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

That makes more sense! I didn't realize they only used one quarter. My income was uneven throughout the year so that explains the lower amount.

yeah the base period thing caught me off guard too when I first filed

So they don't look at my most recent pay? That seems weird since I got a raise 6 months ago.

Right, there's usually a lag. If your recent earnings were higher, you might want to ask about using the alternate base period when you call Washington ESD.

So they don't look at my total yearly income? Just one quarter? That explains why it seems low - I had some unpaid time off in my highest quarter.

Yeah that's right, it's not based on your annual salary at all. Really caught me off guard too when I first filed.

I definitely worked way more than 680 hours, but good to know about the alternate base period option.

The 680 hours thing tripped me up because I was working part-time for a while. Had to provide extra documentation to prove I met the requirement.

Thanks! So if I made like $8,500 in my best quarter, that would be $8,500/26 = $327, then they take 60% of that? That would be around $196 though, not $362.

The calculation is more complex than that. They also look at your total base period wages and use a formula that considers both your high quarter and your total earnings. Plus there are minimum and maximum benefit amounts.

Thanks! So they don't just look at my last paycheck amount? That explains why it seemed different than what I expected.

Yeah it's based on a full quarter not your most recent pay. Pretty confusing system honestly.

Wait, 3.85%? That seems really low. Is that right?

Yes, that's the formula. It's designed to replace about 50% of your average weekly wage, but capped at the maximum amount.

The percentage seems low but remember it's calculated weekly, not annually. Over 26 weeks it adds up.

The formula can be tricky because Washington ESD also considers your highest earning quarter. It's not just a straight percentage of total earnings.

see this is exactly what i mean... too many variables

How much does that cost? I'm already tight on money waiting for my first payment.

It's worth it to get accurate information instead of guessing. The agent explained that my calculation included overtime from my base period quarters that I forgot about.

Never heard of Claimyr but might be worth trying. I've called Washington ESD 15 times and never gotten through.

Thanks! So they don't look at my total yearly income, just my best quarter? That makes more sense now.

Yeah the quarterly thing threw me off too when I first filed. I thought they'd use my whole year's pay.

Thanks! So if my highest quarter was around $15,000, that would be about $558 divided by 26 = $481... that's pretty close to my $487 amount.

Wait that math doesn't look right to me, shouldn't it be $15,000 times 0.0385 = $577.50?

What exactly is the base period though? Is that just the last year I worked?

The base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim. So if you filed in January 2025, it would be January 2024 through September 2024.

Yes you're right. You need to have earned at least $8,712 during your entire base period AND at least $2,178 in your highest quarter to qualify in 2025.

These numbers change every year based on the state's average wages, so always check the current requirements when you file.

So they don't look at my total annual salary? Just one quarter?

Correct, it's based on your single highest earning quarter. The maximum weekly benefit in Washington is currently $1,015 per week, so your $844 suggests your highest quarter was around $21,944.

So they don't use my most recent salary? That seems weird because I was making good money right before I got laid off.

Exactly - they use historical data, not your current wages. It's supposed to be more stable but it can be frustrating when your recent earnings were higher.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents without waiting on hold for hours. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works.

Is that legit? I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point.

Yeah it's real. I used it last month when I had questions about my adjudication. Way better than hitting redial 200 times a day.

I'll check that section, didn't know it existed. My wages were all over the place because of the seasonal nature of restaurant work.

Restaurant work is tricky for UI calculations because of the variable hours and tips. Make sure all your reported wages are accurate in the system.

How did you manage to get through to them? I've been trying to call for days but keep getting disconnected.

I had the same problem with calling Washington ESD until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to ESD agents by calling for you. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made a huge difference for me when I needed to verify my benefit calculation.

That makes more sense! So they don't use my most recent wages? I got a raise in August but that wouldn't count then.

Right, recent wages usually don't count because employers haven't reported them yet. There's an alternate base period option if your regular base period doesn't qualify you, but most people use the standard calculation.

What's the maximum they'll pay out? And which quarters count as the base year?

Max is $1,015 per week for 2025. Base year is typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed.

Wait, that doesn't seem right. Why wouldn't they use your most recent earnings? That makes no sense!

I know it seems backwards, but that's how the system works. There's also an alternate base period if you don't qualify under the standard one, which uses the last 4 completed quarters.

This is so confusing. How am I supposed to know which quarters they used for my calculation?

I had the same problem until I discovered Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents - you put in your info and they call you back when they have an agent on the line. I used it last month and finally got my benefit questions answered. Check out claimyr.com and they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Try calling right at 8am when they open, that's your best bet for getting through without waiting forever.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr - it's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com and their demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. They handled all the calling for me and I got connected within a few hours.

Really? That sounds too good to be true. How does it work exactly?

You just tell them what you need help with and they keep calling until they get you connected to the right person. Way better than spending hours on hold.

That makes more sense! I started this job in March 2024 so my base year probably doesn't include my full earnings from this position.

Wait, so if I only worked part of a quarter at my high-paying job, that hurts my benefit calculation even if I was making great money?

Yes, that's exactly right. The system looks at complete quarters, so if you started a job mid-quarter, only part of those earnings count toward that quarter.

That math actually works out! My best quarter last year was about $15,500 so that explains the $467.

Wait I'm confused, you said multiply by 0.04 but that would be 4%, not 50%?

Sorry typo! It's actually (highest quarter ÷ 26) × 0.0385 for the exact calculation. Comes out to roughly 50% of your average weekly wage.

That makes sense now. I had some overtime in Q2 of 2024 which was probably my highest quarter.

Exactly right about the base period calculation. A lot of people get confused thinking it's based on their most recent wages but it's actually looking back further than that.

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

It's worth checking their site for current pricing. For me it was worth it to get a real person to explain everything clearly instead of guessing.

Never heard of this service before. Seems sketchy to pay someone to call for you?

That actually sounds about right for your income level. The formula isn't super generous but it's consistent.

How much does that cost? I'm already strapped for cash being unemployed.

It's worth checking their site for current rates. For me it was worth it just to get clarity on my benefit amount and make sure everything was correct.

I've heard of this but never tried it. Did they actually get you through to a real person at ESD?

Yeah, took about 20 minutes but I got connected to someone who could access my claim and explain the calculation step by step.

How long did it take to get through with that service? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for days.

Got connected within like 20 minutes. Way better than the 3 hours I spent on hold the week before with no luck.

It's not quite that simple. There are caps and minimums, plus you need to meet the total wage requirements during your base period.

While the system can be frustrating, the calculation is actually designed to replace about 50% of your average weekly wages during your highest earning quarter.

50% is a joke when rent and bills don't get cut in half just because you lose your job

It's based on the base period to ensure you were recently employed and actively working. Using annual income wouldn't capture recent work history as accurately.

i guess that makes sense but its still annoying when you're trying to budget

I did some Uber driving on weekends, maybe that's why it's not higher. Do they count gig work in the calculation?

Yes, all W-2 income gets included in your base period calculation. Gig work should show up if you filed taxes on it.

I checked there but it just shows the final amount, not the breakdown of how they calculated it.

same here, the SAW portal doesn't really explain the math behind it

What's the minimum for the highest quarter? I want to make sure I qualified properly.

For 2025, you need at least $5,265 in your highest earning quarter. You also need total base period earnings of at least 1.5 times your high quarter amount.

Thank you! That formula actually makes sense now. So if my highest quarter was around $22,000, then $22,000 ÷ 26 = $846, which rounds down to $844.

wish washington esd would just put this simple explanation on their website instead of all that confusing legal language

While the system is complex, the calculation is actually pretty standardized. The issue is that Washington ESD doesn't explain it clearly on their website.

Exactly my point - if it's so standardized why can't they just put a simple calculator on their site?

I think you're mixing up formulas there. Washington definitely uses the single highest quarter method, not two quarters combined.

Now I'm even more confused lol. Is there an official Washington ESD page that explains this clearly?

Good point about taxes. Should I have them withhold taxes from my weekly payments?

You can request 10% federal tax withholding when you file your weekly claims. I'd recommend it unless you prefer to save up and pay quarterly.

I had the same problem reaching them until someone told me about Claimyr. It's this service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents without waiting on hold forever. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

never heard of that but willing to try anything at this point. does it actually work?

Yeah it worked for me. Got connected to someone at Washington ESD in like 15 minutes instead of hours. They explained my whole benefit calculation and helped me understand the determination letter.

So if I made $15,000 in my highest quarter, that would be $15,000 ÷ 26 = $576 per week?

Exactly! Sounds like that matches pretty close to your $580, so they probably rounded or there might be small wage differences in your calculation.

Don't forget you can only collect for a maximum of 26 weeks unless there are extensions available.

This is super helpful! I filed in December so they're looking at different quarters than I thought.

Wait, so they don't use the most recent quarter? That seems backwards.

Correct, they skip the most recent quarter because wages might not be fully reported yet by employers.

Wait, so they only use the two highest quarters? Not all four?

For the weekly benefit calculation, yes. But you still need minimum earnings spread across the entire base period to qualify initially.

This is why I always tell people to save their pay stubs. You might need to verify the quarters Washington ESD is using.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already tight on money.

I can't remember the exact price but it was worth it for me since I spent weeks trying to get through on my own. Way less stressful.

Never heard of that service but might be worth looking into. ESD phone system is absolutely terrible.

This formula is exactly what I needed! Let me try to calculate mine with this. So confusing that they don't just tell you this upfront.

Washington ESD really should make this clearer on their website. The formulas are buried in some PDF document somewhere.

Did they charge you to make the call? I've been trying to reach Washington ESD for weeks about my calculation questions.

They handle the calling process for you so you don't have to deal with busy signals and hold times. The rep I spoke with walked through my entire benefit calculation step by step.

Wait, so if I made more money in recent months that doesn't help my benefit amount?

Correct, unless those recent months fall within your base year period. That's why timing of when you file can sometimes matter.

I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com. They help you get through to Washington ESD agents by handling the calling for you. There's even a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me so much time and frustration.

Interesting, I'll check that out. I'm getting desperate trying to reach someone about my calculation discrepancy.

How much does something like that cost though? Seems like we shouldn't have to pay extra just to reach our own state agency.

Good point about taxes. I did elect to have them withheld. Better to pay now than owe a bunch next year.

wait there's a maximum?? i thought it was just based on what you made

Yes, Washington has a weekly maximum. Even if your calculation would be higher, you can't get more than $999 per week. The minimum is much lower though, around $295 I think.

That could definitely be an issue. If your employer didn't report wages properly, Washington ESD might not have accurate records. You can request an alternate base period that uses more recent quarters, but you'll need to provide documentation.

What kind of documentation? I have pay stubs but not sure what else they'd need.

Pay stubs are good, also W-2s, tax returns, or any employment verification letters. The more documentation you have, the better chance of getting your benefits calculated correctly.

Yes, overtime counts as regular wages for the calculation. All reported W-2 income is included.

Good to know, thanks! That explains why my benefit amount was higher than I expected.

Oh right, I forgot about that. So confusing to keep track of all these rules.

yeah the waiting week sucks especially when you need money right away

I understand the frustration, but there are reasons for using historical data - it prevents people from briefly taking high-paying jobs just to boost their UI benefits.

still doesn't help people who genuinely got better jobs and then lost them through no fault of their own

Your benefit amount depends heavily on how your earnings were distributed across quarters. If you had uneven income or gaps, that affects the calculation significantly.

I worked steadily for 2 years though! this system is so messed up

It's because they need time to process wage reports from employers. The alternate base period uses more recent wages if you don't qualify under the regular base period.

I had to use the alternate base period because I started a new job right before I got laid off. Took forever to get approved but they did use my more recent wages.

They use the base period method because it gives a more stable picture of your earnings over time. If someone just started a high-paying job but got laid off quickly, using just that salary wouldn't be fair to other claimants.

I guess that makes sense but it's still super complicated to figure out.

How do I know if they used the alternate base year? Is that on the monetary determination somewhere?

Yes, it should be clearly marked on your monetary determination letter if they used the alternate base year instead of the regular one.

Where do I find my quarterly earnings? Is that on my W-2 or do I need to request something from Washington ESD?

You can see your quarterly wage reports in your SecureAccess Washington account under employment history. That's what Washington ESD uses for the calculation.

I did have two jobs during that time period. Should I be concerned if one employer's wages aren't showing up?

Yes definitely! Missing wages can significantly reduce your benefit amount. I had to contact ESD when my part-time job wages weren't included.

This happened to me too. I used Claimyr to get through to an ESD rep who helped me request a wage investigation. Took a few weeks but they found the missing wages and recalculated my benefits retroactively.

Yes, if you don't qualify under the standard base period, Washington ESD can use an alternative base period which looks at more recent quarters. This can help people who had recent employment changes.

That makes sense! My friend had just started a new higher-paying job before getting laid off.

Yes, reported tips count as wages for unemployment purposes. If you reported them to the IRS, they should be included in your base period earnings.

good to know! that might explain why my benefit amount was higher than expected

It's because they need completed quarters of wage data reported by employers. Using the most recent complete quarters ensures accurate calculations.

I guess that makes sense but it's still needlessly complicated. And don't get me started on trying to reach them by phone...

47 times?? That's insane. The phone system is completely broken.

Because then people would game the system by working extra hours right before getting laid off. The quarterly system is more fair overall.

i guess that makes sense but still annoying to figure out

Yes, you can request a recalculation if you think there's an error. I used Claimyr again to get through to someone who could help with that. They were able to look at my wage records and explain exactly how they calculated everything.

I might try that Claimyr thing then. This is so frustrating trying to figure out on my own.

You can also file a written appeal if you think the calculation is wrong, but talking to someone first is probably easier to understand what went wrong.

I only worked in Washington so that shouldn't be an issue for me.

good point though, i worked in oregon for a few months and it took forever to sort out my wages

Good point! I did have a job change mid-year so that's probably factored in.

Does that include contract work or just W-2 employment?

Only W-2 wages count for regular unemployment. Contract/1099 work doesn't qualify unless you paid into the voluntary program.

I understand the frustration but the formula is actually pretty transparent once you know how it works. The issue is more about communication than the calculation itself.

maybe but when you're stressed about money the last thing you want is math homework

3.85% sounds right based on what the first commenter said. So it's definitely the single highest quarter, not adding multiple quarters together.

I stand corrected - you're right about the single quarter method. I was thinking of a different state's calculation.

I did work at two different restaurants during some of that time. Should I be checking that both employers' wages are included?

Absolutely! Check your wage history in SecureAccess Washington to make sure all employers show up. Missing wages would lower your benefit amount.

This happened to me - one employer was late reporting wages and it messed up my calculation. Had to contact ESD to get it fixed.

Good point about the minimum. I didn't know there was a floor on the benefit amount.

So there's both a minimum and maximum? The system seems pretty complex with all these rules.

True, I shouldn't complain. It's just weird not knowing how they got to that number initially.

Yeah $467 covers most of my rent at least. Better than nothing during this job search.

Washington ESD will verify your wages with your employers anyway, so small mistakes usually get corrected automatically. If there's a big discrepancy they might ask for documentation.

That's reassuring. I was panicking thinking I'd get in trouble for an honest mistake.

Yes, all gross wages including overtime count toward your quarterly totals. So if you had a lot of OT in your highest quarter, that would increase your weekly benefit.

Good to know! I was worried they might average it out or something weird like that.

I tried it but couldn't get accurate results. The manual calculation method works better if you have your wage history.

Same here, the calculator gave me weird results that didn't match my actual benefit amount.

Oh that's good to know. I did have a part-time job earlier in 2024 before I got my full-time position.

Does that mean having multiple jobs could actually help your benefit calculation?

Yes! More total wages in your base year quarters generally means higher benefits, up to the maximum.

Yes, any wages reported to Washington ESD by your employer count, including overtime, bonuses, commissions, and tips. It's all based on what shows up in their wage records.

Good to know! I had a lot of overtime in Q2 last year so that probably helped my benefit amount.

Close - for 2025 you need at least $5,265 in total base year wages AND at least $1,755 in your highest quarter to qualify for benefits.

thanks for the correction! I knew it was something like that but couldn't remember the exact numbers

Same! I was ready to appeal thinking they made a mistake but now I understand the calculation.

That's exactly what I'm worried about! I had a few months between jobs last year and I'm not sure how that affected which quarters they used.

Definitely worth calling to confirm they used the right base period for your situation. Sometimes the alternative base period gives you a better benefit rate.

How long did it take to get through to someone with Claimyr?

Maybe 20 minutes total. Way better than the 3+ hours I spent on hold calling Washington ESD directly.

So my $462 is pretty typical then?

Yeah, that's right in the normal range for someone with steady employment at $18/hour.

The base period system is designed to use your most recent substantial work history, not just a few weeks. It's supposed to be more stable and representative of your earning capacity.

yeah but it doesn't account for people who got raises or promotions recently. seems backwards to me

I only had the one job, but good to know. Where can I see what wage data they have on file?

You can see your wage history in your eServices account online. It shows what employers reported quarter by quarter.

This is helpful info. I was wondering why my calculation seemed off and maybe they're missing wages from one of my employers.

Let me look at mine again. I think I was just looking at the final number and not the breakdown.

Yeah the breakdown helps you understand if they're using the right wages. If a quarter looks wrong, that's when you'd want to contact them about it.

You'd actually get the minimum weekly benefit of $295 in that case, since your calculation is below the minimum.

Oh okay that makes more sense. The minimum protects people with lower wages.

Yeah the minimum is there so everyone gets at least something livable, not just people who made really high wages.

They calculate it as part of the initial claim processing, but if you're in adjudication for eligibility issues, you won't see the amount until that's resolved.

Adjudication can take forever. I was stuck there for a month before they finally approved my claim.

Same here, adjudication took 3 weeks. Once it was approved though, I got all my back pay at once.

For a December 2024 filing, your base period would be April 2023 through March 2024. They use the first four of the last five completed quarters.

Thanks! That helps a lot. I was looking at the wrong time period when trying to figure out my calculation.

So if I wait a few weeks to file, that could change my benefit amount?

Potentially yes, but you also lose those weeks of benefits. Generally better to file as soon as you're eligible.

Yeah but most people don't get anywhere close to the maximum. You'd need to be making like $65k+ consistently to hit that.

I hit the maximum when I was laid off from my tech job. The benefit amount was actually a pleasant surprise.

How do you request that review? Through the online portal?

Yes, you can request it online or by calling. Just explain that you think your wages weren't calculated correctly and provide any missing wage information.

It's automatic. Washington ESD's system calculates using whichever quarter gives you the highest benefit amount. You don't need to do anything special.

Right, and if for some reason you think there's an error in their wage records, you can request a wage investigation to get it corrected.

Wait what?? Nobody told me about a waiting week when I filed!

Yeah it's buried in the fine print. Week 1 is always unpaid regardless of your benefit amount. Plan accordingly.

The waiting week gets paid at the end if you exhaust all your regular benefits, but most people find work before then.

I definitely made more than $1,004 in my best quarter, and way more than 1.5 times that total. Good to know about those minimums though.

There's also the alternative base period if you don't qualify under the regular one. Uses more recent quarters but harder to qualify for.

Good advice! I have most of mine in a folder but should probably scan them too.

definitely scan them, physical copies get lost or damaged

How do you request a redetermination? Is there a form or do you have to call?

There's a form on the ESD website, or you can write a letter explaining what you think is wrong. Include any documentation you have about missing wages.

Good luck getting through to them to discuss it though. Their phone lines are always jammed.

Exactly! You've got it. The system is designed to use complete, verifiable wage data rather than projections or partial quarters.

And if you want to double-check their math or ask about any specific details, definitely recommend using Claimyr to get through to them. So much easier than the regular phone system.

How long did the appeal take? I'm considering doing the same thing.

About 6 weeks total. They were pretty thorough in explaining everything in their response.

This happened to me! My part-time job didn't report my wages correctly and I had to submit my own pay stubs.

I should definitely check this. I had a small part-time job that might not have been included.

Gaps don't directly hurt the calculation since they only look at quarters where you actually earned wages. But it might mean you don't meet the minimum requirements.

I had a 4-month gap and still qualified fine. As long as you meet the $7,000 minimum and hour requirements, you should be okay.

How do I request them to check the alternate base period?

You'd need to contact Washington ESD directly. They don't automatically check both base periods - you have to request it if the standard base period doesn't work in your favor.

That makes sense. Most people probably assume it would use your current or recent wages, not wages from over a year ago potentially.

Exactly. And seasonal workers or people with variable income can be especially surprised by their benefit amount depending on which quarters fall in their base period.

Good point! I was definitely confusing benefit year with base period. So the base period looks backward from when I filed to determine my earnings history.