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

Thanks! So if my highest quarter was around $15,000, that would be about $22 per week times 0.0385? That doesn't seem right for $681 weekly.

Sorry, I think I mixed up the formula. It's actually your highest quarter divided by 26, then that gets multiplied by different percentages based on your total base period earnings.

Oh that makes more sense! I think my highest quarter was probably around $14,500 so that math checks out. Thanks for explaining it in simple terms.

wait so they don't look at your whole year of earnings? just one quarter?

Correct, just your highest earning quarter from the base period. It's designed to reflect what you were typically earning per week during your best work period.

That makes more sense! Do you know where I can find the exact formula they use?

It's on the Washington ESD website under benefit calculations, but honestly it's pretty technical. Your $681 sounds reasonable for a $52k salary.

Never heard of claimyr before. Is it legit? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for days but keep getting busy signals.

Yeah it's totally legit - they help you get through to Washington ESD agents. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration.

No, unemployment uses a 'base period' which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed. So it's based on older earnings, not your most recent pay.

ugh that explains why mine seems low. i got a raise last year but it wouldnt count in the calculation

I did get a monetary determination letter but honestly I barely understood any of it. I should probably read it more carefully now that I know what to look for.

Yeah definitely read that letter! It breaks down exactly which employers they counted and which quarters. Sometimes there are errors if they're missing some of your work history.

How much does that cost? I'm already broke waiting for my first payment lol

It's worth it if you need to actually talk to someone. Way better than spending hours trying to call and getting hung up on constantly.

Might look into that if I can't figure this out. The Washington ESD phone system is absolutely terrible.

This is different from what the other person said about using just the highest quarter. Which formula is correct?

I think there might be different formulas depending on your earnings pattern. Washington ESD uses whichever calculation gives you the higher benefit amount.

Wait really? The max is almost $1000? I'm only getting $287 a week and I thought that was decent

Yeah the max is high but very few people actually qualify for it. You'd need to have been making serious money in your highest quarter to get close to that amount.

Same here! I've been trying to get through for two weeks about my calculation. So frustrating.

Try calling first thing at 8am or during lunch around noon - those seem to be the only times you might actually get through to someone.

Same here! The automated system just kept giving me the runaround.

exactly! and when you finally get someone they act like you should already know this stuff

Good point, I did have a second part-time job for a few months last year. I should check if that's included in their calculation.

How do you submit additional wage info? Do you just mail them paystubs or something?

You can upload documents through your SecureAccess Washington account or mail them. Make sure to include W-2s or paystubs that clearly show the missing wages and which quarters they're from.

That actually makes me feel better about the amount. I was worried they made an error.

Yeah, the calculation is confusing but the end result is usually fair. Just make sure you're filing your weekly claims on time to keep getting payments.

I mean it's supposed to replace a portion of what you were actually earning, so it makes sense that higher earners get more?

Yeah but the people who need help the most are the ones who get the least. Someone making $15/hour gets way less help than someone who was making $25/hour, but they probably need the money more.

That's just how unemployment insurance works everywhere though. It's based on what you paid into the system through your wages.

Yes, bonuses and commissions count as long as they show up on your W-2 and were reported to Washington ESD by your employer. Anything that had taxes withheld should be included.

Sweet, that might explain why my amount is higher than I expected then. Thanks!

How do you request the alternate base period? Do you have to call them or is there a form?

You can request it through your online account or by calling. It's worth doing if you got a raise or started a better job recently that wouldn't show up in the standard base period.

How much does it cost though? I'm already tight on money being unemployed.

It's worth checking out their site for pricing info. For me, the time saved was worth it since I needed answers about my claim status.

That's a huge difference! I should probably double check mine too. Did you have to provide any additional documentation?

Yeah I had to send in my W-2 from the missing employer, but the agent walked me through exactly what I needed to do. Made the whole process way less stressful.

That explains why my friend's benefits were lower than expected. She had been part-time during her base period.

Exactly. The timing of when you file can make a big difference in your benefit calculation.

There is a benefit calculator on the Washington ESD website, but it's not super user-friendly.

yeah i tried that thing and it just confused me more lol

Oh no, does that mean my $681 might change? I'm already planning my budget around that amount.

It's possible but not common if your wage information was reported correctly. You'll get a notice if there are any changes.

Good to know, I was wondering about the total limit. Hopefully I'll find a job before I need anywhere near that much.

The 26 weeks can get extended during high unemployment periods, but right now it's just the standard 26 weeks max.

I get that attitude but you might be leaving money on the table if there's an error. Might be worth spending 30 minutes to double check everything.

Agreed, especially if you're going to be on unemployment for a while. Even an extra $50/week adds up over time.

Oh I didn't know they had a calculator! I'll definitely check that out. Thanks for the tip.

Where exactly is this calculator on their site? I've been looking for something like that.

It's under the 'File a Claim' section I think, or maybe in their FAQ. Washington ESD's website organization is pretty terrible but it's definitely there somewhere.

Yeah definitely don't sleep on this. I missed the deadline on mine and had to deal with a much more complicated appeal process later.

Good reminder, I just got my letter last week so I still have time to sort this out if needed.

Oh yeah, I forgot about the tax withholding option. I think I chose to have taxes taken out so that explains why my deposit is less than my stated weekly benefit amount.

Smart move having taxes withheld. Otherwise you'll owe a chunk at tax time next year.

Same here, learned more from this thread than from trying to read Washington ESD's confusing explanations on their website.

Yeah their website explanations are written like legal documents. This thread broke it down in actual human language.

Is it one of those scammy services that charges crazy fees? I've seen ads for similar things that seem sketchy.

Nah it's legit, they just help you get through the phone queue faster. Way better than sitting on hold for hours only to get disconnected.

Good luck! Hope everything works out and your calculation is accurate.

Let us know what you find out, I'm curious if your wages were calculated correctly or if there are any issues.

Will do! Really appreciate everyone taking the time to explain this stuff. This community is super helpful.

Agreed. I've been trying to understand my benefit calculation for weeks and still don't have a clear answer.

That's exactly why I ended up using claimyr - got tired of the runaround and just wanted to talk to someone who could explain it clearly.

Good point! I was thinking about my net pay, not gross. That makes the calculation make more sense.

Same here. The notice might as well have been in a foreign language.

Right? Like what does 'HQW' and 'BPW' even mean? They should explain these terms somewhere.

Thank you! Those abbreviations were on my notice too and I had no idea what they meant.

Finally someone who speaks Washington ESD! This is exactly the kind of explanation I needed.

Good to know! My amount seems reasonable now that I understand the formula better, but it's reassuring to know I can appeal if needed.

Exactly. The appeal process isn't too bad if you have documentation of your wages. Just make sure to file within the deadline.

Agreed! I feel much better about my benefit amount now. Thanks everyone for the explanations.

Happy to help! The unemployment system is confusing enough without having to guess how your benefits are calculated.

Thanks for the follow-up! I might try that if I have more questions about my claim.

yeah definitely worth it if you need to actually talk to someone. the website info is helpful but sometimes you need a real person to explain things