Does my employer pay for my unemployment benefits in Washington?

Your employer doesn't pay your benefits directly. They pay unemployment insurance taxes to Washington ESD throughout the year, kind of like how they pay into Social Security. The money goes into a fund that pays everyone's benefits.

Oh okay, so it's like a big pool of money that everyone contributes to? That makes more sense than individual payments.

exactly, and the employer's tax rate can go up if they have a lot of former employees filing claims

Washington uses an experience rating system for employer UI taxes. Employers with more unemployment claims pay higher rates over time. Your specific benefits come from the state unemployment insurance fund, not directly from your former employer's pocket.

So that's why some employers fight unemployment claims? They don't want their rates to go up?

That's part of it, yes. Higher claim rates can increase their future tax obligations to Washington ESD.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks to ask similar questions about my claim. The phone system is absolutely terrible - I get disconnected constantly or sit on hold for hours just to get hung up on. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there?

I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get through to Washington ESD agents without all the waiting and disconnections. There's even a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Saved me so much frustration!

That sounds too good to be true but I'm desperate at this point. Does it actually work?

Yeah it really does. I was skeptical too but I got connected to an actual Washington ESD agent within like 20 minutes instead of spending all day trying.

just to add to what others said - your employer pays quarterly UI taxes based on their payroll and claim history. the state sets the rates and collects the money. when you file for benefits, washington esd pays you from that fund, not from your specific employer

Got it, so there's no direct connection between what I receive and what my employer pays. Thanks for clarifying!

Your former employer might contest your claim though, especially if they think you were fired for misconduct. They get notified when you file and can object if they want to.

I was laid off due to lack of work, so hopefully that won't be an issue. But good to know they get notified.

Layoffs due to lack of work are usually straightforward. You should be fine as long as you meet the other eligibility requirements.

The whole system is funded by employer taxes, but your benefits are based on your work history and wages, not on what your specific employer paid. Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount using your earnings from all covered employers in your base period.

What's a base period? Is that the last year I worked?

It's usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. Washington ESD uses this to calculate your benefit amount.

sometimes they can use an alternate base period if you don't qualify with the standard one

I'm dealing with something similar but my claim has been stuck in adjudication for over a month. My employer is probably fighting it even though I was clearly laid off. This whole process is so stressful when you need the money to pay bills.

Adjudication can take forever unfortunately. I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier to actually get through and check on my adjudication status. The agent was able to tell me exactly what was holding things up.

Maybe I should try that. I've literally called hundreds of times and never gotten through to a real person.

Does anyone know if part-time work affects how much the employer pays in UI taxes? I had two part-time jobs before getting laid off from both.

Each employer pays UI taxes on the wages they paid you, up to the taxable wage base. Having multiple employers doesn't change how the tax works for each individual employer.

Thanks, that's helpful. I wasn't sure if it was somehow split between them.

The important thing to remember is that unemployment insurance is exactly that - insurance. Your employer pays premiums (taxes) and you get benefits when you need them, just like any other insurance system.

That's a good way to think about it. Takes some of the stigma away from collecting benefits.

exactly! you worked and your employer paid into the system on your behalf. you earned those benefits

I used to work in HR and can confirm that employers don't pay your individual benefits. We paid quarterly UI taxes to Washington ESD based on our total payroll and experience rating. The state handles all the benefit payments from their fund.

That's really helpful to hear from someone who handled this from the employer side. Thanks!

Did you ever fight unemployment claims when you were in HR?

Only when we clearly had cause, like documented misconduct. Most layoffs we didn't contest since they were legitimate.

WASHINGTON ESD MAKES THIS SYSTEM SO CONFUSING ON PURPOSE! They don't want people to understand how it works so fewer people will file claims. The whole thing is designed to discourage you from getting benefits you're entitled to!

I don't think it's intentionally confusing, just bureaucratic. But I agree the communication could be much clearer.

whether it's intentional or not, the result is the same - people get frustrated and give up

One thing to keep in mind is that if you're approved for benefits, your former employer's UI tax rate might increase in future years if they have a pattern of claims. But that's their responsibility, not yours.

Good point. I shouldn't feel guilty about filing if I legitimately qualify.

Absolutely not! That's what the system is for.

For anyone still struggling to reach Washington ESD by phone, I can't recommend Claimyr enough. I was able to get my benefit questions answered and even got help with my weekly claim certification when I had issues. Way better than spending hours on hold.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already stressed about money.

I'd rather not get into specifics about cost, but for me it was worth it to actually get my issues resolved instead of being stuck in limbo.

The bottom line is: your employer pays UI taxes to Washington ESD throughout the year, Washington ESD uses that money (along with federal funds) to pay unemployment benefits to eligible claimants. Your specific benefit amount is based on your wage history, not on what your particular employer contributed.

Perfect summary! This thread has been really helpful in understanding how the whole system works.

Glad we could help clear things up. Good luck with your claim!