What is the max unemployment benefits amount in Washington state 2025?

Thanks! That's higher than I expected. Do you know how they calculate what I'll actually get based on my salary?

It's based on your highest quarter of earnings in your base period (first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file). They take that quarterly amount, divide by 13, then multiply by your state's benefit ratio. With your salary, you'll likely hit or get close to the maximum.

wow that's actually a decent amount compared to other states I've lived in

How long did it take you to get approved? I'm worried about the adjudication process I keep hearing about.

Mine took about 3 weeks because they had to verify my job separation. The hardest part was actually talking to someone when I had questions about my claim status.

Is that legit? Sounds too good to be true with how impossible it is to reach them normally.

I was skeptical too but it actually worked. Saved me hours of calling and getting disconnected. Worth checking out if you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD.

I might need to try that if I run into issues with my claim. Thanks for the tip!

Yeah I know about that. How many job contacts do you need to make per week?

In Washington it's 3 job search activities per week. This can include applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, or training activities. You need to keep a log of all your activities.

yeah everything is more expensive now. at least unemployment is keeping up somewhat

Good point. $1079 a week actually seems reasonable given what rent costs these days.

When are the deadlines usually? And do you file online?

You file online through your SecureAccess Washington account. The deadline is midnight on Saturday night for that week's claim. Don't wait until the last minute because the system sometimes gets slow.

I learned this the hard way - missed one week and lost that $1079. They wouldn't budge on it even though I explained I was sick.

How much does that service cost though? Is it worth it?

They focus on getting you connected rather than cost. When you're talking about potentially losing $1079 a week in benefits, it's definitely worth having a way to actually reach Washington ESD when you need help.

The maximum applies to regular unemployment insurance. Standby status has the same benefit calculation method, so yes, $1079 would be the max for standby as well.

Good to know, thanks for clarifying that!

Oh right, I forgot about that. Can you have them withhold taxes when you file your weekly claims?

Yes, you can elect to have 10% federal tax withheld. Washington state doesn't have income tax so you don't need to worry about state withholding.

What kind of issues are you dealing with? Maybe someone here can help point you in the right direction.

They're questioning my job separation even though I have all the documentation. Can't get anyone on the phone to explain what else they need.

This is exactly the kind of situation where Claimyr would help. Getting through to the adjudication department is nearly impossible on your own.

Yeah I'm worried about the job market too. What kind of tech work are you looking for?

Software engineering, mostly backend development. Lots of applications but not many responses. At least the unemployment benefits give me time to be selective.

26 weeks should hopefully be enough time to find something new. That's about 6 months right?

yep, though it can be extended in certain circumstances. better to find work before you run out though

That's a good way to think about it. Definitely better than having no income while looking for work.

True, though hopefully none of us need the full 26 weeks to find something!

Good point. I might pick up some consulting work if the job search takes a while. Better to be honest about it than risk getting in trouble later.

Exactly. Washington ESD will find out eventually if you don't report earnings, and then you'll have overpayment issues to deal with.

Good luck with your claim! File as soon as possible since there's usually a one-week waiting period before benefits start.

And remember, if you run into any issues getting through to Washington ESD, there are services like Claimyr that can help. Don't let communication problems delay your benefits.

Will do! Thanks again everyone for all the advice and information.

That's really helpful advice! I'm definitely going to gather all my employment records before I start the application process. Better to be over-prepared than have my claim get delayed because I'm missing some piece of paperwork. Do you know if they need pay stubs or if W-2s are sufficient for the wage verification?

W-2s are usually sufficient for wage verification, but having recent pay stubs can be helpful too, especially if your W-2 doesn't show your most recent employment. Washington ESD can also verify wages directly with employers through their system, but having your own documentation speeds up the process. I'd recommend keeping both just in case they need additional verification for any reason.

Great advice about having all the documentation ready! I learned this the hard way when I filed a few years back - missing one piece of info from a previous employer delayed my claim for weeks. One tip I'd add is to also have your direct deposit banking information ready when you file. Washington ESD can deposit benefits directly to your account, which is much faster than waiting for a debit card or check in the mail. Also keep copies of everything you submit, just in case something gets lost in their system.

This is excellent advice! I wish I had known about organizing all the documentation beforehand when I first applied. One thing I'd add is to also write down the exact dates you worked at each job, not just the years. Washington ESD asks for very specific start and end dates, and if you're like me and have had several jobs over the past few years, it can be hard to remember the exact dates off the top of your head. I ended up having to dig through old emails and contracts to find the precise information they wanted.

This is all really solid advice! I'm starting to realize there's a lot more preparation involved than I initially thought. Since I'm coming from a tech job, I should have most of my employment records digitally, but I'm wondering - do they also need information about any stock options or bonuses I received? Those were a significant part of my compensation package, and I want to make sure I'm reporting everything accurately to get the maximum benefit amount.