What is the highest weekly pay for unemployment in Washington State?

Thanks! That's higher than I expected. How do they calculate what quarter counts as your highest earning quarter?

They look at the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. So if you file in January 2025, they'd look at quarters ending in September, June, March, and December of the previous year.

Keep in mind that's the absolute maximum and very few people actually qualify for that amount. Most people get much less, typically between $300-600 per week depending on their previous earnings.

oh ok that makes more sense, i was thinking everyone got the max amount

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents automatically. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. It actually got me connected to someone within 20 minutes instead of waiting hours.

That sounds too good to be true. How much does it cost and is it legitimate?

It's totally legitimate - they don't ask for any of your personal unemployment info, just help you get through the phone system. Way better than spending entire days trying to call Washington ESD yourself.

Good to know it increases annually. Do they announce the new rates at the beginning of each year?

Yes, Washington ESD typically announces the new benefit year rates in late December or early January. The rates are effective for benefit years that begin during that calendar year.

Unfortunately yes, in most cases. The base period doesn't include your most recent quarter of work. However, if you don't qualify for benefits using the standard base period, Washington ESD will automatically check your alternative base period which includes more recent quarters.

That's really frustrating. So even though I was making $8000 a month recently, my benefits might be based on when I was making $3000 a month?

Possibly, but definitely apply anyway. The alternative base period calculation might work in your favor, and you won't know until Washington ESD processes your claim.

The $999 is the gross amount before taxes. You can choose to have federal taxes withheld (10%) and you'll owe state taxes on unemployment benefits when you file your tax return. Washington state doesn't have income tax but you'll still owe federal taxes.

ok so really its more like $900 if you have them take out taxes automatically

Same boat here. Have you tried that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier? I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point.

I haven't tried it yet but I'm considering it. The adjudication process is taking forever and I can't get any answers about when it might be resolved.

Claimyr really helped me get answers about my adjudication timeline. The agent I spoke with was able to see notes in my file that explained exactly what they were waiting for. Definitely worth trying if you're stuck.

That's helpful context. So most people probably fall somewhere in the middle range, not at the maximum or minimum.

Exactly. The average weekly benefit amount in Washington is around $550, so that gives you a better sense of what most people actually receive.

That's not quite right. In Washington, you can earn up to your weekly benefit amount plus $5 without any reduction. After that, benefits are reduced dollar for dollar. So if your weekly benefit is $999, you can earn up to $1,004 without losing any benefits.

oh ok thanks for the correction, i thought it was more complicated than that

The maximum weekly benefit amount applies to all regular unemployment insurance claims, including standby claims. Standby just means you're temporarily laid off with a specific return date, but the benefit calculation is the same.

Thanks, that's what I thought but wasn't sure. My company does seasonal layoffs and I wanted to know what to expect.

agree 100% their website is terrible to navigate

If you ever need to call Washington ESD again, definitely check out Claimyr first. It saves so much time compared to trying to get through on your own.

26 weeks seems like a reasonable amount of time to find new employment, especially at higher salary levels.

You'd think so, but specialized positions can take longer to find. It's good to start job searching immediately even if you qualify for the maximum benefit amount.

Your friend is thinking of a different state. Washington doesn't provide additional benefits for dependents. Your weekly benefit amount is based solely on your past earnings, not your family size.

ok good to know, thanks for clearing that up

ouch that sounds expensive, did you have them withhold taxes or did you pay it all at once?

I didn't have them withhold anything which was a mistake. Now I always recommend having the 10% federal withholding taken out automatically to avoid a big tax bill later.

That's good to know. I guess the higher cost of living here means higher benefits too.

Exactly. The maximum benefit amounts are typically tied to the state's average wages, so higher wage states tend to have higher maximums.

Good point. How long is the waiting period in Washington?

There's a one-week waiting period for the first week of your claim, then benefits start the second week if you're approved and meet all requirements.

Perfect, thanks for all the helpful information everyone. This thread has been really informative!