How is unemployment calculated for Washington ESD benefits?

So if my highest quarter was $12,500, that would be about $185 per week? That seems lower than I expected.

That's roughly right, but there's also a minimum threshold. If you don't have enough wages in your base year, you might not qualify at all.

Wait, what if I had a job that didn't report wages correctly? I worked for a small company that might have messed up their quarterly reports.

That could definitely affect your benefit calculation. You'd need to contact Washington ESD to get wage records corrected, but it can take weeks to resolve.

I had this exact problem! Took me forever to get through to someone at Washington ESD. Finally used Claimyr.com to get connected to an agent who could help fix my wage records. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

How do you know if you qualify for the alternate base year? Do they automatically check that or do you have to request it?

Washington ESD is supposed to automatically check the alternate base year if you don't qualify under the regular one, but sometimes they miss it. You might need to ask them to review it.

Really? So even if I'm approved I have to wait an extra week before getting any money?

Yes, there's a one-week waiting period for regular unemployment benefits in Washington. It's unpaid but you still need to file your weekly claim for that week.

Same here! I've called probably 50 times and only got through once. The agent was helpful but couldn't explain why my calculation seemed off compared to what I expected.

That's exactly why I started using Claimyr - I was spending hours trying to get through to Washington ESD. It's a service that helps you actually reach an agent without all the busy signals and hold times.

Is that legit? I'm desperate at this point but don't want to get scammed.

Yeah it's real, check out claimyr.com. They don't ask for your personal info or anything sketchy. Just helps you get connected when Washington ESD is swamped with calls.

What's the difference between regular UI and standby? I keep seeing people mention it but I'm not sure which category I fall into.

Standby is when your employer temporarily lays you off but expects to call you back within a specific timeframe. You don't have to do job search activities but the benefit amount might be calculated differently.

I was on standby for 8 weeks last year and my benefits were calculated the same way as regular UI. Maybe it depends on the specific situation?

I feel you, the system definitely isn't designed for today's cost of living. Have you looked into other assistance programs while you're on unemployment?

Yeah I'm trying but everything takes forever and requires a million forms. Just wish Washington ESD would explain their calculations better instead of hiding behind automated systems.

Wait, so if I work a few hours at my old job while looking for full-time work, it actually reduces my benefits? That seems counterproductive.

Yes, but you still come out ahead financially. If your benefit is $300 and you earn $100, you'll get $225 in benefits plus the $100 you earned, so $325 total instead of just $300.

You have to report all earnings though, even if it's just a few hours. Washington ESD cross-checks with employers and if you don't report it, they can disqualify you for fraud.

How long did the redetermination take? I think I have missing wages too but I'm worried it'll delay my benefits.

It took about 3 weeks but they paid me the difference retroactively. The hardest part was actually getting through to someone to request it.

I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier to get help with my redetermination request. Way easier than trying to call Washington ESD directly. Saved me probably 20 hours of calling.

I learned this the hard way last year. Didn't have taxes withheld and owed $1,200 when I filed my return. Now I always opt for the 10% federal withholding.

Good point! I forgot about taxes. So the weekly benefit amount you see isn't what you actually get if you choose to have taxes withheld.

That's a great idea. I'll try to get that breakdown so I can see if everything looks correct. Thanks for all the helpful info everyone!

Just remember that getting through to Washington ESD can be really frustrating. Be prepared to call multiple times or use one of those callback services if you need to speak with someone directly.