What is the max you can get for unemployment benefits in Washington ESD?

Wow that's higher than I expected! Do you know if that includes the dependent allowance too?

No, the dependent allowance is separate. You can get an additional $25 per week for each dependent child under 18, up to 5 dependents max.

It's actually 50% of your average weekly wage during your base period, but yes there's the maximum cap at $999/week.

oh right 50% thanks for the correction

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to ESD agents automatically. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

Really? That sounds too good to be true. Does it actually work?

Yeah it worked for me. I was able to talk to someone about my adjudication issue within a couple days instead of calling for weeks.

What if you didn't work all 4 quarters? Does that affect the calculation?

Yes, if you don't have wages in all 4 quarters, your average weekly wage will be lower, which means a lower benefit amount. You need wages in at least 2 quarters to qualify.

It depends on how that $80k was distributed across your base period quarters. If it was evenly spread, your average weekly wage would be around $1,538, so 50% would be $769 per week.

That makes sense. Thanks for breaking it down!

ugh the job search requirements are so annoying. i hate having to log everything

I know it's a pain but they do check. Better to stay compliant than risk getting disqualified.

No, standby status doesn't change your weekly benefit amount calculation. You still get the same amount based on your base period wages. The difference is you don't have to do job search activities while on standby.

good to know thanks

If you filed in January 2025, your base period would be October 2023 through September 2024. It's the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters.

Oh ok that makes sense. So it's not just the previous year, it's specific quarters.

How much does it cost though? I'm already tight on money waiting for my claim to process.

It's worth checking their site for current pricing. For me it was worth it to get my questions answered quickly instead of wasting weeks calling.

For real! I've been calling since 7am every day for two weeks. The system is broken.

exactly! and then they wonder why people get frustrated with the whole process

It's the same statewide. Washington doesn't have regional variations for unemployment benefits like some other programs do.

Perfect, thanks for clarifying!

ESD will still use all 4 quarters to calculate your average weekly wage. So if you had one really high quarter and three low ones, it might actually help your benefit amount compared to someone with consistently moderate wages.

Interesting, I wouldn't have expected that. Thanks for explaining.

Yes, commission earnings count as regular wages for benefit calculation purposes. ESD looks at your total reported wages regardless of whether they were salary, hourly, commission, or bonuses.

Good to know, I was worried my commission heavy quarters wouldn't count properly.

Yes, the minimum weekly benefit amount in Washington is $295 per week for 2025. So even if 50% of your average weekly wage is lower than that, you'd still get the minimum.

That's helpful to know, thanks!

Definitely try Claimyr if you haven't already. I mentioned it earlier but it really does work for getting through to someone who can check on your adjudication status.

At this point I'll try anything. Thanks for the suggestion.

The calculation is based on your previous earnings to partially replace your lost wages. A flat rate wouldn't make sense for someone who made $30k vs someone who made $100k - their financial needs are different.

I guess that makes sense when you put it that way.

Only reported tips count. If your employer reported them on your paystubs and they're in your wage records with ESD, then yes. Cash tips that weren't reported don't count since there's no record of them.

Damn, that's going to hurt my benefit amount then. Most of my tips were cash and never got reported.

In Washington, you can receive up to 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits, but the exact number depends on your earnings during the base period. Higher earners typically qualify for more weeks.

Ok so it's not automatically 26 weeks for everyone. Good to know.

Agreed! Way more helpful than trying to navigate the ESD website on your own.

Seriously, this community is great for getting real answers to these questions.