How is unemployment calculated by Washington ESD - confused about my benefit amount

Thanks! So they don't look at my total yearly income? Just one quarter?

Right, just your highest earning quarter. That's why people who had seasonal work or gaps can sometimes get lower benefits than expected.

So they don't look at my total yearly earnings? That seems weird. What exactly is the base period?

The base period is the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you filed. So if you filed in January 2025, they'd look at your earnings from January 2024 through September 2024.

That makes more sense. I started that job in March so maybe my first quarter wasn't as high as later ones.

Yeah the timing of when you file really matters. I got screwed because I filed right after starting a new higher paying job so it didn't count in my base period.

Thanks for the suggestion! I've been trying to call for days but keep getting busy signals or getting disconnected.

Never heard of Claimyr but anything has to be better than spending hours on hold just to get hung up on.

Yes, there's an alternative base period calculation if you don't qualify under the regular method. It uses the most recent 4 quarters instead.

Seriously, why make it so complicated? Just take my average monthly income and give me half of that or something.

The quarter system is actually designed to prevent people from working just long enough to qualify then quitting. It rewards consistent work history over time.

No dependents, just me. So that's not affecting my calculation.

The dependent allowance is like $25 per child I think. Not a huge amount but every bit helps.

How do I request that review? I did have one quarter where I worked overtime a lot and made way more than usual.

You can appeal online through your SecureAccess Washington account or call Washington ESD. Just know that calling can be really difficult - high call volume and long waits.

Ugh yes the calling situation is terrible! I spent literally hours trying to get through about my monetary determination. Finally found this service called Claimyr that helped me get connected to an actual person at Washington ESD. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

Check your monetary determination letter - it should show your base period quarters and wages for each one.

I think I threw that away... Can I get another copy?

Yes, you can request copies of your determination letters through your online account or by calling Washington ESD.

That's correct. The minimum weekly benefit amount for 2025 is $188. And the maximum is $999 regardless of how much you earned.

Wait so even if I made $100k I still can't get more than $999 a week? That seems unfair.

The quarterly system actually helps most people because it uses your highest earning quarter. If they averaged all quarters, seasonal workers would get less.

I guess that makes sense for some people but it screwed me over.

I'll look at that letter again. It had so many numbers I got overwhelmed and stopped reading.

If the letter is still confusing, definitely try calling through Claimyr. Sometimes talking to a real person makes all the difference in understanding these calculations.

its bc unemployment is supposed to be based on recent work history not annual income i think

The quarterly system is designed to reflect your most recent earning pattern, not your total annual income. It's actually more favorable for people with increasing wages.

Yes, commission income counts as wages for unemployment purposes. It's included in whichever quarter it was actually paid to you, not when you earned it.

That's what I was hoping! I had a huge commission payout in Q2 last year so my benefits should be higher.

Yes, all wages reported on your W-2 count including bonuses, overtime, and commissions. It's based on what your employer reported to Washington ESD.

Good to know! That might explain why my benefit amount was higher than I expected.

Three weeks is pretty normal right now. Washington ESD is backed up with claims. You should get your determination letter soon.

Thanks, was starting to panic that something went wrong with my application.

Standby claims use the same benefit calculation as regular UI. The difference is in the eligibility requirements and job search obligations.

Oh okay, I thought standby had different payment amounts. Good to know.

Good catch! That could increase your weekly benefit significantly. Make sure you have documentation of that higher quarter.

If you need to call Washington ESD about this, seriously check out Claimyr at claimyr.com. It saved me so much frustration trying to get through to explain my wage discrepancy.

Never be embarrassed about asking! The unemployment system is needlessly complicated and Washington ESD doesn't do a great job explaining the calculations.

Yes, reported tips count as wages for unemployment benefit calculations. If they're on your W-2, they're included.

Perfect, thank you! That explains why my benefits are higher than I expected.

How do you know if they're using the alternate base period for your claim?

It would be noted on your monetary determination letter. Usually happens for people who just started working or returned to work recently.

You should still double-check your determination letter to make sure they used the right wages. Mistakes happen more often than you'd think.

That's called an interstate claim. You can usually combine wages from both states, but the process is more complicated. You might want to call Washington ESD for guidance on that.

Ugh, more calling. Has anyone had success with interstate claims?

I had a similar situation and used Claimyr to get through to someone who could actually help with interstate wage combination. Much easier than trying to navigate the phone system myself.

That's exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier. They help you actually connect with Washington ESD agents instead of getting busy signals all day.

might have to try that because this is driving me crazy

Yes, if Washington ESD finds unreported wages or corrects an error, they can issue a revised monetary determination that changes your weekly benefit amount.

Good to know. I had a small 1099 job they might not have on record.

No, overtime pay is just regular wages for unemployment calculation purposes. It all gets lumped together by quarter.

Same here! This thread has been super helpful for understanding the whole process.

Bonuses count as wages in whichever quarter they were paid, just like commissions. So if you got a December bonus, it would be in Q4.

The quarterly system actually protects people whose income was trending upward. If you had a bad year overall but strong recent quarters, you get higher benefits than an annual average would give you.

I guess that makes sense. Still confusing though!

Glad we could help! Always good to understand how your benefits are calculated.

That's a different calculation entirely - that's about partial unemployment benefits, not your base benefit amount. Your weekly earnings get deducted from your benefit amount using a specific formula.

Ah okay, totally different thing. Thanks for clarifying!

I had steady work for the past two years so that shouldn't be an issue for me.

Same here but I still got a lower amount than expected. The quarter system is just weird.

Your weekly benefit amount stays the same, but Washington ESD will reduce your payment based on how much you earn each week. Generally you can earn up to about 1.5 times your weekly benefit before losing eligibility.

That's helpful, thanks! I might pick up some part time work while looking for full time.

Totally agree. The quarterly system made sense when everyone had traditional jobs but now it's outdated.

While the system could use updates, the quarterly approach does provide some stability and prevents manipulation. There are pros and cons to any calculation method.

Good to hear it actually works! I might give it a try since I'm still confused about some of the details.

How much does Claimyr cost? Is it worth the money?

For me it was worth it just to get clarity on my claim. Much better than spending days trying to call and never getting through.

Good point. I'll definitely make sure I understand everything before I start filing my weekly claims.

Yeah overpayment notices are a nightmare to deal with. Better to get it right from the start.

Glad we could help! The UI system is complicated but once you understand the basics it makes more sense.

Good luck with your claim! Hope you find new work soon.