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Looking back at your original post, with 18 months at $22/hour you should have decent base period wages. Manufacturing jobs usually have consistent hours too, which helps. You'll probably qualify for a reasonable benefit amount, just need to get the exact calculation from Washington ESD.
Yeah I was working pretty much full time the whole period, sometimes with overtime. Hopefully that helps my case.
Overtime definitely counts toward your base period wages, so that's good news for your benefit calculation.
Final thought - once you do get your benefit amount figured out, make sure you understand the job search requirements too. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week and they do audit people randomly. Just want to make sure you're prepared for all aspects of the process.
Smart to stay ahead of it. The job search requirements are pretty straightforward but you need to keep good records of your activities.
This whole thread has been super helpful. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences with benefit calculations!
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One final thought - if you do end up needing to call Washington ESD for any reason and can't get through, definitely check out that Claimyr service. It's been a game changer for actually reaching agents when you need help.
I'll keep that in mind. Hopefully I won't need to call but good to know there's an option if I do.
I second this recommendation. Used Claimyr last month when I had an issue with my weekly claim and it worked great.
Update: Just finished filing my initial claim online! It was actually much easier than I expected. Thanks everyone for pushing me to just do it. Now I wait and see what happens.
Awesome! You should get some kind of confirmation number or letter. Keep that safe along with any other documentation they send you.
Congrats on getting it done! The hardest part is often just starting the process.
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The bottom line is yes, you do pay into unemployment insurance as an employee in Washington state. It's a small percentage of your paycheck that gives you the right to collect benefits if you become unemployed through no fault of your own.
Perfect summary! Thanks everyone for helping me understand how this works.
Glad this thread helped clarify things. It's important for workers to understand their benefits and contributions.
One more thing - if you ever switch jobs or have gaps in employment, your prior contributions still count toward your benefit eligibility. The system tracks your wage history across different employers.
Good to know! I was wondering about that since I've had a few different jobs.
Yeah, Washington ESD looks at your wage history over a specific base period to determine your benefit amount and eligibility.
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For those filing new claims with severance, make sure you answer the severance question accurately on your initial application. It's one of the first things they ask about.
Good point. I'll have all my severance paperwork ready when I file online.
And if you're not sure about any part of it, better to call and ask rather than guess. Wrong information can really mess up your claim.
Just to clarify for anyone reading this - severance creates a waiting period, not a disqualification. You will still get your full unemployment benefits, just delayed until the severance period ends.
Nope, you're still fully eligible. The severance just acts like you're still employed during that period, then your benefits kick in normally.
Thanks everyone for all the helpful info. Going to file my claim this week and get everything started.
Matthew Sanchez
One thing to watch out for - if you turn down suitable work during your 26 weeks, Washington ESD can disqualify you and cut off your benefits early. So be careful about being too picky.
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Sebastian Scott
•How do they define 'suitable work'? Is it just anything in my field or does pay matter too?
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Matthew Sanchez
•It's complicated but generally work is considered suitable if it's in your skill set and pays at least 70% of your previous wages, with some other factors. But this is where talking to an agent can help clarify your specific situation.
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Ella Thompson
Bottom line - you get 26 weeks max, use them wisely, keep good records, and hopefully you'll find something great before you need all of them. Good luck with your job search!
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Sebastian Scott
•Thanks everyone! This has been really helpful. I feel much more informed about what to expect over the next few months.
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JacksonHarris
•These forum discussions are so much more helpful than trying to decode the Washington ESD website sometimes!
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