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Been there done that. Filed for unemployment twice in the past 5 years. First time I got $680/week, second time I got $742/week because my wages had gone up. The system actually works pretty well once you get through the initial application process.
Based on what you've said about your wages, I'd estimate you'll get somewhere between $580-650 per week. That's assuming you worked consistently and didn't have any gaps in employment. The exact amount depends on the quarterly breakdown of your earnings.
For what it's worth, I just filed my claim yesterday and the online system only asked me to upload pay stubs if there were wage discrepancies. Since my employer reported everything correctly, I didn't need to provide any additional documentation. The system is pretty smart about matching up wage records.
Bottom line from reading all these responses: gather 12-18 months of pay stubs from all your jobs, make copies or scan them, have them ready when you file, but don't panic if you don't have every single one. Washington ESD has most wage information already and will let you know if they need additional documentation.
One more thing - if you're getting the maximum benefit, you'll definitely want to stay on top of your job search requirements. Washington ESD scrutinizes high-benefit claims more closely.
The system is so complicated. I wish they'd just tell you upfront what your benefit amount will be instead of making you guess.
You can actually see an estimate once you start the application process. It shows your potential weekly benefit amount before you submit.
I never got that far because I kept getting error messages. That's when I ended up using Claimyr to get help from an actual person at Washington ESD.
For anyone still having trouble getting answers from Washington ESD directly, I also had success with that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Really helped when I needed to sort out a payment issue and couldn't get through on the phone.
Bottom line for the OP - you should see your payment by Wednesday or Thursday at the latest if you filed Sunday and everything is processed normally. The Tuesday/Wednesday processing schedule is pretty reliable in my experience.
Lily Young
The most important thing is to stay organized and keep all your documents ready. When you get your hearing notice, it will tell you exactly what evidence to bring.
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Alice Fleming
•Thanks everyone for all the advice. Feeling a bit more confident about this whole process now.
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Kennedy Morrison
•Good luck with your appeal! Most people with legitimate cases do end up winning.
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Wesley Hallow
Final tip - write down a timeline of events before your hearing. Having dates and details organized will help you explain your case clearly to the judge.
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Alice Fleming
•Great idea! I'll start putting together a timeline this weekend.
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