washington ESD agent. Much better than spending hours redialing myself.

Yes, Washington state adjusts the maximum benefit amount annually based on average wages. It's gone up significantly over the past few years. In 2023 it was around $929 per week.

Good to know it keeps pace with inflation somewhat. Though honestly $1019 a week still doesn't go as far as it used to in Seattle.

Only if you paid into the unemployment system as a contractor. Most 1099 contractors don't pay unemployment taxes, so they're not eligible for regular UI benefits. You'd need to check if you qualify for other programs.

Ah, that makes sense. I've been 1099 the whole time so probably out of luck.

There's usually a one-week waiting period, but if your claim goes into adjudication it can take much longer. I waited 6 weeks before seeing my first payment.

That's where having someone help you contact Washington ESD can be really valuable. Getting answers about delays early can save weeks of uncertainty.

Good point. You can choose to have taxes withheld or pay them when you file your return. But either way, it reduces your actual spending money.

I hadn't thought about taxes. So the maximum is really more like $800-850 after federal taxes?

Depends on your tax bracket, but yeah, figure around 20-25% will go to taxes for most people.

True, but our cost of living is also higher than most places. $1,019 in Seattle doesn't go as far as $500 might in other states.

Still better than nothing though. I'm grateful Washington ESD has relatively good benefits compared to other states I've lived in.

And you have to report any work you do, even part-time or gig work. Washington ESD will reduce your benefits based on what you earn.

Good to know. I might do some consulting work while I'm job searching, so I'll need to report that.

Yeah, Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week minimum. And they can audit your records at any time.

I got selected for a job search review last month. Had to submit all my application records and attend a phone interview about my search activities.

That's probably the best advice. I'll file my claim and see what they calculate. At least now I know what the maximum possible amount is.

And if you have questions about your calculation, don't be afraid to call Washington ESD for clarification. It's your right to understand how your benefits were determined.

Right, so $1,019 x 4 weeks = roughly $4,076 per month at the maximum rate. Still significant money for most people.

Though you can only collect for 26 weeks total, so it's not indefinite. You need to be actively job searching the whole time.

I did when I got laid off from tech. My quarterly earnings were high enough to qualify for the maximum. It definitely happens, especially in high-paying industries.

Same here. Worked in finance and qualified for the max. But like others said, you still have to follow all the rules and requirements.

Agreed! I feel much more prepared to file my claim now. Thanks everyone for the detailed explanations.

Good luck with your claim! Hope you get approved quickly and find a new job soon.

I used them too after seeing it mentioned here. Worth it just for the peace of mind of actually talking to someone who could answer my questions.

Their video demo really shows how the service works if anyone wants to check it out before trying it.

Please do! It's always helpful to hear real examples of what people actually receive vs. the theoretical maximum.

Yes, definitely update us. I'm filing mine this week too so curious to compare experiences.