Washington Unemployment
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How much does unemployment pay in Washington state - need to know what to expect
I'm about to file for unemployment for the first time and honestly have no idea how much does unemployment pay in Washington. I've been making $52,000 a year at my job but got laid off last week. I'm trying to figure out my budget while I look for work. Does anyone know how they calculate the weekly benefit amount? I heard it's based on your wages but not sure exactly how that works. Also wondering if there's a maximum amount they'll pay regardless of what you made before.
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Can someone get unemployment if they are fired from their job in Washington?
My roommate just got fired from her retail job yesterday and she's wondering if she can still apply for unemployment benefits through Washington ESD. She wasn't stealing or anything serious - her manager said she was consistently late and missed too many shifts over the past month. Does being fired automatically disqualify you from getting UI benefits? I thought you had to quit to be ineligible but I'm not sure how termination works.
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Your roommate should also start looking for work right away and keep a job search log. Even if her claim gets approved, she'll need to show she's actively seeking employment to continue receiving benefits.
How many jobs does she need to apply for each week?
I think it's at least 3 job search activities per week in Washington, but check the current requirements on the ESD website since they can change.
Bottom line: she should absolutely apply. Being fired doesn't automatically disqualify you from unemployment benefits. The Washington ESD will review the circumstances and make a decision. Better to apply and potentially get approved than not apply and definitely get nothing.
You're absolutely right. I'll encourage her to apply today. Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice!
Good luck to your roommate! Hope it works out for her.
How soon can you apply for unemployment after being fired in Washington?
Got terminated from my warehouse job yesterday and I'm honestly panicking about bills. My supervisor said it was due to performance issues but I feel like they just didn't want to deal with training me properly. Anyway, can I file for unemployment benefits immediately or do I need to wait? I've never been fired before so I have no idea how this works with Washington ESD. Really need to know if there's a waiting period or something.
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The whole firing vs quitting thing is huge for eligibility. Since you were terminated, you're in a much better position than someone who quit. Just be honest about what happened and don't try to make it sound worse or better than it was.
Yeah I'll just tell them exactly what happened. No point in trying to spin it.
Once you get through the initial application, the hardest part is usually just waiting. Try to stay patient and keep filing those weekly claims. And if you need to reach them for any reason, that Claimyr thing people mentioned actually does work - used it myself when my claim had issues.
Thanks everyone for all the advice! I feel much more confident about filing now.
Good luck! Come back and let us know how it goes.
Washington ESD unemployment taxes 2022 - will I get a refund if I paid taxes?
I received unemployment benefits through Washington ESD in 2022 and had federal taxes withheld from my weekly claims. I'm wondering if I'll get any of that money back when I file my tax return? I had about $2,800 in federal taxes taken out over the course of receiving UI benefits for 6 months. My regular job income was pretty low that year since I was unemployed for half of it. Anyone know how this works with unemployment tax refunds?
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just want to add that if you got unemployment in 2022 you definitely need to report it even if you think you don't owe taxes. the IRS gets a copy of your 1099-G from washington esd so they'll know if you don't report it
Good reminder! I wasn't planning to skip reporting it but good to know they'll catch it if someone tries.
Yeah don't mess around with the IRS on this stuff. Better to report everything and get whatever refund you're entitled to.
For what it's worth, I had a very similar situation - unemployment for about 6 months in 2022 with federal taxes withheld. I ended up getting back about 75% of what was withheld because my total income was pretty low. So there's a good chance you'll get a decent refund.
That's really encouraging to hear! Sounds like I'm in a similar boat so hopefully I'll see something similar.
yeah i got back most of mine too. the key is that unemployment often doesn't put you in a high tax bracket when it's your only income for part of the year
Why hasn't my Washington ESD unemployment been deposited yet - payment delays?
Filed my weekly claim on Sunday like always and it's now Thursday - still no deposit. My claim status shows 'paid' on the Washington ESD website but nothing in my bank account. This is the second week in a row this has happened. Usually I get my UI payment by Tuesday morning. Anyone else experiencing deposit delays? I'm starting to panic because rent is due tomorrow.
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I had a similar issue and it turned out Washington ESD had sent the payment to an old account that was closed. Even though my current account info was correct in their system, somehow the payment went to the wrong place. Took forever to get it sorted out.
How did you find out it went to the wrong account? Did the bank tell you or Washington ESD?
Washington ESD told me when I finally got through to them. The bank just said they never received any deposit. It was a mess to straighten out.
Another success story for that Claimyr service - used it last week when I had issues with my adjudication status. Got connected to Washington ESD in minutes instead of hours. Really wish I had known about it sooner when I was dealing with all my initial claim problems.
Seems like a lot of people have had good experiences with it. I'm definitely keeping it in mind if I can't resolve this through normal channels.
Same here, used it for a payment trace issue similar to OP's situation. The agent was able to see exactly where my payment was in the system.
Omar Farouk
The benefit amount might seem low compared to your regular salary, but remember it's meant to be temporary assistance while you look for work. Focus on your job search and hopefully you'll be back to full pay soon.
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Miguel Ramos
AuthorExactly my mindset. This is just a bridge until I find my next opportunity.
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Chloe Davis
Thanks for asking this question OP - I'm in a similar situation and this thread has been really informative. Good luck with your claim and job search!
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Miguel Ramos
AuthorGlad it helped you too! Good luck to you as well.
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