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Just remember that even with tax withholding, you should still keep good records of all your unemployment payments and any work you do on the side. Makes tax filing much easier.
Thanks everyone for all this helpful information! I had no idea unemployment was taxable and I've been on it for 2 months already. Better late than never to get this figured out.
one more tip - if you get denied for any reason, don't give up! you can appeal the decision. a lot of people don't realize that and just accept the denial
been reading this thread and just wanted to say that washington's UI system is actually pretty good compared to what my friends in other states deal with. the amounts are decent and the process isn't too terrible if you have all your paperwork ready
Just to add one more confirmation - filed my claim in January 2025 and got paid for week 1. No waiting week in Washington state. Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims on schedule!
Bottom line for OP: Washington eliminated waiting week in 2020, you'll get paid for week 1 if eligible, still need to file your weekly claim, and if you can't get through to Washington ESD by phone there are services like Claimyr that can help you connect with an agent.
Don't forget you'll need to do job searches every week to keep getting benefits. Washington requires 3 job search activities per week and you have to log them in WorkSourceWA. The benefit amount doesn't matter if you can't meet the work search requirements.
Make sure you understand what counts as a valid job search activity. Just browsing job websites doesn't count - you need to actually apply or make contact with employers.
Bottom line - with your $52k salary you're probably looking at $500-600 per week in unemployment benefits. Just be patient with the system because everything takes forever to process, even when there are no issues with your claim.
Yeah this thread was really helpful. I'm in a similar situation and was totally confused about how the calculations work.
If anyone needs to contact Washington ESD about their benefits and can't get through on the phone, definitely check out Claimyr. The video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ explains exactly how it works and it's been a game changer for actually reaching agents.
Christian Burns
One more thing - make sure you understand your rights in the appeals process if it comes to that. You can present evidence and have witnesses testify at unemployment hearings.
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Alice Pierce
•Good to know. Hopefully it doesn't come to that, but it's nice to know I have options.
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Christian Burns
•The hearing process is actually pretty straightforward and less intimidating than it sounds. Focus on facts and documentation if you end up there.
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Sasha Reese
Bottom line: respond to Washington ESD promptly, provide all requested documentation, and don't take it personally if they approve benefits. The system errs on the side of helping unemployed workers.
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Alice Pierce
•That makes sense from a policy perspective, even if it's frustrating as an employer. Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice!
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Sasha Reese
•You're welcome! This is all part of running a business. Just make sure to learn from it and improve your processes.
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