What is the top amount of unemployment you can get in Washington ESD?

Thanks! So even if I made $150k last year, I'm still capped at $999/week? That seems low compared to what I was earning.

Exactly, there's always a maximum regardless of how much you earned. The $999 is the absolute ceiling in Washington state.

The maximum gets adjusted every year based on the state's average wage. It's been increasing gradually over the past few years. You can check the current rates on the Washington ESD website under benefit calculator.

oh okay that makes sense, mine was probably calculated when the max was lower

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

Really? How does that work exactly? I'm desperate at this point.

They basically handle the calling for you and get you connected to an actual person. Way better than sitting on hold for hours or getting disconnected.

So if my highest quarter was $35,000, I'd get $1,400 per week? But then it gets reduced to the $999 maximum?

Exactly right. The formula would give you $1,400 but you'd only receive the $999 maximum that Washington allows.

I have two kids, so that would be an extra $50 per week on top of the $999?

yep exactly, so you'd get $1049 total per week

Ugh, I forgot about taxes. How much do they typically withhold?

You can choose to have 10% withheld for federal taxes when you file your weekly claims. State of Washington doesn't have income tax so no worries there.

There is a benefit calculator on the Washington ESD website, but it's not always accurate. Your actual amount depends on your specific work history in the base period.

I tried that calculator and it gave me a range instead of an exact amount. Not very helpful.

You can request a breakdown of your benefit calculation from Washington ESD. They'll send you a document showing exactly how they calculated your weekly amount.

How do I request that? Through the website or do I need to call?

You can submit a request through your eServices account or call them. Though calling might be difficult given their phone issues.

Good point. What's the minimum you need to earn to qualify for the maximum benefit?

You'd need to earn about $24,975 in your highest quarter to qualify for the maximum weekly benefit of $999.

How did they help with that? I thought they just help you get through on the phone.

they got me connected to an agent who explained the whole calculation process. way better than trying to figure it out from the website

Do you know when they typically announce the new maximum for each year?

Usually around December or January they release the new rates for the following year. Keep an eye on the ESD website for updates.

What do you mean by standby? Is that different from regular unemployment?

standby is when you're temporarily laid off but expect to return to work within a certain timeframe. the benefit calculation is the same but the job search requirements are different

Have you tried using Claimyr to get through to them? That's how I finally got my benefit calculation corrected. Much easier than trying to call on your own.

I'll look into that. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get this resolved.

Good to know there's a cap on the dependent allowance too. Everything has limits with ESD.

Yeah, but even with the max dependent allowance, you're looking at $1,124 per week total which is still decent compared to other states.

How much can you earn before they start reducing your benefits?

You can earn up to your weekly benefit amount plus $5 before they start reducing it. So if you get $999, you can earn up to $1,004 without any reduction.

True, but $999 per week is still better than a lot of other states. Some states max out at like $400-500 per week.

Fair point. I guess we're lucky compared to some places, but it still doesn't feel like enough when rent is $2500+ per month.

26 weeks goes by fast when you're job hunting. Hopefully I'll find something before then.

Exactly, use that time wisely. The job search requirements are there for a reason - they want you actively looking.

Which quarters do they use for the base period calculation?

it's usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed your claim. so if you file in january 2025, they'd look at jan-december 2024 earnings

Yeah, I wish they had better explanations. Everything on their site is written in government speak.

Agreed. They need to simplify their language and provide better examples of how the calculations work.

Perfect summary. Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! This thread has been really useful.

No problem! Good luck with your claim and hopefully you get the maximum benefit amount you qualify for.