What is unemployment pay in Washington - confused about how much I'll get from ESD

Washington ESD is the Employment Security Department - they handle unemployment benefits in our state. Unemployment pay (also called UI benefits) is money you get temporarily when you lose your job through no fault of your own. The amount depends on how much you earned at your previous job. It's usually around 60-70% of your average weekly wages, up to a maximum amount.

The Washington ESD system calculates your benefit amount based on your earnings in the base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file). You get a percentage of your average weekly wage, but there's a maximum weekly benefit amount that changes each year. For 2025, the max is around $999 per week.

Just wanted to add that getting through to Washington ESD on the phone can be a nightmare if you have questions about your benefit amount. I spent literally hours trying to call them. Finally found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to an actual agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

unemployment is basically insurance you pay into while working then get back when unemployed. washington esd runs the whole program. you file weekly claims to keep getting paid and have to do job searches

The whole Washington ESD system is a bureaucratic mess honestly. They make it as confusing as possible on purpose. You file an initial claim, then you have to file weekly claims every week to keep getting paid. Miss a week and you lose benefits for that week. Plus they require you to search for jobs and document everything.

I'm in a similar situation - just got laid off from my restaurant job. Been putting off filing because I don't understand all the terminology. What's the difference between regular unemployment and that standby thing I keep seeing mentioned?

Just apply online at secure.esd.wa.gov - it walks you through everything step by step. Don't overthink it.

One thing to know is that unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld or pay them later when you file your tax return. I learned this the hard way and ended up owing money at tax time.

Also important to note - there's usually a one-week waiting period before benefits start. So even if you file right away, your first payment might not come for 2-3 weeks depending on processing time.

The job search requirement is 3 job contacts per week minimum. You have to keep a log and they can audit it. Don't skip this part or they'll disqualify you and make you pay everything back.

I've been on unemployment twice and honestly the hardest part is just getting through to someone at Washington ESD when you have questions. Their phone system is overwhelmed. That Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier actually works - I used it last month when my claim got held up.

Quick question - if I was working part-time, am I still eligible for unemployment? I was only working about 25 hours a week at my last job.

Make sure you have all your employment info ready when you file - dates of employment, employer addresses, reason for job separation, etc. Having everything organized makes the application process go much smoother.

The benefit amount also depends on how long you worked. You need sufficient work history and earnings in the base period to qualify. If you just started working recently you might not be eligible yet.

Just a heads up that if you quit your job instead of being laid off, you probably won't qualify for unemployment unless you had good cause. Washington ESD is pretty strict about this.

One more tip - set up direct deposit when you file your claim. It's way faster than waiting for checks in the mail. Payments usually come on the same day each week once you're approved.

My claim went into adjudication because my employer contested it (said I was fired for cause which wasn't true). Took 8 weeks to resolve. If that happens to you, don't panic - just make sure you respond to any requests for information quickly.

Washington ESD also offers some job training programs that can extend your benefits while you learn new skills. Worth looking into if you want to change careers.

Bottom line - file as soon as possible after losing your job. Don't wait because you're confused about the process. You can always call (or use that Claimyr thing) to get help with questions later, but you want to get your claim started ASAP.