Weekly benefit amount and weeks in Washington

The weekly benefit

Weekly benefit

$383–$1,208

Maximum: new claims opened on or after July 5, 2026 (through June 2027)

How it is figured

ESD adds your gross wages in the two base-year quarters when you earned the most, divides by 2, and multiplies by 3.85%, rounded down to the dollar. The result is limited to $383 to $1,208. If it is under $383, you get the lower of $383 or your estimated weekly wage (that average times 4, divided by 52). No one gets more than their own weekly wage.

Official

Official table or notice

Law: RCW 50.20.120(2)-(4)

The wage test

You must have worked at least 680 hours in covered employment in your base year (or alternate base year). Some of your wages in the last 18 months must be from Washington, unless you recently left the military or federal work and are now in Washington.

Your base year is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before the week you apply. If you did not work 680 hours in it, ESD checks an alternate base year: the last four completed calendar quarters.

The state's wage tests

• At least 680 hours of work in your base year or alternate base year — 680 hours of work in covered employment

Law: RCW 50.04.030; RCW 50.20.010

Official source: Source page

Estimate your weekly benefit

Enter the gross wages (before taxes) you were paid in each quarter of your base period. We apply the state's own formula to your numbers.

The state's formula: the average of your two highest quarters × 3.85%, rounded down; at least $383 and at most $1,208

How long it lasts

Up to 26 weeks.

Most people can get up to 26 weeks of regular benefits in a 52-week benefit year. The total you can get is the lower of 26 times your weekly benefit or one-third of your total base-year wages, so some claims run out sooner. Working part time can stretch your benefits over more weeks. Leftover benefits do not roll over into a new benefit year.

Extra weeks and training

The Training Benefits program can pay extra benefits while you are in approved training. Extended Benefits are paid only when high unemployment turns them on.

Law: RCW 50.20.120(1)

Official source: Source page

Waiting week

The first week you file a claim and meet all weekly requirements is your unpaid waiting week. If you do not meet the requirements that week, the next eligible week becomes your waiting week. You serve only one waiting week per benefit year.

Law: RCW 50.20.010(1)(d)

Official source: Source page

Working part time

You can work part time and still get benefits. Report your gross earnings for the week you did the work. ESD subtracts 75% of your gross earnings over $5 from your weekly benefit. If the deduction equals or is more than your weekly benefit, you get no payment that week.

Source: see ESD's earnings deduction chart

Law: RCW 50.20.130(2)

Official source: Source page

What applies in every state

• You must have earned enough wages, or worked enough, during a period called the base period. In most states it is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file.
• It generally takes two to three weeks after you file to get your first payment. Some states require a one-week waiting period, so the second week you claim is the first week paid.
• Unemployment benefits count as income for federal income tax. You must report them on your federal tax return.

  Law: 26 U.S.C. 85(a)

Free help

Call 1-800-318-6022. Legal aid and other free help in Washington → Official sources →