How does unemployment calculate your benefits in Washington state?

So if my highest quarter was $15,000, I'd get about $577 per week? That seems higher than I expected.

That's the basic calculation, but there's also a maximum weekly benefit amount that changes each year. For 2025 it's around $999 per week I believe.

Good to know about the minimum requirements. I should definitely meet those since I've been working full time.

The 680 hours thing confuses me. How do they know how many hours you worked if you're salaried?

For salaried workers they use the earnings test instead - you need to earn at least 680 times the minimum wage which is around $11,000 for the base year.

How does Claimyr work exactly? Do they just call for you or something?

They handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when an agent picks up. Saved me so much time and frustration trying to get answers about my claim.

Never heard of this before but might try it if I can't get through myself. The phone system is ridiculous.

I'm planning to wait until I get laid off rather than quit to make sure I qualify. Thanks for the reminder about the waiting week.

Actually I think they eliminated the waiting week during COVID and never brought it back. Let me check...

You're right, the waiting week was suspended and hasn't been reinstated yet. My mistake on that one.

That's helpful to know. Did you have any issues with the calculation or did it seem accurate based on your earnings?

It seemed about right. They sent me a monetary determination notice that broke down exactly how they calculated it based on my quarterly earnings.

There are some unofficial calculators online but they're not always accurate because the formula has nuances. Best to call and ask directly.

Yeah good luck getting through on the phone though. Takes forever.

That's exactly why I used Claimyr - couldn't deal with the wait times anymore.

That makes sense. I was wondering if they used gross or net. Thanks for clarifying.

And the benefits themselves are taxable income too, so keep that in mind when planning your budget.

They'll still use your highest earning quarter regardless of whether other quarters were lower. As long as you meet the minimum requirements you should be okay.

That's reassuring. I had one really good quarter that should put me in decent shape then.

Interesting point about timing. I hadn't thought about that aspect of it.

Though obviously you can't always control when layoffs happen. Sometimes you just have to work with whatever base year you get.

Yes, overtime counts as part of your gross wages. Any money you earned from your job during the base year quarters will be included.

Sweet, that should help my numbers then. Thanks!

Good to know they provide detailed documentation. I like being able to see how they arrived at the numbers.

If only their website explanations were that clear BEFORE you file...

Good point about part-time work. I might need to do some consulting work if I get laid off.

The part-time work rules can be tricky. Make sure you report everything accurately or you could end up with an overpayment issue.

Glad you were able to get through! Did they confirm the calculation formula that was discussed earlier in this thread?

Yes, the agent confirmed it's highest quarter divided by 26, but there are some other factors that can affect it depending on your work history.

Yes, bonuses are included as part of your gross wages for whichever quarter they were paid in.

Awesome, I got a decent bonus last quarter so that should help my calculation.

The quarterly system is designed to reflect your more recent earnings patterns and ensure you actually worked consistently. It prevents people from gaming the system.

I guess that makes sense from a policy perspective, even if it's confusing for us regular folks.

Hopefully won't be an issue for me but good to be aware of. What kind of things do employers typically contest?

Usually misconduct or job abandonment claims. If you're getting laid off due to lack of work, they probably won't contest it.

Agreed! Really appreciate everyone sharing their knowledge and experiences.

That's what these forums are for - helping each other navigate the bureaucracy!

Perfect summary! That's exactly what I needed to know.

Yep, once you understand that basic formula the rest starts to make more sense.

Absolutely. Having a rough idea of what to expect financially makes the whole situation less scary.

Knowledge is power, especially when dealing with unemployment benefits!

Great advice. I'll make sure to save all my pay stubs and tax documents.

And take screenshots of your online account showing the benefit calculation when you get approved, just in case.