When does unemployment pay increase in Washington ESD benefits?

Washington ESD typically adjusts the maximum weekly benefit amount once a year, usually effective in January. The increase is based on changes in the state's average wage. However, your individual benefit amount is calculated when you file your initial claim and generally stays the same throughout your benefit year unless there are other changes to your earnings history.

i think the max went up this year to like $1015 or something but if your already getting benefits you dont get the increase

Washington ESD benefit amounts are calculated based on your previous earnings and don't typically increase during your benefit year. The maximum weekly benefit amount and wage base do get adjusted annually, but that only affects new claims filed after the adjustment takes effect, usually in January.

I was in a similar situation last year trying to get clarification on benefit increases. Couldn't get through to Washington ESD on the phone after calling for weeks. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get connected to an actual agent who explained exactly how the annual adjustments work. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Much easier than spending hours on hold.

I think there might be some confusion here. The state does increase the maximum benefit amounts each year but like the previous poster said, it only applies to new claims. For 2025, the max went up to $999/week but that doesn't help people already on claims.

The annual increase only applies to new claims filed after the effective date. If you're already receiving benefits, your amount is based on the wage base period that was used when you initially qualified. The only way your existing weekly benefit amount would change is if there's an error correction or if you become eligible for additional benefits like dependency allowances.

this is so confusing!! i thought unemployment was supposed to help people but if costs keep going up and payments dont then what good is it?? my grocery bill alone has doubled since i started collecting

THIS IS SO FRUSTRATING!!! Why don't existing claimants get the cost of living increase? Everything else goes up in price but our benefits stay the same. The system is totally broken.

Just to clarify the timeline - Washington ESD reviews wage data annually and sets new maximum weekly benefit amounts that typically take effect in January. For 2025, the maximum weekly benefit amount is $1,019. But remember, most people don't receive the maximum - your actual amount depends on your earnings during your base period.

To clarify the annual increases: Washington ESD adjusts the maximum weekly benefit amount and the wage base used for calculations each year based on average wages. For 2025, the maximum weekly benefit is $999 (up from $929 in 2024). However, this only affects claims with benefit years starting on or after January 5, 2025.

wait so if i exhaust my benefits and have to file a new claim later this year would i get the higher amount?

Wait, so if my benefit year ends and I'm still unemployed, I could potentially get a higher amount when I refile?

I was in a similar situation last year and had to call Washington ESD multiple times to understand my options. The phone system is absolutely terrible - I spent weeks trying to get through. Finally used that Claimyr service someone mentioned and got connected to an agent within a few hours. They were able to explain exactly how the benefit calculations work and confirmed there's no way to increase benefits mid-claim.

does anyone know if there's gonna be another increase next year or is it just whenever they feel like it?

I remember when I first filed my claim I was confused about all this stuff too. The Washington ESD website doesn't really explain it clearly. Had to call like 50 times to get through to someone who could explain how the benefit calculation works.

The whole system needs to be reformed. How can they expect people to survive on fixed amounts when inflation is hitting everything? I've been on unemployment twice and both times watched my purchasing power decrease over the benefit year.

Just wanted to add that some people confuse regular UI increases with the special pandemic programs that had extra payments. Those ended in 2021, so don't expect any additional weekly amounts beyond your calculated benefit.

I called Washington ESD about this exact question last month and the agent told me the only way to potentially get a higher benefit is if there was an error in my original calculation. She reviewed my claim and everything was correct, so I'm stuck with my current amount.

One thing to keep in mind - even though your weekly benefit amount doesn't increase during your benefit year, you should still file your weekly claims on time and report any work accurately. Missing deadlines or misreporting can mess up your benefits way more than not getting a cost of living adjustment.

For what it's worth, the benefit increase schedule is set by state law and tied to wage data. It's not arbitrary - they use average wages from the previous year to calculate the new maximums. Still doesn't help if you're already on a claim though.

Still think it's BS that they can't just apply the increase to everyone. Like how hard would that be to program into their system?

my cousin in california said her unemployment went up during her claim but i think she was confused about something else. probably mixing up different programs or something

thanks everyone this actually helped a lot. was getting worried that i was missing out on extra money somehow

Just to be clear for anyone reading this - Washington ESD does not provide cost of living adjustments during an active claim. Your weekly benefit amount is calculated when you file and remains the same for your entire benefit year, regardless of inflation or increased living costs.

btw if anyone needs to actually talk to washington esd about this stuff that claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier actually works. used it last month when my claim was stuck

One final note - if you think there might be an error in your benefit calculation, you can request a redetermination from Washington ESD. Sometimes there are mistakes in how they calculate the base period wages, which could affect your weekly benefit amount. But this is different from the annual cost of living adjustments we've been discussing.

This thread was really helpful. I had the same question but was afraid to ask because I thought it might be obvious.

The timing of when increases take effect is important too. If you filed your claim in December 2024, you'd get the 2024 maximums. If you filed in January 2025, you'd get the higher 2025 maximums. It's all about when your benefit year starts.

I wish Washington ESD would at least send out notifications explaining this stuff. I had to piece together information from multiple sources to understand how the system works.

Bottom line: if you're already on a claim, your weekly benefit won't increase until you potentially file a new claim after your benefit year ends. The annual increases only apply to new claims filed after the effective date.