What percentage of your salary is unemployment benefits in Washington?

Washington unemployment benefits are calculated as roughly 50% of your average weekly wage, but there's a maximum weekly benefit amount. For 2025, the max is around $1,015 per week. So if you were making $4,200/month ($970/week), you'd probably get close to $485 per week in unemployment.

It's based on your gross wages from your base year, which is usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters. Washington ESD will calculate it automatically when you file your claim.

I had trouble getting through to Washington ESD to ask about my benefit calculation. The phone lines are always busy and I kept getting disconnected. Finally found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really saved me hours of frustration.

The percentage varies by state but Washington is pretty generous compared to others. You also get benefits for up to 26 weeks normally, though sometimes there are extensions during economic downturns.

just make sure you file your weekly claims every week and do your job search activities or they'll cut you off. washington esd is pretty strict about that stuff

I think there's also a waiting week in Washington where you don't get paid for the first week you file, but I might be wrong about that. Anyone know for sure?

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! This gives me a much better idea of what to expect when I file my claim.

One more thing - if you have any severance pay or vacation payout, that might affect when your benefits start. Washington ESD considers that wages for unemployment purposes.

The whole unemployment system is so confusing. I wish they made it easier to understand all these rules and calculations.

If you run into any issues with your claim or need to speak with someone at Washington ESD, definitely consider using that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier. It really helped me avoid the phone tree nightmare.

also remember you have to be able and available for work each week when you file your weekly claim. if you're sick or go on vacation you need to report that

I was surprised that my unemployment was actually a bit higher than I expected because they averaged my wages over the whole base year period, and I had gotten a raise partway through.

The key thing is to file your initial claim as soon as possible after losing your job. You can't get benefits for weeks before you actually file, even if you were eligible.

Does anyone know if unemployment benefits count as income for things like food stamps or other assistance programs?

I found the Washington ESD website pretty helpful for understanding the benefit calculation, but it took some digging to find the right information.

Make sure you understand the difference between gross and net when they ask about wages. I think I confused myself during my initial filing.

The Washington unemployment system has gotten better over the years but it's still not perfect. Just be patient with the process.

One last tip - make sure you have all your employment information ready when you file. Employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and reason for separation. It makes the process go much smoother.

And if you need to contact Washington ESD for any reason during your claim, remember that Claimyr service can save you a lot of time and frustration with their phone system.

Thanks again everyone! This thread has been super helpful. I feel much more prepared to file my claim now.

Just wanted to add that you should also keep records of all your job applications and contacts for your weekly claims. Washington ESD can audit your job search log at any time, so it's important to document everything - where you applied, when, contact person if you have one, and what type of position. I learned this the hard way when they requested my records and I had to scramble to recreate everything from memory.