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

The maximum weekly benefit amount in Washington for 2025 is $999 per week. This is based on your earnings in your base period. To qualify for the max, you need to have earned at least $62,244 in your highest quarter during your base period. The standard duration is 26 weeks of benefits.

i think its different if you have dependents too, you can get extra money for kids

The calculation can be tricky because it's based on your highest earning quarter, not your total annual income. I've been dealing with Washington ESD for months trying to get my benefit amount corrected. The phone system is impossible - I spent weeks calling and either got hung up on or sat on hold for hours. Finally found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to a real person at Washington ESD. Check out claimyr.com if you need to talk to someone there. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that explains how it works.

Just to clarify the math - the weekly benefit is calculated as roughly 3.85% of your highest quarter earnings, up to the maximum. So if you made $25,000 in your highest quarter, your weekly benefit would be about $962, which is close to the max.

The whole system is confusing as hell. I've been trying to figure out my benefit amount for weeks and every time I call Washington ESD I get different information. One person told me $850, another said $920. It's like they're making it up as they go along!

I qualified for the maximum amount but let me tell you, it's not as much as it sounds like when you're used to a full-time salary. Don't forget they'll tax it too if you choose to have taxes withheld.

Also remember you have to actively look for work and report your job search activities on your weekly claims. That's required even if you're getting the maximum benefit amount.

The 26 weeks is just the standard duration. If unemployment rates are high in your area, you might qualify for extended benefits beyond that. But don't count on it - focus on your job search.

been getting unemployment for 2 months now, the max is definitely $999 but you really need to have made good money to get that much. most people get way less

One thing to watch out for - if you have any issues with your claim or it goes into adjudication, it can take forever to resolve. I waited 8 weeks for my claim to be approved and couldn't get anyone on the phone to help. That Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier actually sounds pretty useful for situations like that.

The maximum can also be affected if you have any wages from part-time work while collecting benefits. They'll reduce your weekly benefit amount dollar for dollar after you earn more than your weekly benefit amount.

Just filed my claim last week and still waiting to hear back. The waiting is the worst part! At least now I know what to expect for the maximum amount.

Remember that the $999 maximum gets adjusted each year based on the state's average weekly wage. It used to be lower and will probably go up again next year.

The hardest part isn't knowing the maximum amount - it's actually getting through to Washington ESD when you have questions or problems. I spent so much time on hold it was ridiculous. Wish I had known about services like Claimyr earlier.

Don't forget that if you were laid off due to lack of work, you might also be eligible for standby status in some cases, which can affect your benefit amount and job search requirements.

Bottom line - the max is $999 per week plus $25 per dependent kid, but most people don't qualify for the full amount. The calculation is based on your highest earning quarter in your base period.

One last thing - make sure you keep good records of your job search activities and any correspondence with Washington ESD. You never know when you might need to prove something later.