What is the max for unemployment benefits in Washington state?

Wow that's higher than I expected! So it's based on quarterly earnings, not annual salary?

Exactly. Washington ESD looks at your base period which is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. They take your highest earning quarter and calculate your weekly benefit from that.

It's actually $999 now, they increased it this year. Most people don't hit the max unless they're making really good money.

damn thats a lot more than what i got when i was on unemployment last year

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr.com - they actually got me through to an Washington ESD agent in like 10 minutes. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Totally saved my sanity dealing with those phone lines.

Wait, there's extra money for dependents? I have two kids, does that mean I get $50 more per week?

Yes, up to $50 additional per week for dependents. You need to report them when you file your initial claim.

I didn't know about the dependent benefits either! Wish I had known that when I was on unemployment last year.

I'm a W-2 employee so I should be good for regular benefits. Thanks for the heads up though.

Yeah you should be fine then. Just make sure you have all your employment history ready when you file.

I'll check that out, thanks! Do you remember where on the site it is?

It's under the 'File a Claim' section I think. Just search for 'benefit calculator' on their site.

Oh good point, I didn't think about taxes. Can I set up the withholding after I start receiving benefits?

Yes, you can change your tax withholding election anytime through your online account on the Washington ESD website.

Adjudication delays are the worst! I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and it actually helped me get through to resolve my adjudication issue. The agent was able to explain exactly what documents they needed.

Yeah I read about that. Do they actually check the job search log regularly?

They can and do spot checks. Better to be safe and keep detailed records of all your job search activities.

Yes, it's adjusted annually based on the state average wage. That's why it went up to $999 this year from the previous amount.

Good to know! So if wages keep going up, the max benefit should too.

The dependent allowance is on top of the $999 max, so you could potentially get up to $1,049 per week if you have dependents and qualify for the maximum benefit amount.

That's actually a decent amount considering it's temporary assistance. Thanks for clarifying!

If you file now in 2025, your base period would be Q1 2024 through Q4 2024. So your January 2024 start date would be included in the calculation.

Perfect, so my full year of earnings would count. That should put me close to the maximum then.

I mean, it's not that complicated once you understand it. The base period system is actually designed to be fair and consistent.

Yeah I should be grateful we're in Washington then. $999 is definitely better than most places.

Exactly, and the dependent allowance is something a lot of states don't offer at all.

Good point. So even if I get the max weekly amount, I need to make sure I worked enough to qualify for the full 26 weeks?

Right, the total benefit amount is calculated separately from the weekly amount. You need substantial work history to get the full duration.

How long did it take them to get you connected?

Maybe 15-20 minutes total? Way better than the hours I spent trying to call myself.

How do you appeal something like that? Do you need specific documentation?

You need pay stubs or tax records showing your actual wages. The appeal process is pretty straightforward if you have the right paperwork.

Agreed! Really helpful to get real people's experiences with the system.

Yes, Washington does have a one-week waiting period before you can receive your first payment. So even if your claim is approved right away, you won't get paid for that first week you're unemployed. It's pretty standard across most states. The good news is that if you're eligible for benefits, you can claim that waiting week at the end of your benefit year if you're still unemployed then.