What is the most you can make on Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

The maximum weekly benefit amount in Washington for 2025 is $999 per week. This is calculated based on your earnings in your base year - they take your highest quarter earnings and divide by 26. But you need to have earned at least $7,000 in your base year to qualify.

i think its actually higher than that now, like over $1000? i remember seeing something about it going up but im not 100% sure

Just wanted to mention that if you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to ask about your potential benefit amount, I used Claimyr recently and it was a game changer. They got me connected to an actual agent within minutes instead of waiting on hold forever. You can check out their service at claimyr.com - they even have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

The formula is pretty straightforward but there are some nuances. Your weekly benefit amount is calculated as your highest quarter base year earnings divided by 26, but it can't exceed the maximum. Also remember you have to be able and available for work and actively searching to keep getting benefits.

BE CAREFUL - they will audit your job search activities and if you don't have proper documentation they can disqualify you and make you pay everything back! I learned this the hard way.

also dont forget you can work part time and still get some benefits as long as you report your earnings. they deduct it from your weekly benefit but you can still get something if you work under 32 hours

I was making about the same as you and got the maximum amount. The process was pretty smooth once I actually got through to someone at Washington ESD. Took about 2 weeks for my first payment after filing.

The waiting period is what killed me. Even though there's no waiting week anymore, it still took forever to get my first payment because they had to verify my employment. Make sure your employer responds quickly to their requests.

Speaking of getting through to Washington ESD, I can't stress enough how much Claimyr helped me. I was getting so frustrated trying to call and either getting busy signals or being disconnected after waiting an hour. With Claimyr I got connected immediately and was able to get my questions answered about my benefit calculation.

Just remember that unemployment is taxable income! You can choose to have taxes withheld or pay quarterly. I forgot about this and owed a bunch at tax time.

The system has gotten so much better since the pandemic mess. Filing weekly claims is pretty straightforward now and payments come via direct deposit usually within 2-3 business days.

Don't forget about the maximum duration too - you can get up to 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits, but that can be extended during high unemployment periods. Right now I think we're at the standard 26 weeks.

make sure you understand the difference between being laid off vs fired for cause. if you quit or get fired for misconduct you might not qualify at all

I had to appeal my initial denial and it was worth fighting. Sometimes Washington ESD makes mistakes in their initial determination. The appeals process isn't too complicated if you have documentation.

Another tip - keep applying for jobs even if you think you might get called back by your employer. You never know what will happen and you need to show you're actively seeking work anyway.

The WorkSource registration requirement is important too. You have to register with WorkSourceWA within a certain timeframe or they can delay your benefits.

Honestly, after struggling with calling Washington ESD for weeks, I finally tried Claimyr and wished I had done it sooner. Being able to actually talk to someone who could explain my benefit calculation and answer my questions was such a relief. Sometimes it's worth paying for a service that actually works.

Just want to add that if you have any side income like freelance work or rental income, you need to report that too. They want to know about ALL income sources, not just wages from employment.

The benefit year is also something to keep in mind - once you file a claim, that establishes your benefit year and you can't file a new claim until that year expires, even if your situation changes.

Bottom line - with your salary level you should qualify for close to the maximum benefit amount. Just make sure you file as soon as you become unemployed since there's no retroactive benefits for weeks you don't claim.