How do they calculate Washington ESD unemployment benefits - confused about my weekly amount

That makes more sense! So they're not using my most recent wages? That seems weird since I was making more money recently.

Right, they use older wages because they need complete quarters of data. If your recent wages were higher, you might qualify for an alternate base period calculation.

Yes! I've been trying to call for three days straight. The phone system is impossible.

I actually found a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to Washington ESD when I couldn't reach them myself. They have this system that calls for you - check out claimyr.com. There's even a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

Wait, so there are two different calculations? Which one do they actually use?

They use whichever gives you the higher amount, but both have to meet certain thresholds. It's complicated but designed to give you the best benefit you qualify for.

It depends on how many hours you worked consistently. If you had gaps in employment or reduced hours during your base period, that affects the calculation significantly.

oh that might be it, I did have some weeks where I only worked part time because of slow season

Close! You need at least $7,000 total in your base period AND wages in at least two quarters AND your highest quarter must be at least 1.25 times your other quarters combined.

See, this is why I get confused! Too many different requirements to keep track of.

All wages count equally - regular pay, overtime, bonuses, commissions. Washington ESD doesn't distinguish between different types of wages for benefit calculations.

Good to know, thanks! I was worried my OT was messing things up somehow.

That's probably because you didn't meet the alternate calculation threshold. The system uses whichever calculation gives you less if your wages don't meet certain distribution requirements across quarters.

This is so unnecessarily complicated! Why can't they just use a simple percentage of your average weekly pay?

The 50% replacement rate is just a general guideline. It depends on your wage level and work pattern. Higher earners often get less than 50% replacement, while lower earners might get closer to 60-70%.

That doesn't seem fair at all. The people who need it most get the least help?

Did they charge you a lot for that service? I'm tempted to try it but worried about the cost.

It was reasonable for the peace of mind. Much better than spending hours on hold or never getting through at all.

That's because your base periods were different. The timing of when you file makes a huge difference in which quarters they use for calculation.

Ohhhh that actually explains it. I filed at different times of the year so they were looking at different earning periods.

Yes, you can request alternate base period calculation if your regular base period doesn't qualify you or gives you very low benefits. You'd need to contact Washington ESD directly to request this.

Great, I'll try calling them... or maybe use that Claimyr thing someone mentioned if I can't get through.

While the system is definitely complicated, Washington ESD is required by law to use the calculation that gives you the highest benefit amount you qualify for. The complexity comes from trying to prevent fraud while ensuring fairness.

if you say so but I still think they make it confusing on purpose

Glad you got answers! It really does help to have someone walk through the calculation with you.

Thanks for the update! I think I'm going to try that service too since I'm still confused about my own determination.

Yeah I tried that calculator and it was off by like $50 from my actual amount. Close but not exact.

Exactly, it's just a rough guide. The real calculation involves more nuanced rules that the simple calculator can't account for.

Seasonal workers often benefit from the alternate base period option since your most recent high-earning quarter might not be in the standard base period. Definitely worth asking Washington ESD about.

Good point, I'll look into that. Construction season just ended so my timing might be better now.

Only reported tips count. If your employer reported them properly, they'll be included in your base period wages. Cash tips that weren't reported won't show up in the calculation.

Ugh, that's probably why my benefit amount is so low. Lots of my tips were cash that didn't get reported properly.

How long did the appeal process take? I'm wondering if it's worth the hassle.

About 6 weeks total, but they gave me back pay for the difference once it was resolved. Definitely worth it if there's a significant error.

You're welcome! The main thing is making sure you file your weekly claims on time and meet the job search requirements to keep receiving benefits.

Good reminder, I need to set up my WorkSourceWA account for the job search logging.

Good advice! I almost threw away my old pay stubs but I'll hang onto them now.

Yeah, better safe than sorry. An overpayment notice is the last thing you want to deal with.

Make sure you gather all your employment information before filing - employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and reason for separation. It makes the process much smoother.

Thanks for the tip! I'll get all that organized before I start the application.