Washington Unemployment Insurance

Washington Unemployment Insurance (UI) helps eligible workers who lost their job through no fault of their own by temporarily replacing part of their wages.

Each state sets its own guidelines for eligibility for UI benefits, but you usually qualify if you:

1. have lost a job through no fault of your own;
2. are unemployed or partially unemployed for reasons permissible under federal law;
3. are “able to work, available to work, and actively seeking work;” and
4. have earned at least a certain amount of money during a “base period” prior to becoming unemployed. In most states, this is usually the first 4 out of the last 5 completed calendar quarters prior to the time that your claim is filed.

To be eligible for benefits, you must prove that you have worked at least 680 hours and earned a minimum amount of wages during the first 12 months of the 15 months prior to filing a claim.

As a condition of eligibility, you are also required to actively seek suitable employment each week that you’re filing for benefits.

How much is the unemployment benefit in Washington State?

According to the Washington State Employment Security Department, the minimum and maximum weekly unemployment benefits in Washington State rank among the highest in the nation, at $383 and $1,208, respectively, for new claims opened on or after July 5, 2026.¹

New rules effective January 2026 also limit benefits for those striking, making them ineligible until after the second Sunday or strike end. ²

What is the maximum duration of unemployment benefits in Washington?

The maximum duration in Washington is 26 weeks per benefit year. Additional weeks are available only when extended benefits are triggered by a high state unemployment rate.

How do I apply for unemployment in Washington State?

If you live in Washington State, you may choose to file a claim either online in eServices  or over the phone by calling (800) 318-6022 Monday through Friday.

If you don’t have a phone or computer, you can use one for free at any WorkSource employment center near you.

Washington State Employment Security Department
Unemployment Insurance (UI) Claims Center
(800) 318-6022