What is the pay for unemployment benefits in Washington ESD?
I'm trying to figure out what the actual weekly payment amount would be if I file for unemployment in Washington. I worked part-time making about $18/hour for the past year and a half, usually around 28-32 hours per week. Does anyone know how Washington ESD calculates the weekly benefit amount? I've heard it's based on your earnings but I can't find clear info on their website about the exact formula they use.
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Yara Khoury
Washington ESD uses your highest quarter earnings from your base period to calculate your weekly benefit amount. The maximum weekly benefit for 2025 is $929, but most people get way less than that. Your benefit is roughly 3.85% of your highest quarter earnings, but there's a minimum of $295 per week.
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AstroAlpha
•Thanks! So if I made around $6,000 in my highest quarter, that would be about $231 per week? That seems really low.
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Yara Khoury
•Actually, you'd get the minimum of $295 since $231 is below the minimum threshold. The state sets a floor so people aren't left with tiny payments.
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Keisha Taylor
i think its different for everyone depending on what you made. i got like $440 a week when i was on unemployment last year but my friend only got $320 or something
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AstroAlpha
•Do you remember roughly what your wages were when you worked? Trying to get a sense of the calculation.
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Keisha Taylor
•i was making about $22/hour full time so probably around $11k or $12k in my best quarter
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Paolo Longo
The Washington ESD benefit calculator on their website is actually pretty accurate if you have your wage information handy. You'll need to know your earnings for each quarter in your base period. The base period is usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim.
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AstroAlpha
•I tried using their calculator but it keeps giving me error messages when I enter my wages. Has anyone else had trouble with it?
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Paolo Longo
•Yeah, their online tools can be glitchy. You might need to call them to get an accurate estimate, though getting through can be challenging.
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Amina Bah
•If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone, I discovered this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an agent. They have a system that calls for you and connects you when someone picks up. Check out claimyr.com - they even have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.
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Oliver Becker
Just want to point out that your weekly benefit amount is only part of the equation. You also need to meet the job search requirements and report any part-time work income. If you work part-time while collecting, they'll reduce your benefit by a portion of what you earn.
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AstroAlpha
•Good point. Do you know how much they reduce it by if I work a few hours?
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Oliver Becker
•They subtract 75% of your gross earnings from your weekly benefit. So if you earn $100 working part-time, they'd reduce your benefit by $75.
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CosmicCowboy
I'm confused about the base period thing. If I file today, which quarters do they look at? And what if I didn't work much in those quarters but I've been working more recently?
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Paolo Longo
•If you file in January 2025, your base period would typically be January 2024 through December 2024. If you didn't earn enough in that period, they might use an alternative base period that includes more recent quarters.
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CosmicCowboy
•That makes sense. I was worried they'd only look at last year when I was barely working.
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Natasha Orlova
Don't forget you might be eligible for additional benefits if you have dependents. Washington ESD adds money for dependent children under certain circumstances.
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AstroAlpha
•Really? I have a 7-year-old daughter. How much extra would that be?
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Natasha Orlova
•It's like $24 per week per dependent child, but there are income limits and other requirements. Worth asking about when you file your claim.
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Javier Cruz
the whole system is so confusing!! why cant they just tell you upfront what youll get instead of making you guess with all these calculations
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Yara Khoury
•I agree it's complicated, but they have to verify your wages first before they can give you an exact amount. The calculations are based on reported earnings from employers.
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Javier Cruz
•still annoying when you need to budget and dont know what to expect
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Emma Thompson
One thing to keep in mind is that unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld or pay them later, but don't forget about that when planning your budget.
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AstroAlpha
•Oh wow, I didn't know that. What percentage do they typically withhold?
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Emma Thompson
•Federal withholding is 10% if you elect it. Washington doesn't have state income tax, so you don't need to worry about that part.
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Malik Jackson
I just went through this process last month. With part-time work similar to yours, I ended up getting $315 per week. The key is making sure Washington ESD has accurate wage information from all your employers.
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AstroAlpha
•That's helpful to know! Did you have any issues with the application process?
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Malik Jackson
•The initial application was pretty straightforward, but I had to provide additional documentation for one of my employers. Just make sure you have all your employment history ready.
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Isabella Costa
Pro tip: if your claim gets held up in adjudication or you need to speak with someone about your benefit calculation, that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier really does work. I was skeptical at first but it saved me hours of trying to call Washington ESD directly.
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AstroAlpha
•How long did it take them to connect you to someone?
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Isabella Costa
•It took about 25 minutes for them to get me connected to an agent, which is way better than the 2+ hours I spent trying to call myself.
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StarSurfer
Remember that your benefit amount also determines how long you can collect. In Washington, you can usually collect for up to 26 weeks, but you need to have earned enough in your base period to qualify for the full duration.
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AstroAlpha
•Is there a minimum amount you need to have earned to qualify at all?
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StarSurfer
•Yes, you need at least $3,850 in your base period and earnings in at least two quarters. Plus your highest quarter needs to be at least 1.5 times your lowest quarter.
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Ravi Malhotra
just want to add that the weekly benefit amount can change if you appeal an initial determination or if they find additional wage information. mine went up by $50 after they found wages from a temp agency i forgot to report
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AstroAlpha
•Good to know! I did work for a temp agency briefly last year.
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Ravi Malhotra
•definitely include that in your application - sometimes those wages dont show up right away in their system
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Freya Christensen
The benefit amount is just one piece of the puzzle. You also need to factor in the waiting week (though Washington eliminated that recently), the job search requirements, and any work you might do while collecting.
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AstroAlpha
•What are the current job search requirements?
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Freya Christensen
•You need to make at least 3 job search activities per week and keep a log. This includes applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking activities, etc.
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Omar Hassan
If you're still having trouble figuring out your benefit amount, I'd recommend trying to call Washington ESD directly. I know it's hard to get through, but they can give you the most accurate estimate based on your specific situation.
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AstroAlpha
•I've tried calling several times but keep getting busy signals or disconnected.
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Amina Bah
•That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr - they handle all the calling and waiting for you. Worth it if you need answers quickly.
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Chloe Robinson
One more thing - if you're eligible for Trade Adjustment Assistance or some other federal programs, your benefit calculation might be different. But for regular state unemployment, the formula mentioned earlier is accurate.
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AstroAlpha
•I don't think I qualify for any special programs, just regular unemployment.
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Chloe Robinson
•Then you should be good with the standard calculation. Just make sure to file as soon as you become unemployed since benefits don't backdate.
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Diego Chavez
has anyone noticed if the benefit amounts have gone up this year? i thought i heard something about increases but not sure if thats true
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Yara Khoury
•The maximum weekly benefit did increase for 2025 - it's now $929 per week compared to $899 last year. The minimum stayed at $295.
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Diego Chavez
•ok good to know thanks
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NeonNebula
Don't forget to consider the tax implications when budgeting. Even though unemployment benefits are taxable, you might end up in a lower tax bracket if it's your only income for part of the year.
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AstroAlpha
•That's a good point. I should probably talk to a tax preparer about this.
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NeonNebula
•Yeah, especially if you're collecting unemployment for part of the year and working for part of the year. The tax situation can get complicated.
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Anastasia Kozlov
Bottom line - your benefit amount depends on your earnings history, but for part-time work at $18/hour, you're probably looking at somewhere between $300-400 per week. The exact amount will depend on your specific wage pattern over the base period.
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AstroAlpha
•That range is really helpful. I guess I'll just have to apply and see what they calculate.
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Anastasia Kozlov
•Exactly. Once you file, they'll send you a monetary determination letter that breaks down exactly how they calculated your benefit amount.
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