What is the max for unemployment benefits in Washington - current weekly amount?

Thanks! That's higher than I expected. How do they calculate if you qualify for the max amount?

They take your highest quarter earnings and divide by 26. So if you made $25,974 in your best quarter, you'd get the max $999 weekly.

The $999 is the maximum possible, but most people don't qualify for that amount. Your benefit is based on your actual earnings history, not everyone gets the max.

oh ok that makes sense. i was wondering why mine was only like $450 a week

Have you tried using Claimyr? I found it on claimyr.com and it actually got me through to a Washington ESD agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

Never heard of that. Is it legit or some kind of scam?

It's real - basically automates the calling process for you. I was skeptical too but it worked when nothing else did.

While the system has issues, the benefit calculation is actually pretty straightforward. It's just hard to get someone to explain it clearly.

Yeah well good luck getting anyone on the phone to explain anything. I've been trying for 3 weeks.

This is really helpful. So if I filed in January 2025, my base period would be January 2024 through December 2024?

Not exactly - it would be October 2023 through September 2024. The base period excludes the most recent completed quarter.

this is confusing why dont they just use the last year of work?

What are the monetary eligibility requirements? I assume you need to have worked a certain amount?

You need at least $7,000 in your base period and earnings in at least 680 hours of work. Plus your highest quarter earnings need to be at least 1.25 times your lowest quarter.

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

I remember when it was like $600 max just a few years ago. At least they're keeping up with inflation somewhat.

How long did it take to get your determination letter? I just filed last week.

About 5 business days for me. Make sure you're checking your SecureAccess Washington account for documents, not just waiting for mail.

How much did that cost you? I'm desperate to talk to someone but don't want to get ripped off.

They don't charge you anything upfront - just helps you get through the phone system. Way better than spending hours redialing.

It depends on when you each worked and filed. Your base periods might be different, or she might have had a higher quarter than you realized.

we both worked at the same company but she got laid off 6 months before me. maybe thats why?

That's likely it - different base periods can result in very different benefit amounts even with similar overall earnings.

The calculation is based on your earnings to replace a portion of your lost wages. It wouldn't make sense to pay everyone the same amount regardless of what they earned.

I guess but it's still overly complicated for no good reason.

I tried that calculator but it gave me a different amount than what I actually received. Not sure how accurate it is.

The calculator is just an estimate. Your actual benefit depends on the exact wages Washington ESD has on file for you, which might differ from what you remember.

Check your monetary determination letter - it breaks down exactly how they calculated your weekly benefit amount and shows your base period wages.

oh yeah i think i got that letter but threw it away. can i get another copy?

Yes, you can download it from your SecureAccess Washington account under correspondence.

True, though $999 still doesn't go very far in Seattle. Better than nothing though.

Unemployment isn't meant to fully replace your salary, just help you get by while job searching. The max covers about 60% of the state average wage.

That's good to know. So if I had a really good quarter with overtime or bonuses, that would help my benefit calculation?

Exactly. If you had a quarter with lots of overtime or a bonus, that could significantly increase your weekly benefit amount.

Yes, the same maximum applies to regular unemployment, standby, and other unemployment benefit types. The calculation method is the same.

Good to know, thanks. I'm on standby from my union job and wasn't sure if different rules applied.

How long did the appeal process take? I think they might have missed some of my earnings too.

About 6 weeks total, but they backdated the increase to when I first filed. Worth doing if you think there's an error.

If you need to talk to someone about appealing, Claimyr can help you get through to the right department. That's how I got mine sorted out.

Remember you need pretty high earnings to get the maximum. Most people get somewhere between $300-700 per week depending on their work history.

yeah i figured. even if i get half the max that would help a lot while im job hunting

How can you check if all your wages were reported correctly?

When you get your monetary determination, it lists all the employers and wages they have on file. Compare that to your pay stubs and W-2s.

Perfect summary, thanks. This thread answered all my questions about the maximum benefit amount.