What is the max pay for unemployment in Washington state?

Thanks! So even though I made good money, I won't get more than $999 per week?

Exactly right. The formula is roughly 3.85% of your total base period wages divided by 52, but it maxes out at $999 no matter what.

It's actually $999 as of this year. They adjust it annually based on the state's average weekly wage.

I was having the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they basically call Washington ESD for you and get you connected to an actual agent. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Interesting, I'll check that out. Getting through to Washington ESD has been impossible for me.

I used Claimyr last month when my claim was stuck in adjudication. Got through to someone at Washington ESD within an hour instead of calling for days.

So if I made $85k last year, what would my weekly benefit roughly be?

You'd need to calculate based on your base period earnings, not just last year. But with $85k annual income, you'd likely hit close to the maximum of $999/week.

Wait, I thought the max was lower than that. Are you sure it's $999?

Yes, Washington increased it to $999 for 2025. It was $929 in 2024.

Good point. So maximum would be $999 x 26 weeks = about $26,000 total?

Correct, assuming you qualify for the full 26 weeks and the maximum weekly amount.

Actually Washington's system is pretty straightforward compared to some states. The benefit calculator on their website works pretty well if you have your wage information.

That's helpful to know. Sounds like I should expect something in that range.

How long did it take for your claim to get approved? Mine's been pending for two weeks.

Mine took about 3 weeks because of adjudication. Had to verify my identity and employment history.

Good reminder. I should probably have them withhold taxes so I don't get hit with a big bill later.

Yeah, they'll withhold 10% federal if you request it. State of Washington doesn't have income tax so that's not a concern.

I'm not planning to work part-time initially, but good to know for later.

Yeah, you can earn up to your weekly benefit amount plus $5 before they start reducing your benefits.

If you think there's an error, you definitely need to contact them. I'd suggest using Claimyr again since their phone lines are always jammed. That service saved me hours of calling.

Thanks, I'll look into that. I've been trying to call for days with no luck.

The benefit calculator tool is actually pretty user-friendly if you can find it. It's under 'File a Claim' section.

I tried that calculator but it wanted wage information I don't have readily available.

Fortunately I don't have any of those issues, but good point for others to consider.

So if I find a job after 10 weeks and then lose it again, I could still collect the remaining 16 weeks?

Exactly, as long as it's within your benefit year and you meet the other eligibility requirements.

No, the maximum benefit amount is the same statewide. It's $999/week regardless of whether you're in Seattle, Spokane, or anywhere else in Washington.

Thanks for clarifying! I wasn't sure if cost of living factored in.

With my salary I should definitely meet that requirement. Thanks for mentioning it though.

Yeah, with $85k you'll be fine. That requirement is more for people who worked part-time or had gaps in employment.

Good advice. I'll gather all my W-2s and employment info before I file.

How long did your initial application take to get approved?

About 2 weeks, but I had a straightforward layoff situation. No adjudication issues.

Definitely will do direct deposit. I hate waiting for checks.

Yes, it's tied to the state's average weekly wage, so it increases annually. In 2020 it was only $790.

That's a significant increase over 5 years. Good for people who need the benefits.

Perfect, thank you everyone for all the helpful info. I feel much more prepared now.

And remember, if you need to talk to Washington ESD directly about anything, Claimyr can save you a lot of time and frustration trying to get through their phone system.