What is the most unemployment pays in Washington ESD benefits?

Thank you for the specific number! So even if someone was making $100k+ they'd still max out at $999/week?

Exactly right. The $999 is the absolute ceiling regardless of how much you were earning. Your base period wages determine if you hit that max or get something lower.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents without sitting on hold forever. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works.

The phone system is absolutely broken. I've called 47 times in the past two weeks and gotten through exactly zero times.

Good point about the taxes. Is it better to have them withhold or just deal with it at tax time?

Depends on your situation, but I'd recommend having them withhold 10% federal just so you don't get surprised with a big tax bill later. You can always adjust it if needed.

I learned this the hard way - didn't withhold anything and owed $2,800 at tax time last year. Definitely withhold something!

I got a decent bonus in Q1 this year, so maybe that will help. How do I figure out what my base period quarters are exactly?

Your base period is typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. So if you file now in Q4 2025, it would probably be Q3 2024 through Q2 2025. The bonus in Q1 2025 would definitely help your calculation.

That's exactly why the base period calculation can be tricky. If you have a partial quarter due to job changes, it can really impact your weekly benefit amount even if your overall annual salary was high.

Oh no, I did change jobs about 8 months ago. I hope that doesn't mess up my calculation too much.

Right, I've heard about the job search thing. Do they actually check that you're doing it or is it just honor system?

They do spot checks and if you get audited and can't prove your job search activities, they can make you pay back benefits. Definitely keep good records.

I got audited last year and had to provide detailed proof of every single job search activity. It was a nightmare but I kept good records so it worked out okay.

Yeah $999 a week is only about $4,000 a month and rent alone in Seattle is often $2,500+. It helps but definitely not enough to maintain your standard of living.

Exactly my concern. My mortgage alone is $3,200/month so even the maximum won't cover all my fixed expenses.

Thanks for the heads up! I'll double check everything before I submit. Did you have trouble reaching Washington ESD to fix the employer info issue?

Oh yeah, took forever to get through. That's actually when someone told me about Claimyr - wish I'd known about it earlier. Would have saved me weeks of calling and getting nowhere.

That's actually pretty substantial when you put it that way. Hopefully I won't need the full 26 weeks but good to know it's there.

Just keep in mind the 26 weeks isn't guaranteed - it depends on the unemployment rate in Washington. Sometimes it's less than 26 weeks available.

Good advice! I'll plan to file early in the week. What employment history do they need exactly?

They'll want employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and reason for separation for typically the last 18 months. Having pay stubs or W2s handy helps too in case there are questions.

It's frustrating for sure, but the benefits are there if you can navigate the system. The phone situation is definitely the worst part.

That's why services like Claimyr exist - to help people get around the broken phone system when they need to talk to an actual person at Washington ESD.