What's the max unemployment benefit amount in Washington state right now?

The maximum weekly benefit amount for 2025 is $1,015 per week in Washington. This is calculated as 3.85% of the state's average annual wage. The minimum is $295 per week. Your actual benefit depends on your earnings during your base period.

Thanks! That's way higher than I expected. How do they calculate what percentage of that max you actually get?

It's based on your highest quarter of earnings in your base period. They take that amount, divide by 26, and that's your weekly benefit - but it can't exceed the $1,015 maximum.

Wow $1015 is pretty good! I had no idea Washington unemployment was that high. Is that before taxes or after?

That's before taxes. You can choose to have federal taxes withheld at 10% when you file your weekly claims, but Washington doesn't have state income tax so no worries there.

Good to know about the tax withholding option. Better to do that than get hit with a big bill later.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks to ask about my benefit calculation and it's impossible. Their phone lines are always busy and the online chat never works. Anyone have tips for actually reaching someone?

I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com. They basically call Washington ESD for you and get you connected to an actual person. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustration.

Never heard of that but sounds interesting. Does it actually work? I'm desperate at this point.

Yeah it worked for me. They handled all the calling and waiting, then connected me when an agent was available. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.

just to clarify - the $1015 max is only if you were making really good money before right? most people dont get anywhere near that amount

Correct. To get the maximum, you'd need to have earned around $26,400 in your highest quarter of the base period. That's about $105,600 annually. Most people get significantly less.

That makes sense. I was making about $60k so I probably won't get the full amount.

The Washington ESD benefit calculator on their website is pretty accurate if you want to estimate your amount. You just need your wage info from the last 18 months.

I tried that calculator but it was confusing. It kept asking for quarters and I wasn't sure which dates to use.

The base period is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. So if you file now in 2025, it would typically be Q1 2024 through Q4 2024.

Actually, Washington uses an alternate base period if you don't qualify under the regular one. It can use the last 4 completed quarters instead, which might be more recent wages.

Does anyone know if the maximum changes mid-year or just once annually? I thought I heard it might go up again.

It typically only changes once per year, usually effective in January. The $1,015 amount should be good for all of 2025 unless there are major economic changes.

Thanks for clarifying. I wasn't sure if they adjusted it more frequently.

Update: I tried that Claimyr thing and it actually worked! Got connected to a Washington ESD agent in about 20 minutes instead of trying for hours myself. They explained my benefit calculation clearly.

What did you end up finding out about your benefits?

Turns out I qualify for about $480 per week, which is better than I expected. The agent walked through the whole calculation with me.

Glad it worked out! That's exactly why I recommended Claimyr - actually getting to talk to someone makes such a difference.

Important note: even if you qualify for the maximum benefit, you still have to meet all the other requirements like job search activities and being able and available for work.

Good point. What are the current job search requirements in Washington?

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 events, etc. All documented in WorkSourceWA.

The maximum has gone up quite a bit over the past few years. I remember when it was under $800 not that long ago.

Yes, it's increased significantly. The formula is tied to average wages in the state, so as wages have gone up, so has the unemployment maximum.

Makes sense. Cost of living has definitely gone up too, so it's good they adjust it.

Quick question - is there a difference between regular UI and extended benefits when it comes to the maximum amount?

The weekly benefit amount stays the same if you qualify for extended benefits. The maximum duration changes, not the weekly amount.

Got it, thanks for the clarification.

For anyone wondering, the $1,015 maximum applies to regular unemployment benefits. Other programs like standby or shared work might have different calculations.

What's standby? I keep seeing that term but don't understand it.

Standby is when your employer temporarily lays you off but expects to recall you within a specific timeframe. You don't have to do job search activities but the recall has to happen within the expected period.

I wish they made this information easier to find on the Washington ESD website. Took me forever to figure out the current maximum.

I agree their website navigation could be better. The benefit information is there but it's buried in different sections.

Exactly! And when you're stressed about unemployment, the last thing you want is to hunt through a confusing website.

Does the maximum apply if you're getting partial unemployment too? Like if you're working reduced hours?

Yes, but your benefit gets reduced based on your earnings. If you earn more than your weekly benefit amount, you might not get any unemployment that week.

That makes sense. So it's not worth working if you're close to your benefit amount?

There's usually an earnings disregard that lets you keep some work income without affecting benefits. In Washington, I believe you can earn up to your weekly benefit amount before it starts reducing your UI payment.

Thanks everyone for the info! This thread was way more helpful than the Washington ESD website. At least now I know what to expect if I need to file.

Same here! Really appreciate everyone sharing their knowledge and experiences.

Happy to help. These benefit calculations can be confusing, but once you understand the basics it makes more sense.

One thing to remember is that even if you qualify for the maximum, your benefits are still limited to 26 weeks in most cases. The high weekly amount doesn't extend the duration.

Good point. So it's maximum amount OR maximum duration, not both necessarily.

Exactly. The duration depends on your work history and the state's unemployment rate, while the weekly amount depends on your wages.

For what it's worth, I used Claimyr twice now when I needed to reach Washington ESD and it's been worth it both times. Way less stressful than trying to get through on my own.

I'm still skeptical about paying someone to make a phone call for me, but I might try it if I get desperate enough.

I was skeptical too, but when you factor in the time saved and frustration avoided, it's actually pretty reasonable. Plus you're guaranteed to talk to someone.

The $1,015 maximum is solid info. I got that amount when I was laid off last year because I had been making good money in tech. Definitely helped during the transition.

That's encouraging to hear it actually worked out well for someone. How long did it take to find another job?

About 4 months, but the unemployment benefits definitely made it less stressful. Could focus on finding the right opportunity instead of just taking anything.

Just want to add that if anyone is confused about their specific situation, it's worth getting connected to Washington ESD directly. The general rules help but individual cases can vary.

Absolutely agree. That's why I ended up using Claimyr - needed to talk to someone about my specific circumstances rather than just reading general info online.

Exactly. Sometimes you need that one-on-one explanation to really understand how the rules apply to your situation.

This has been really helpful. Saved me a lot of research time. The $1,015 maximum gives me a good baseline for planning if I need to file for unemployment.

Glad we could help! Remember that's the maximum - your actual amount will depend on your specific earnings history.

Right, I'll use the benefit calculator to get a more accurate estimate for my situation.