What is the most you can get from unemployment benefits in Washington?

Wow that's higher than I expected! Do you know how they calculate it exactly? I made about $82K last year so hopefully I'd be close to that max.

It's based on roughly 3.85% of your total base period wages, divided by 52 weeks, but capped at that $999 maximum. Since you made $82K you should definitely hit the max assuming your earnings were spread throughout the base period.

Good to know about the minimums. What about the 26 week limit - is that still the standard duration?

Yes, 26 weeks is still the maximum for regular unemployment benefits in Washington. Sometimes there are federal extensions during recessions but nothing like that is active right now.

I had the same problem until someone told me about Claimyr. It's a service that calls Washington ESD for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. I used it last month and got through in like 20 minutes instead of spending hours trying myself. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

That sounds too good to be true... does it actually work? I'm desperate at this point.

Yeah it really does work! I was skeptical too but it saved me so much time and frustration. Way better than sitting on hold for hours just to get hung up on.

Oh right, I forgot about that. So even at $999/week you're looking at 25 weeks of actual payments?

Exactly. The waiting week is still required in Washington. Some states got rid of it during COVID but Washington still has it.

You're right, it was $844 in 2023 and $929 in 2024. They adjust it annually based on the state's average weekly wage. The increases help but don't always keep up with cost of living.

yeah exactly. my rent alone is like $2400/month now so even max benefits dont cover much

It depends on your total earnings during the base period. If you had some quarters with low or no earnings, it could definitely impact your weekly benefit amount since it's based on your total wages during that period.

That makes sense. I had a gap between jobs last year so I probably won't qualify for the maximum even though my current salary would suggest I should.

The benefit amounts are the same for standby status. The main difference is you don't have to do job search activities if you're on standby and expecting to return to your job within a specific timeframe.

Good to know! That would make things easier since I'm expecting to go back to work in a few months.

What counts as a job search activity? Just applying for jobs or other things too?

Job applications, networking events, career fairs, informational interviews, using WorkSourceWA services. You need to keep detailed records of everything in case they audit you.

The job search requirements are no joke. I know someone who had to pay back benefits because they couldn't prove their job search activities during an audit.

Ugh I didn't think about taxes. Is it taxed like regular income?

Yes, it's taxed as ordinary income for both federal and state taxes. You can elect to have 10% withheld for federal taxes when you file your weekly claims.

They use your earnings from the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. So if you file in 2025, they'd typically look at Q1 2024 through Q4 2024. Your recent higher earnings might not be included if they fall outside the base period.

that sucks. so even though i make more now i might get less benefits because of the timing?

Unfortunately yes, that's possible. There is an alternate base period option in some cases, but the standard base period is what's used for most claims.

How much does something like that cost? Seems like you shouldn't have to pay extra just to talk to the agency about your own benefits.

I thought the same thing but honestly it was worth it for me. The time I saved and stress I avoided made it worthwhile. Plus I got my questions answered instead of just giving up after hours of busy signals.

The benefit calculation is the same regardless of why you're unemployed, but you have to be eligible first. If you quit without good cause or were fired for misconduct, you might be disqualified entirely. Good cause quits and non-misconduct terminations can still get the full calculated amount.

That makes sense. I'm thinking about quitting due to unsafe working conditions so hopefully that would qualify as good cause.

What causes a claim to go into adjudication? I want to avoid that if possible.

Lots of things - conflicting information between you and your employer, questions about why you left your job, identity verification issues, wage discrepancies. Sometimes it happens even when everything seems straightforward.

Yeah Washington definitely has better unemployment benefits than a lot of places. The higher wages here probably help justify the higher benefit amounts too.

True, but cost of living is higher too so it kind of balances out. Still better than what I had before though.

How does that work exactly? Can you work and still get unemployment?

Yes, you can work part-time and still receive partial benefits. They have a formula where they subtract your earnings from your weekly benefit amount, but you can earn up to a certain amount before it affects your benefits at all.

Good point! I'll definitely file right away if anything happens. Thanks everyone for all the helpful info about the maximum benefits and requirements.

No problem! The whole system can be confusing but understanding the maximums and requirements upfront definitely helps with planning.