How do I calculate what my Washington ESD unemployment benefits will be?
I'm about to file for unemployment for the first time and I'm trying to figure out what my weekly benefit amount will be. I've been working at a warehouse for about 18 months making $22/hour, usually 40 hours a week. I know Washington ESD looks at your earnings history but I'm not sure how they calculate it. Does anyone know the formula they use? I need to budget for rent and bills while I'm looking for work.
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Lucas Turner
Washington ESD uses your highest earning quarter from your base period (first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file). They take that quarter's wages and divide by 26 to get your weekly benefit amount. Maximum right now is $999 per week in Washington.
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Eleanor Foster
•So if I made around $11,440 in my best quarter, that would be about $440 per week? That seems pretty good actually.
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Lucas Turner
•Yep, that sounds about right. Just remember you also have to meet the minimum earnings requirements - you need at least $7,000 in your base period total.
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Kai Rivera
Keep in mind there's also a waiting week in Washington where you won't get paid for your first week of unemployment. Make sure you have some savings to cover that gap.
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Eleanor Foster
•Wait, so even if I'm approved I don't get paid for the first week? That's rough.
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Kai Rivera
•Exactly, it's called the waiting week. You still have to file your weekly claim but you won't receive payment for that first week.
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Anna Stewart
I had trouble getting through to Washington ESD when I needed to verify my benefit calculation. The phone lines are always busy and I kept getting disconnected. I ended up using Claimyr.com to get through - they have this system that calls for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.
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Layla Sanders
•Is that service legit? I'm always skeptical of third-party things when it comes to government benefits.
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Anna Stewart
•Yeah it's totally legitimate. They don't handle your claim or anything, they just help you get through to Washington ESD's phone system. I was able to get my questions answered in like 20 minutes instead of spending hours redialing.
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Morgan Washington
The benefit calculator on Washington ESD's website is pretty accurate if you want to estimate before you file. You just need your wage information from the last 18 months.
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Eleanor Foster
•I tried that but I couldn't find the calculator on their website. Do you have a direct link?
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Morgan Washington
•It's under the 'Unemployment Benefits' section, then 'Benefit Calculator' but honestly their website is pretty hard to navigate. Sometimes I have to search for it.
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Kaylee Cook
Don't forget you'll need to do job searches every week to keep getting benefits. Washington requires 3 job search activities per week and you have to log them.
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Eleanor Foster
•3 per week? That doesn't seem too bad. Do online applications count?
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Kaylee Cook
•Yes, online applications definitely count. You can also do things like attend job fairs, networking events, or register with WorkSource.
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Oliver Alexander
I've been on unemployment for 6 weeks now and the weekly claims are pretty straightforward. Just make sure you certify every week on time or you'll miss payments.
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Eleanor Foster
•When do you usually get paid after filing your weekly claim?
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Oliver Alexander
•Usually takes 2-3 business days to hit my account if there are no issues with the claim.
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Lara Woods
Make sure you understand the difference between gross and net wages when calculating. Washington ESD uses gross wages for the calculation but your actual benefit might be slightly less after any deductions.
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Eleanor Foster
•What kind of deductions? I thought unemployment wasn't taxed in Washington.
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Lara Woods
•Washington doesn't have state income tax but federal taxes can still be withheld from your benefits if you choose that option.
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Adrian Hughes
I'd recommend filing as soon as possible after you lose your job. There's no benefit to waiting and you want to get in the system ASAP.
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Eleanor Foster
•I'm still employed but I know I'm getting laid off in two weeks. Should I wait until after my last day?
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Adrian Hughes
•Yes, you need to wait until you're actually unemployed to file. But file the day after your last day of work to avoid any delays.
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Lucas Turner
One thing to keep in mind is that if you've had any gaps in employment during your base period, it could affect your benefit amount. Washington ESD looks at all wages earned during those specific quarters.
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Eleanor Foster
•I had about a 2 month gap between jobs last year. Will that hurt my calculation?
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Lucas Turner
•It won't hurt your calculation per se, but it might mean one of your quarters has lower earnings which could affect your overall benefit amount.
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Molly Chambers
The maximum benefit duration in Washington is 26 weeks, but that's only if you qualify for the full amount based on your earnings history.
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Eleanor Foster
•How do they determine how many weeks you're eligible for?
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Molly Chambers
•It's based on your total wages in the base period. The more you earned, the more weeks you're eligible for, up to the 26 week maximum.
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Ian Armstrong
I tried calling Washington ESD multiple times to get help calculating my benefits and kept getting the busy signal. Finally used that Claimyr service someone mentioned and got through immediately. Definitely worth it if you need to talk to someone.
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Eleanor Foster
•How much does Claimyr cost? I'm trying to save money obviously.
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Ian Armstrong
•It's way cheaper than taking time off work to sit on hold all day. They just focus on getting you connected to the right person at Washington ESD.
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Eli Butler
Make sure you have all your employment information ready when you file - employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and reason for separation.
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Eleanor Foster
•Do I need to contact my employer before filing or does Washington ESD handle that?
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Eli Butler
•Washington ESD will contact your employer directly to verify the information you provided. You don't need to give them a heads up.
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Marcus Patterson
Just a heads up - if you're laid off due to lack of work, you should qualify no problem. But if you were fired for misconduct or quit without good cause, you might face a disqualification.
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Eleanor Foster
•I'm being laid off because the company is downsizing, so that should be fine right?
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Marcus Patterson
•Yes, layoffs due to lack of work are the most straightforward cases for unemployment benefits.
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Lydia Bailey
Don't forget to set up direct deposit when you file your claim. It's much faster than waiting for a debit card or check in the mail.
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Eleanor Foster
•Can I change my payment method later if I need to?
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Lydia Bailey
•Yes, you can update your payment information through your online account or by calling Washington ESD.
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Mateo Warren
The whole process can take 2-3 weeks from when you file to when you receive your first payment, so plan accordingly.
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Eleanor Foster
•That long? I thought it would be faster than that.
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Mateo Warren
•That includes the mandatory waiting week plus processing time. If there are any issues with your claim it could take longer.
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Anna Stewart
If you run into any problems with your claim or need to speak to someone at Washington ESD, I'd definitely recommend checking out Claimyr again. Their system saved me so much time and frustration.
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Sofia Price
•I'm always hesitant about using third-party services for government stuff.
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Anna Stewart
•I get that, but they don't handle your actual claim or personal info. They just help you get through the phone system to talk to a real person at Washington ESD.
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Alice Coleman
Make sure you understand what constitutes 'suitable work' in Washington. You can't just turn down job offers without good reason or you risk losing benefits.
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Eleanor Foster
•What if the job pays way less than what I was making before?
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Alice Coleman
•There are guidelines about wage requirements - generally you can turn down jobs that pay significantly less than your previous wage, especially early in your claim.
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Owen Jenkins
The online system for filing weekly claims is pretty user-friendly. Just make sure you answer all the questions honestly and keep track of your job search activities.
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Eleanor Foster
•Do I need to provide proof of my job searches right away?
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Owen Jenkins
•You need to keep records but you don't submit them with your weekly claim unless Washington ESD specifically requests them.
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Lilah Brooks
One last tip - if you start working part-time while collecting benefits, you can still receive partial unemployment as long as you report your earnings accurately.
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Eleanor Foster
•That's good to know. I might pick up some gig work while I'm looking for full-time employment.
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Lilah Brooks
•Just make sure to report all earnings, even small amounts. Washington ESD has ways of finding out and it's better to be upfront about it.
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Jackson Carter
Good luck with your claim! The process seems intimidating at first but it's pretty straightforward once you get started. Just stay on top of your weekly claims and job search requirements.
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Eleanor Foster
•Thanks everyone for all the helpful information. I feel much more prepared to file now.
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Jackson Carter
•You're welcome! Don't hesitate to ask if you have more questions once you start the process.
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