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For anyone still struggling to get through to Washington ESD about benefit calculations, I had great success with Claimyr recently. They have a video demo that shows exactly how their service works - really helped me understand what I was getting into before trying it.
Bottom line: $999 is the max weekly benefit for 2025, but most people get somewhere between $400-700 depending on their work history. The calculation is complex but the Washington ESD website has tools to help estimate your amount.
I've noticed that if Washington ESD is doing system maintenance or updates, it can delay payment processing by a day or two. They don't always announce it publicly but it happens occasionally.
FINAL UPDATE: My payment just came through! Showed up Thursday morning, so about 2 days later than usual. Must have been some kind of processing delay like others mentioned. Thanks everyone for the help and reassurance!
Happy it came through! Still recommend bookmarking that Claimyr service for future Washington ESD issues though.
Has anyone used that Claimyr service mentioned earlier? I'm having a different issue with my benefits and really need to talk to someone at Washington ESD but the phone situation is impossible. Wondering if it's legit or a scam.
The tax withholding thing caught me off guard too when I first started collecting. You can also choose to have no taxes taken out and just pay quarterly estimated taxes if you prefer. Some people like having the full amount each week and handling taxes themselves.
Just wanted to add that if you received unemployment in multiple states during the pandemic, you'll get separate 1099-G forms from each state's employment department. Don't forget to include all of them on your federal return.
Bottom line - yes you have to pay federal income tax on ALL unemployment benefits received after 2020. The temporary exclusion was only for 2020 tax year. Plan ahead for next year if you're still receiving benefits.
Emily Sanjay
Been through this process twice now and the biggest thing is just getting that initial application submitted. Everything else flows from there - your weekly claims, job search requirements, everything. Don't overthink it.
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Isabella Brown
•Thanks everyone for all the advice! Going to file my claim right now. Really appreciate all the help.
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Jordan Walker
•Good luck! Hope your claim goes through smoothly and you find something new soon.
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Natalie Adams
One more tip - if you run into any issues with your claim getting stuck or need to speak with someone at Washington ESD, I've had success with that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Worth checking out if the normal phone lines aren't working for you.
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Isabella Brown
•I'll keep that in mind if I run into problems. Hopefully the online filing goes smoothly and I won't need to call anyone.
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Elijah O'Reilly
•That's the hope! But good to know there are options if you do need to reach a live person for questions.
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