What's the current Washington ESD weekly unemployment benefit amount for 2025?

Thanks! So if I made $14,000 in my highest quarter that would be around $520 per week? That seems higher than I expected.

That math looks about right. Don't forget you'll need to report any part-time work which could reduce your weekly amount.

Six weeks?? How did you finally get through to them to resolve it?

Honestly I used this service called Claimyr that calls Washington ESD for you. Found it at claimyr.com and they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Saved me hours of trying to get through their phone lines.

Never heard of that but might be worth it if I run into issues. Thanks for the tip!

The fraud cleanup is mostly done now. My cousin just filed in January and got her first payment within 3 weeks.

Maybe things are improving then. My experience was from last year when everything was still a mess.

Good to know about filing weekly even during adjudication. I definitely don't want to miss out on any payments.

This is super important advice. I made this mistake and lost 3 weeks of benefits because I thought I didn't need to file while waiting.

I don't have kids but good info for others reading this thread.

The dependency allowance helped me a lot when I was unemployed with two kids. That extra $25 covered groceries for a few days.

Oh wow I didn't think about taxes. I'll make sure to set aside money for that.

You can elect to have 10% federal taxes withheld when you file your initial claim. Much easier than dealing with a big tax bill later.

That's exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier - they handle the calling for you so you don't waste your whole day on hold.

Might have to look into that. I'm tired of wasting entire days trying to reach someone at Washington ESD.

Seems like getting through to them is a common problem. Good to know there are alternatives.

That's helpful context. I've been working steady for the past 2 years so my base period should be strong.

Sounds like you should qualify for a decent benefit amount then. Just make sure you meet the job search requirements once you start claiming.

That's good to know. I might pick up some freelance work while job hunting.

Just make sure you report all earnings honestly on your weekly claims. Washington ESD cross-checks with employers and tax records.

Exactly - being honest about earnings is crucial. The penalties for not reporting income are severe.

I'll check out the calculator to get a rough estimate. Thanks for mentioning it.

The calculator gave me one amount but my actual weekly benefit was $50 less. Still not sure why but decided not to fight it.

I think the maximum is 26 weeks of benefits, right? So weekly amount times 26?

That's correct for regular unemployment insurance. Some people might qualify for extended benefits during high unemployment periods but that's rare.

How does that work exactly? Do they just call for you or is there more to it?

They handle the calling and waiting on hold, then connect you when they get through to a real person. Super convenient when you're dealing with complex claim issues.

That's pretty quick turnaround. Do they direct deposit or send a debit card?

You can choose either direct deposit or they'll send you a ReliaCard debit card. Direct deposit is definitely faster and more convenient.

What counts as a job search activity? Just applying for jobs or other things too?

Job applications, networking events, career fairs, skills workshops, even updating your LinkedIn profile can count. Keep detailed records of everything.

They can audit your job search activities so make sure you're keeping good records. I've heard of people getting disqualified for inadequate job search efforts.

Waiting week? So even if approved I won't get paid for the first week?

Correct - there's a one week waiting period before benefits begin. But you still need to file that first weekly claim to establish your benefit year.

I feel you. The system definitely isn't user-friendly. Hang in there though - once you get through the initial setup it gets easier.

This is exactly why services like Claimyr exist. Sometimes paying for help is worth it to avoid the stress of dealing with the bureaucracy yourself.

Thanks everyone for all the detailed info. Feeling much more prepared to file my claim now.

Good luck with your claim! Don't hesitate to ask if you run into any issues during the process.