How are Washington ESD unemployment benefits calculated - confused about my weekly amount

So they don't just look at my total yearly income? That's confusing - how do I know which quarters they used?

You can see your base period wages in your SecureAccess Washington account under benefit information. It shows all the quarters they considered.

It's actually more complicated than that. Washington uses a formula that considers your two highest quarters in the base period, not just a simple percentage of your total wages.

oh ok i never looked into the details just seemed close enough lol

How much does that cost? I'm already tight on money waiting for my first payment.

It's worth it to get accurate information directly from Washington ESD rather than guessing. The peace of mind knowing your benefits are calculated correctly is huge.

I used Claimyr too when I had questions about my benefit amount. Got through to Washington ESD in like 10 minutes instead of calling for hours.

This is super helpful! So if my highest two quarters were $12,000 and $11,500, that would be $23,500 divided by 26 = about $903 per week?

Not quite - that would be your average weekly wage, but then Washington ESD applies a benefit percentage to that amount. The percentage decreases as your income gets higher.

Wait I'm confused now, is it divided by 26 or 13 weeks? The first comment said 13.

Did you ever try to verify if yours was calculated correctly? I'm worried mine might be wrong.

Honestly no, I just trusted it was right. As long as I'm getting something I'm not going to rock the boat lol

So there's no simple formula? The percentage changes based on how much you made?

Exactly. It's designed to replace a higher percentage of income for lower-wage workers. Washington has one of the more generous unemployment systems in the country.

This is why I gave up trying to calculate mine manually. Too many variables and exceptions.

How long have you been waiting? I was nervous about that too but mine went through pretty quickly.

going on 6 weeks now, supposedly they're reviewing my separation reason even though i was clearly laid off

I did have a part-time job for a few months last year in addition to my main job. Could that change things?

Yes, all wages during your base period are included in the calculation. That part-time income might actually increase your benefit amount if it was during one of your lower quarters.

The public formula is simplified. There are adjustments for things like dependency allowances, partial unemployment, and seasonal work patterns that aren't explained in detail.

That makes sense. I wish they were more transparent about the actual calculation process.

How do you request a breakdown? Through the website or do you have to call?

You can submit a request through your SecureAccess Washington account or call them. Calling is faster if you can get through.

Good luck getting through by calling. I've been trying for weeks about a different issue and can never reach anyone.

Would they notify me if that happens? I don't want any surprises.

Yes, they'll send you a notice if your benefit amount changes. Usually it's an increase if they get additional wage information.

Is it legit though? Seems too good to be true that they can actually get you through when the regular phone lines are always busy.

Totally legit. They just know how to navigate the Washington ESD phone system better than regular people do. The video demo on their site explains exactly how it works.

Still looking into it. Going to check my base period wages in my account first like someone suggested earlier.

Let me know what you find out. I might need to do the same thing.

I don't have any dependents, so that wouldn't apply to me. But good to know for others reading this.

I had no idea about the dependency allowance! I have two kids - how do I add that to my claim?

You need to submit documentation through your SecureAccess Washington account. Birth certificates or custody papers usually work.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information. I'm going to check my account first and then decide if I need to call for clarification.

Smart approach. Most of the time the calculation is correct, but it's always good to understand how they arrived at your number.

I've only worked in Washington, so that shouldn't be an issue for me.

Then your calculation should be straightforward. The complexity usually comes from interstate wage coordination or unusual employment situations.

That sounds like exactly what I need. Did they charge extra for the detailed explanation?

No, once you're connected to Washington ESD, you can ask whatever questions you need. The agent was very helpful and patient.

Good point. I'll definitely keep filing my weekly claims regardless. Don't want to lose benefits over a calculation question.

Exactly. You can always appeal or request adjustments later, but you can't go back and file missed weekly claims.

That's reassuring to hear. I was worried it might be too low, but if 54% is normal then it sounds about right.

Washington typically replaces between 47-63% of wages depending on your income level, so you're right in the expected range.