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

So they don't just look at my most recent salary? That's weird because I got a big raise 6 months ago but maybe that quarter isn't in the calculation yet.

Exactly - if you got a raise recently, it might not be reflected in your base period quarters. The system looks backward in time, not at your current earnings.

It's actually 3.85% of your highest quarter, not 50% of weekly wages. Common misconception though - the old system used to be different.

thanks for the correction, always get those percentages mixed up

Never heard of Claimyr before but that sounds helpful. Did they charge you anything to use it?

They focus on getting you connected rather than pricing details, but it was worth it to actually talk to someone who could pull up my account and explain the calculation step by step.

I'm always skeptical of third-party services but if it actually gets you through to Washington ESD faster than calling directly, might be worth a try.

This is super helpful! So if my highest quarter was $14,000, that would be $14,000 x 0.0385 = $539 per week, which is close to my $544 amount.

Exactly right! The small difference might be due to rounding or other factors in the calculation, but you've got the basic math correct.

If you filed in January 2025, your base period would be January-March 2024, April-June 2024, July-September 2024, and October-December 2024. If you didn't earn enough in those quarters, you might qualify for an alternate base period.

Oh that makes sense now. I was working part-time during school in those quarters so hopefully I earned enough to qualify.

While the system could be clearer, it's actually designed to provide consistent benefits based on your work history. Using a base period prevents people from working one high-paying week and then claiming maximum benefits.

I guess that makes sense from a policy perspective, but it's still frustrating when you're trying to figure out your own benefits.

That's exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier - they handle the calling frustration for you and get you connected to an actual person at Washington ESD who can explain your specific situation.

might have to try that because this endless busy signal is driving me crazy

Interesting! So I might get more money if they find additional earnings I didn't know about?

Yes, and if that happens, they'll usually send you a lump sum payment for the difference on previous weeks you've already been paid.

That's a good point about overtime. I did work a lot of overtime during the summer months so maybe that's why my benefit isn't as low as I thought it would be.

Actually, Washington eliminated the waiting week requirement in 2021. You should get paid for your first eligible week now.

oh really? guess my info was outdated then, thanks for the update

Yes, bonuses are typically included in your quarterly wage calculation as long as they were reported on your W-2 and your employer paid unemployment taxes on them.

Great! That bonus might have pushed my Q3 earnings high enough to be my highest quarter then.

How do you request a wage review? My calculation seems right but I want to make sure they have all my earnings.

You can request it through your online account or by calling Washington ESD. If you have pay stubs showing wages that aren't reflected in your benefit calculation, bring those as evidence.

Remember, unemployment benefits are meant to be temporary assistance, not full wage replacement. The system is designed to provide a safety net while you search for new employment, not to replace your full income.

I understand that, but it's still tough to make ends meet on less than half my previous income.

That's exactly the problem with the system - it doesn't account for current cost of living when calculating benefits.

Tips count if they were reported to your employer and included on your W-2. If you received cash tips that weren't reported, those wouldn't be included in your benefit calculation.

makes sense, probably should have been better about reporting all my tips

That's the second person to mention Claimyr. Sounds like it really works for getting through to actual people at Washington ESD.

Yeah, definitely worth it if you're tired of getting busy signals and automated messages. The demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ explains how it works pretty well.

How do you know if you qualify for the alternate base period? Do you have to request it specifically?

Washington ESD automatically checks the alternate base period if you don't qualify under the standard base period. You don't have to request it separately.

Actually, in Washington state, you can collect benefits for up to 26 weeks regardless of your weekly benefit amount, as long as you haven't exhausted your total benefit year amount.

good to know, i was thinking of the total dollar amount limit

I only worked in Washington state so hopefully my calculation is straightforward. Thanks for all the helpful info everyone!

The base period system is used across most states to ensure benefit calculations are based on established work patterns rather than short-term earnings fluctuations. It's been the standard for decades.

I guess that makes sense from a policy perspective, but it's still confusing for regular people trying to figure out their benefits.

Good advice! I'll make sure to keep all my documentation just in case there are any issues with my benefit amount.