How is unemployment calculated in Washington ESD - need to understand my benefit amount

Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount (WBA) based on your highest earning quarter in your base period. They take your total wages from that quarter and divide by 26. So if you earned $13,000 in your highest quarter, your WBA would be $500. The maximum weekly benefit for 2025 is $999.

ya its confusing at first but once u figure it out it makes sense. just make sure you keep filing your weekly claims on time or you'll lose benefits

I had issues getting through to Washington ESD when I had questions about my benefit calculation. Spent hours on hold trying to reach someone. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really saved me time and frustration.

The calculation also depends on whether you're eligible for the dependency allowance. If you have qualifying dependents, you can get an additional $25 per week per dependent, up to 5 dependents maximum. This would be added to your base weekly benefit amount.

UGH the Washington ESD system is SO confusing!! I've been trying to understand my benefit amount for weeks and nobody can give me a straight answer. Called like 20 times and either get disconnected or told different things by different people. This is ridiculous for people who are already stressed about losing their job!

One thing to check - make sure Washington ESD is using the right base period. Sometimes they'll use an alternate base period if you didn't earn enough in the standard one. This can affect your benefit amount significantly.

also dont forget you can only collect benefits for 26 weeks max in washington state unless there are special extensions

The system is broken if you ask me. How are people supposed to understand all these calculations and rules when they're already dealing with job loss stress? And don't even get me started on the job search requirements - 3 job contacts per week is ridiculous in this economy.

Here's a tip - if you think your benefit amount is wrong, you can request a redetermination. You'll need to provide additional wage information or documentation to support your request. There's a form on the Washington ESD website for this.

Same boat here - trying to figure out if my calculation is right. I was a contractor for part of the year and then became an employee. Not sure how that affects the benefit calculation since contractors don't usually pay into UI.

Quick question - do bonuses and overtime count toward the benefit calculation? I got a big bonus in Q4 last year.

Just wanted to follow up - I used Claimyr again last week to get through to Washington ESD about a different issue and it worked perfectly. If anyone is having trouble reaching them by phone, I'd definitely recommend checking it out. The agents were able to explain my benefit calculation in detail.

For anyone still confused - the Washington ESD website has a benefit calculator tool that can give you an estimate. It's not perfect but it helps you understand the basic calculation.

remember you also have to pay taxes on unemployment benefits. they dont automatically take it out like regular paychecks so make sure to set some aside

The whole system needs to be simplified. I'm college educated and it took me forever to understand how my benefits were calculated. Can't imagine how confusing it is for people who don't speak English as their first language or aren't comfortable with online systems.

Does anyone know if working part-time while collecting benefits affects the calculation? I might be able to pick up some freelance work.

I had to appeal my benefit amount because they initially calculated it wrong. Took 6 weeks to get it resolved but I did get back pay for the difference. Don't be afraid to challenge it if something seems off.

One more thing - if you're on standby and expecting to be called back to work, your benefit calculation might be different. Make sure Washington ESD knows your employment status when you file.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! I think I understand my benefit calculation now. Going to double-check my wage history and make sure everything looks correct before my first weekly claim filing.

For anyone who might find this thread later - I used Claimyr one more time to verify my benefit calculation and the agent walked me through exactly how they arrived at my weekly amount. Really worth it if you want that peace of mind and can't get through on your own.