How do they determine how much unemployment you get in Washington ESD?

So if my highest quarter was like $18,000, that would be about $26 a week? That seems really low...

No, you're doing the math wrong. $18,000 divided by 26 = $692, then multiply by 0.0385 = about $27. But there's also a minimum benefit calculation they use - whichever is higher.

Oh wait I think I messed up the formula. So it's actually ($18,000/26) * 0.0385 = about $27 per week? That still seems really low for unemployment.

What's an alternate base period? I worked construction so my earnings were all over the place too.

Alternate base period uses the last 4 completed quarters instead of the first 4 of the last 5. Sometimes gives people a higher benefit amount if their recent work was better paid.

Same here! I tried using that calculator multiple times and got different answers each time. The whole base period thing is so confusing when you're trying to count backwards from your filing date.

Right? And God forbid you need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD to clarify. I must have called 50 times before giving up.

I had the same problem calling Washington ESD over and over. Then someone told me about Claimyr - it's a service that calls for you and gets you through to an actual person. Check out claimyr.com, they even have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

Wait so there are minimum requirements to even get unemployment? What happens if you don't meet them?

Yeah if you don't meet the monetary requirements you get denied. That's when people sometimes try the alternate base period to see if that helps them qualify.

This is exactly why I was denied the first time! My earnings were too low in the base period they used. Had to reapply and request alternate base period calculation.

Yes, bonuses and overtime count as wages for unemployment purposes. Washington ESD looks at your total gross wages reported on your W-2, so everything should be included.

That's great news! My bonus was like $8,000 so hopefully that helps my weekly amount.

If you filed in January 2025, your base period would likely be January 2024 through September 2024 (Q1, Q2, Q3 of 2024). The current quarter (Q4 2024) usually isn't complete enough to use.

Oh that makes sense. So they skip the most recent quarter because it might not be fully reported yet?

Exactly. Employers have time to report wages so the most recent quarter often isn't available when you first file.

You can combine wages from different states but it gets complicated. You might need to file an interstate claim or have Washington ESD request wage records from Oregon.

Ugh that sounds like a nightmare. How long does it take them to get wages from other states?

It can take weeks unfortunately. That's one of those situations where you definitely want to talk to someone at Washington ESD to make sure they're processing it correctly.

Because they're hoping people will give up and not collect benefits they're entitled to. It's all about saving money for the state.

That's probably true but also the wage reporting system is genuinely complicated. Employers report at different times, corrections happen, etc.

I guess but other states seem to do it more transparently. Washington ESD could definitely do better.

Good advice! I had to submit pay stubs because my employer was late reporting wages to Washington ESD.

Yep, wage record issues are super common. Better to have documentation ready than wait weeks for them to sort it out.

Yes the minimum is $295 per week in Washington as of 2025. And the maximum is $999. Most people fall somewhere in between those amounts.

That's actually not terrible for a minimum amount. Better than I expected.

It's generally locked in for your benefit year, which is 52 weeks from when you filed. But if there were errors in the original calculation they can adjust it.

Good to know. I was worried they might recalculate it every few months and lower it or something.

Honestly same. I tried to figure it out when I first applied but gave up. The amount seemed reasonable so I just went with it.

Right? Sometimes ignorance is bliss with these government calculations.

How much does something like that cost? Seems like it might be worth it to get actual answers.

It's totally worth it when you need to resolve something specific like benefit amount questions. Check out their website at claimyr.com - they explain exactly how it works.

I went through that exact situation! They initially calculated my benefits wrong because they missed wages from one of my employers. Took 8 weeks to get it corrected.

8 weeks?! That's ridiculous. Did they backpay you the difference at least?

Yeah they eventually backpaid everything but it was stressful not knowing if I was getting the right amount each week.

That would be amazing! Instead you get this vague determination letter that doesn't explain anything.

Exactly! 'Your weekly benefit amount is $XXX' with no explanation of how they got that number.

Other states do provide detailed calculations. Washington ESD is just behind the times with transparency.

Yes but you have to specifically request alternate base period calculation when you apply, or file an appeal if they already processed your claim with the standard base period.

Ugh I wish I had known that when I first applied. Now I'll probably have to go through the whole appeal process.

The appeal process isn't that bad, just time consuming. Definitely worth it if you think the alternate base period would give you higher benefits.

Thanks, that's actually reassuring. I was getting overwhelmed trying to calculate it myself beforehand.

Yeah just let Washington ESD do their thing and if the amount seems way off from what you expected, then start asking questions.

Good point! A lot of people get confused about that. Regular unemployment is only for traditional W-2 employment.

Right, and the calculation is completely different for self-employment benefits when those programs are available.