ESD claim using base year 7/1/22-6/30/23 but I worked until 12/26/23 - will this change?

This is completely normal! ESD uses what's called a 'base year' to calculate your benefits, which is the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. Since you filed in December 2023, your base year is July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023. The wages you earned during this period determine your weekly benefit amount. The wages you earned from July 2023 through December 2023 aren't part of your base year, but that doesn't mean they don't count at all. If you don't qualify for benefits based on your standard base year, ESD will automatically check if you qualify using an 'alternate base year' which would include your most recent completed quarter.

this is so dumb tbh!! the same exact thing happened 2 me last year n i lost like $200/week bcuz they wouldn't count my newer higher paying job!! apparently its some stupid law they have 2 follow. u should try calling them but GOOD LUCK getting thru lolol i spent 3 weeks trying

To clarify some misinformation: ESD will automatically check if you qualify for regular UI under your standard base year first. If you do qualify (which it sounds like you might since you worked from January-June 2023), they'll use that calculation, even if using an alternate base year might result in a higher weekly benefit amount. The alternate base year is ONLY used if you don't qualify under the standard base year. This is set by Washington state law, not ESD policy. If you have enough hours/earnings in your standard base year to qualify (roughly 680 hours), then that's what they'll use. The reason is that wage data from the most recent quarters sometimes hasn't been fully reported by employers to the state yet, so using older data is more reliable and allows them to process claims faster.

when I applied last month they did the same thing to me!! But then after like 2 weeks they sent me another letter with updated info that included more of my work history. maybe wait and see if they update it?

I had this EXACT issue last year when I got laid off! The real problem isn't just the lower benefit amount - it's getting through to ESD if you have questions or need to fix something. I spent TWO WEEKS trying to reach them by phone to see if they could use my alternate base year instead. After endless busy signals and disconnects, I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to an ESD agent in under 30 minutes. Worth every penny when you're dealing with benefit calculation issues. Check their demo video to see how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 or their site claimyr.com. Saved me so much stress during an already stressful time.

Lol ya ESD and there stupid rules... I had 2 call them like 57 times before someone picked up last time! The whole system is rigged to pay us less imho. They always find sum way to cut corners.

My uncle works for ESD and he told me they always use the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters. It's just how the system works. Also, make sure you're doing your job search activities every week (3 per week) or they'll deny your benefits.

One more important thing to understand: After your claim is processed and investigated, you'll receive a "Monetary Determination" letter that shows exactly which wages were counted from which quarters, and how your weekly benefit amount was calculated. This usually takes 2-3 weeks. If you notice any wages missing from the determination that should be in your base year (7/1/22-6/30/23), you can request a redetermination. But they won't include wages outside your base year unless you don't qualify at all under the standard base year calculation. Just make sure to keep filing your weekly claims while waiting for the final determination. Your first payment won't process until the investigation is complete, but you'll get paid retroactively for all weeks you've properly claimed.