How do I calculate unemployment benefits in Washington state - confused about the formula

So if my highest quarter was $15,000, that would be $15,000 ÷ 13 × 0.0385 = about $44 per week? That seems really low.

No wait, I think I mixed that up. Let me double check the Washington ESD formula because that does sound too low.

OK so if my two highest quarters were $18,000 and $16,500, that's $34,500 ÷ 52 = $663 per week? That makes way more sense than $44!

Yeah that sounds right. I got $587/week when I filed last year and my calculation came out pretty close to what Washington ESD actually gave me.

I had the same problem until someone told me about Claimyr. It's a service that calls Washington ESD for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works.

Never heard of that before. Does it actually work or is it just another scam?

No it's legit. I used it last month when I couldn't get through about my adjudication issue. Saved me hours of calling and they got me connected the same day.

Your coworker is thinking of a different state maybe. Washington definitely uses the two highest quarters method I mentioned earlier.

actually i think it depends on when you file because they changed the rules a few times

I looked for that but couldn't find it. Do you have a direct link?

hmm maybe they took it down? i used it like 6 months ago but now i cant find it either

I don't think Washington ESD has had an online calculator for a while. You pretty much have to call them or do the math yourself.

Good point about the qualifying requirements. I think I meet those but I should double check my wage statements.

Yeah the qualifying rules are just as important as knowing your benefit amount. No point calculating if you don't even qualify.

That's really helpful to see a real example. The $45 difference might be taxes or something?

Could be. Washington ESD doesn't explain their exact calculation when they send you the determination letter.

They probably deduct something for administrative costs or round to the nearest dollar

Washington ESD only counts W2 wages for regular unemployment benefits. Self-employment income doesn't count toward your base period unless you paid into the voluntary program.

Oh wow I had no idea. So all my 1099 income from last year doesn't help me qualify?

Right, only your W2 wages count. You might want to call Washington ESD to confirm your base period wages before filing.

For real! I've been trying to figure this out for my girlfriend and it's unnecessarily complicated.

at least washington pays more than most states tho. my friend in florida gets like $275/week max

Would that be good or bad? Like if they find higher wages would my benefit go up?

It could go either way. If they find higher wages your benefit increases, but if they find you didn't qualify after all they'll want overpayment back.

That happened to my brother. Washington ESD recalculated and he owed back $1,200 because one employer reported wages late.

This is exactly why I ended up using Claimyr. I wasted two full days trying to get through on my own before someone recommended it to me.

What exactly does Claimyr do? Do they just call for you or do they actually talk to Washington ESD on your behalf?

They call and wait in the queue for you, then patch you through when they get an agent on the line. You still talk to Washington ESD directly but you don't have to waste time on hold.

Good idea. I think I have most of my pay stubs saved digitally. I'll dig through and add them up by quarter.

Make sure you use gross wages not net. And remember the base period ends the quarter before you file, not the current quarter.

6 weeks?! That's insane. Were you able to get backpay for those weeks?

Yeah they paid me for all the weeks I was eligible, but having to wait that long for any money was brutal.

Same thing happened to me. Washington ESD is chronically understaffed and their computer system is ancient.

Good point about taxes. Is it better to have them withhold or just pay at tax time?

Depends on your situation but I'd rather have them take it out now than owe a big chunk next April.

You can change the tax withholding anytime through your Washington ESD online account if you want to adjust it.

That's exactly right! You've got the formula down perfectly. Just make sure when you're gathering your pay stubs that you're looking at the right base period - it's usually the first four quarters of the last five completed quarters before you file. So if you're filing now in late May 2025, your base period would likely be January 2024 through December 2024. Also double-check that you have at least $7,000 total in your base period and at least $4,000 outside your highest quarter to qualify. Good luck with your claim!

Just wanted to add that when you're calculating your quarters, make sure you're using the calendar quarters (Jan-Mar, Apr-Jun, Jul-Sep, Oct-Dec) and not pay periods or any other time frame. I made that mistake initially and got confused about which wages belonged to which quarter. Also, if you had multiple jobs during the same quarter, you add all the wages from all employers together for that quarter. The Washington ESD system automatically does this when they process your claim, but it's good to know for your own calculations.

That calculation looks spot on! One thing I'd add is to keep copies of all your documentation when you file. Washington ESD sometimes asks for wage verification later, especially if there are discrepancies between what employers reported and what you claim. Having your pay stubs organized by quarter will save you a headache if they need additional proof. Also, don't forget that even if your calculation shows you qualify, Washington ESD still needs to verify you're unemployed through no fault of your own - so make sure you understand the reason for your job separation before filing.

Thanks for the tip about calling at 8 AM! I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for days with no luck. Your calculation example is really helpful too - it's reassuring to see that the formula is consistent across different people's experiences. One question though: when you say "first four of the last five completed quarters," does that mean if I file today in late May 2025, my base period would be Q1 2024 through Q4 2024? Or would it include Q1 2025 since that quarter is completed? I want to make sure I'm looking at the right timeframe when I gather my wage documents.