When does the unemployment increase start in Washington ESD benefits?

Washington ESD typically adjusts benefit amounts once a year, usually effective in July. The increase is based on average wages from the previous year. You don't need to do anything - it should automatically update if you're eligible.

I think there might be confusion here. Are you talking about the regular annual adjustment or some kind of special increase? Because I haven't heard anything about extra increases beyond the normal yearly one.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD to ask about this exact thing but their phone lines are impossible. Spent 3 hours on hold yesterday and got disconnected. So frustrating when you just need a simple answer!

The maximum weekly benefit amount for 2024 is $999 per week in Washington. This gets adjusted annually based on the state's average weekly wage. If your benefit calculation puts you at or near the maximum, you'd see increases when that cap goes up.

ugh the whole system is so confusing! I can never figure out how they calculate these amounts anyway. My friend makes way less than me but gets more unemployment somehow??

Just checked my account and my weekly benefit amount is still the same as when I started my claim in March. Nothing changed after July so I don't think there was any big increase this year.

I heard they might be doing some kind of emergency increase because of inflation but that might just be wishful thinking. Everything costs so much more now but unemployment stayed the same.

For what it's worth, I called Washington ESD last week using that Claimyr service someone mentioned and asked about this. The agent told me there's no special increase planned beyond the regular July adjustment. She said if people are talking about increases they might be confusing it with other programs or other states.

Maybe check if you're thinking of the SNAP benefit increases or something like that? I know food stamps went up recently and people sometimes mix up different benefit programs.

The only increases I know about are the annual ones based on wage data. Washington typically announces these changes on their website in spring before they take effect in July. Haven't seen any announcements about additional increases for 2025 yet.

I swear they make this stuff as confusing as possible on purpose. Like why can't they just have a simple page that says 'here's when benefits change and by how much'?? Instead you have to dig through 50 different pages to find basic info.

Just want to add that if anyone is expecting their benefits to automatically increase, make sure you're still doing your weekly claims correctly. I know someone who missed out on payments because they thought everything was automatic and stopped reporting properly.