Washington Unemployment Calculator 2026
Washington pays $383–$1,208 per week for up to 26 weeks in 2026. Your weekly benefit amount is 3.85% of the average of your two highest-earning quarters. Enter your quarterly wages below to estimate it — the math runs entirely in your browser, from figures verified against Washington State Employment Security Department.
Works offline — your inputs never leave this device. How that works
Enter your gross wages for each quarter of the base period — roughly the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. Your state's exact window is shown with the result.
Base period: ESD: 'Your base year is the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters (Q) before the week you applied for benefits.' (an alternate base period is available if you don’t qualify with the standard one).
File your claim with Washington State Employment Security Department — only the agency determines your actual benefit.
Verified 2026-07-31 against Washington Employment Security Department - Estimate your benefit (effective 2026-07-05)
Estimate only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Only Washington State Employment Security Department can determine your actual amounts.
Official source: Washington State Employment Security Department — file a claim ↗
Working part-time? Partial benefits
Washington disregards part of what you earn in a week before reducing your benefit. Estimate what a part-time week leaves you with:
How long benefits can last
Up to 26 weeks; total benefits are ESD: total benefits are 'the smaller of either: 26 times your weekly benefit amount' or '1/3 of the total gross (before tax) wages in all 4 quarters of your base year.'
Who qualifies for benefits in Washington
ESD basic eligibility requirements: 'You need to have worked at least 680 hours during your base year' and 'During the last 18 months, you need to have earned at least some of your wages in Washington state.' Washington's monetary test is hours-based; no dollar threshold is published.
Meeting the wage test is not the same as being approved: Washington State Employment Security Department also rules on the reason for the separation and on your availability for work each week. File with Washington State Employment Security Department ↗
Base period in Washington
ESD: 'Your base year is the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters (Q) before the week you applied for benefits.'. An alternate base period is available if you don’t qualify with the standard window. ESD publishes an alternate base year (the last four completed calendar quarters) used when the claimant did not work 680 hours in the standard base year. AGENCY EXAMPLE: 'say you applied for Unemployment benefits on March 30, 2026. However, you did not work 680 hours in your base year. Your alternate base year would be Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2025.'
See which quarters count for your filing date →Severance and your claim
Unemployed Worker's Handbook (October 2025): 'A severance package or these payments from your employer may affect the amount of your unemployment benefits: Pay in lieu of notice... Termination pay... Severance pay - This is payment you may receive as part of your job separation, that is connected to work done before the separation. You need to report any separation payments when you file your weekly claim. We may contact you for more information to determine if your separation payment is deductible from your weekly benefits.'
Source: Washington Employment Security Department - Estimate your benefit (verified 2026-07-31).
Washington unemployment: frequently asked questions
Washington pays between $383 and $1,208 per week in 2026. Your amount is 3.85% of the average of your two highest-earning quarters, and only Washington State Employment Security Department can determine it officially. These figures were verified against the agency's own publication on 2026-07-31.
More unemployment tools
Washington benefit-change alerts + the free Layoff Money Kit
One email when the numbers change. Double opt-in, no spam, unsubscribe anytime.