How is unemployment benefits calculated in Washington ESD?

So if I made $15,000 in my best quarter, that would be about $577 per week? That seems higher than what I expected.

Yes, but remember you also need to meet the minimum earnings requirement in your base period. You need at least 680 hours of work or earn 680 times the minimum wage.

No, Washington ESD uses your highest quarter for the weekly benefit calculation. But they look at all quarters in your base period to determine if you qualify for benefits at all.

oh ok that makes more sense. so they use the highest quarter for the amount but all quarters to see if you qualify?

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. I used it last month and actually got to speak with someone within 30 minutes. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Really? That sounds too good to be true. How much does it cost?

It's worth it when you need to talk to Washington ESD about your benefit calculation or any other issues. Way better than spending entire days trying to get through on your own.

That's helpful! So they're not looking at my most recent work, but the year before that essentially?

Exactly. It can be confusing because your most recent work might not count toward your benefit calculation if it's too recent.

The initial claim processing can take 2-3 weeks. If you're still waiting after that, there might be an issue with your claim that needs to be resolved.

how do i find out if theres an issue? my account just says pending

You'll need to call Washington ESD or check if there are any action items in your online account that need to be completed.

Thank you! So with my $15,000 highest quarter, I'd get $577/week if I meet all the other requirements?

Correct. And with $52,000 total earnings, you should easily meet the 1.5x requirement and the minimum hours/wages requirement.

Wait, I thought there was also something about needing to work in at least two quarters?

Yes, you need wages in at least two quarters of your base period to qualify. Most people meet this requirement without realizing it.

Yes, overtime pay counts as regular wages for Washington ESD benefit calculations. All W-2 wages from your base period are included.

Great! That should boost my benefit amount then.

Online calculators aren't always accurate because they don't have access to your actual wage records. Washington ESD uses the wages reported by your employers, which might be different from what you think you earned.

How can I verify what wages they have on file for me?

You can request a wage transcript from Washington ESD, but that usually requires calling them or submitting a written request.

The base period system ensures that your benefit calculation is based on a full period of stable employment, not just your most recent pay which might be unusually high or low.

I guess that makes sense but it's still confusing as hell

No, the reason for unemployment affects whether you qualify for benefits, not the amount. The calculation is purely based on your wage history.

OK good to know, thanks for clarifying

I had success with Claimyr after getting frustrated with the same thing. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents without the endless waiting and disconnections. Definitely worth checking out if you need to talk to someone about your benefits.

How does that work exactly?

They handle the calling process for you and connect you when an agent becomes available. Way less stressful than doing it yourself.

Yes, Washington ESD combines wages from all employers during your base period. They look at your total quarterly wages regardless of how many jobs you had.

That's good news since I had two part-time jobs for most of the year.

If you filed in December 2024, your base period would be July 2023 through June 2024. Remember it's the first four of the last five completed quarters.

ok so not my most recent work at all. weird system

Yes, commission income reported on your W-2 counts as regular wages for Washington ESD benefit calculations.

Perfect, I had some big commission months that should help my benefit amount.

You should receive a monetary determination letter that shows your benefit amount and base period wages. If you didn't get one, that's definitely something to call about.

I got something but it doesn't show the actual calculation, just the final numbers.

Same here! I had to call to get them to explain the math behind my benefit amount. Took forever to get through though.

I might have to try that. I still have questions about whether they're using the right wage information for my calculation.

It's definitely worth it when you need answers about your specific situation. The agents can pull up your wage records and explain exactly how they got your benefit amount.

Thank you! This is exactly the clear explanation I was looking for.

This should be pinned at the top of every unemployment forum. So much clearer than the Washington ESD website.