How do I know how much I will get from Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

Thank you! So if my highest quarter was around $13,000, that would be about $500 per week? That seems higher than I expected.

Yes, that calculation sounds right. Remember you'll also need to meet the job search requirements - 3 job contacts per week and register with WorkSource WA.

Oh no, that's not encouraging. Did you try calling them to check on your claim status?

tried calling like 50 times, always busy or hangs up on me after waiting forever

Interesting, never heard of that. Does it actually work or is it just another scam?

It's legit - I was able to get through and talk to an actual Washington ESD representative about my adjudication issue that had been pending for weeks.

I'll try anything at this point, been trying to reach them for over a month about my disqualification

I don't have any dependents, so I guess that doesn't apply to me. Good to know though!

Wait, I have two kids but never knew about the dependent benefits. How do I add them to my claim?

You need to contact Washington ESD to add dependents to your existing claim. You'll need to provide documentation like birth certificates or tax returns showing you claimed them as dependents.

That sounds really frustrating. Have you tried filing an appeal if you disagree with any decisions they've made?

How can I appeal something when they won't even tell me what the actual decision is? It's been in 'adjudication' status forever.

Adjudication can take several weeks, especially if there are questions about your separation reason. The employer has 10 days to respond to Washington ESD's request for information.

I couldn't find any calculator on their website. Do you have a direct link?

I think they might have removed it actually. I used it last year but can't seem to locate it now. Typical Washington ESD - always changing their website.

Good point! I'll make sure to set up tax withholding when I start getting payments.

Yeah, I owed like $2000 in taxes because I didn't have anything withheld. Definitely recommend having the 10% taken out.

Gig work income should be included in your base period wages if you reported it properly. Washington ESD looks at all W-2 and 1099 income when calculating your weekly benefit amount.

I reported it on my taxes but I'm not sure if it shows up in their wage database. Should I mention it when I file my weekly claims?

You should report any work you do while collecting benefits, including gig work. If you earn more than your weekly benefit amount minus $5, it will reduce your payment for that week.

That's great that you finally got answers! At least now you know what's causing the delay.

Glad Claimyr worked for you too! It's been a lifesaver for actually getting through to Washington ESD.

How do you know if the amount is wrong? Is there a way to verify they used the right wage information?

Your determination letter should show the quarterly wages they used in their calculation. Compare that to your pay stubs and tax documents to make sure everything is included.

That's helpful to know! How long did it take from filing to getting your first payment?

About 3 weeks total. One week for the determination letter, then had to wait for the debit card to arrive, then filed my first weekly claim and got paid the following week.

What kind of documentation do they want for job search activities?

You need to log each job contact with the employer name, contact method, date, and position applied for. Keep copies of applications, emails, and any responses you receive.