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

That's helpful but still confusing. So they don't look at my most recent job at all? I was making good money there but only for 8 months.

They do look at your recent job, but only if those earnings fall within your base period quarters. If you started that job too recently, those earnings might not count toward your benefit calculation.

That seems really unfair! Why don't they just use your most recent wages?

It's because they need complete quarter data to verify earnings. Your most recent partial quarter might not be complete when you file your claim.

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

Exactly. They use your base period which is the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed. Then they take your highest earning quarter from that period.

Wait, 680 hours? I thought it was based on dollar amounts not hours?

It's both. You need to meet the monetary requirement AND the hours requirement. The 680 hours is calculated by taking your total base period wages and dividing by the state's average hourly wage.

Never heard of that before. Is it legit or some kind of scam?

It's legitimate. They basically help you navigate the busy phone system to reach a real person at Washington ESD. Saved me hours of calling and getting hung up on.

Interesting, might have to try that. I've been trying to reach them for weeks about my benefit amount.

Okay so if I made $11,200 in my highest quarter, that would be $11,200 × 0.0385 = $431.20 per week? But my benefit is only $362.

That calculation seems right, but there might be other factors affecting your amount. Did you have any earnings from other jobs or periods of unemployment that could impact the calculation?

Really? How does that work? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for days about my calculation.

It basically navigates the phone system for you and waits on hold until an agent is available. Then it connects you directly. Super simple to use.

I feel you man, the whole system is designed to confuse people and make them give up

I understand the frustration, but the base period system is used to ensure benefit calculations are based on stable, verified wage data rather than fluctuating recent earnings.

That's exactly what happened to me! The alternate base period made a huge difference in my weekly benefit amount.

How do you request the alternate base period? Do you have to file a new claim?

No, you can request it when you first file or within a certain timeframe after. The agent walked me through the process over the phone.

I tried that calculator but it kept giving me error messages when I entered my wage information

Yeah, their website can be glitchy. Sometimes you have to try it a few times or use a different browser.

That's good to know! I did have that part-time job before my main job, so hopefully that helps my total.

Make sure all your employers properly reported your wages to Washington ESD though. Sometimes there are discrepancies that can affect your benefits.

What if you worked part-time in some quarters? Does that affect the calculation?

Yes, it can. If your highest quarter was part-time, your weekly benefit would be lower. That's why some people qualify for alternate base period if their regular base period doesn't work out.

Did you check if there were any deductions or if you're in a partial unemployment situation? Sometimes other factors affect the final amount.

no i don't think so... just regular unemployment after layoff. maybe i should call them but everyone says it's impossible to get through

That's exactly why I used Claimyr. The phone system is ridiculous but they make it so much easier to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD.

Oh wow, that explains a lot! I thought they were using my most recent earnings but they're actually using older quarters.

Yeah and if you don't qualify with the regular base period, you can sometimes use the alternate base period which includes more recent quarters.

Thanks for the insider perspective! Is there any way to see exactly which quarters they used for my calculation?

Yes, it should be on your monetary determination letter. It will show each quarter's wages and highlight which one was your highest.

What if there's an error in the wage information? My employer reported wrong amounts to Washington ESD.

You can file an appeal within 30 days of the determination. You'll need documentation from your employer showing the correct wages.

It's not random, but I understand why it seems that way. The base period system can definitely be confusing, especially if your work history is irregular.

Yes, bonuses count as wages for the quarter they were paid in. So if you got a $5,000 bonus in December, that would be added to your Q4 wages.

Great! That might explain why my weekly benefit is higher than I expected.

I tried using that calculator and it gave me a completely different number than what I actually got approved for.

Yeah, it's just an estimate. The actual calculation can be different based on your specific situation.

How do you request a redetermination? Is that different from an appeal?

You can call Washington ESD or submit a request online. It's less formal than an appeal but still gets your case reviewed.

How do you know if you qualify for alternate base period?

Washington ESD automatically checks if you don't qualify with the regular base period. But you can also request it if your recent earnings were significantly higher.

Wait, what's the difference? I thought they were the same thing.

Base period is the 4 quarters they use to calculate your benefits (looking backward). Benefit year is the 52-week period starting when you file your claim (looking forward).

Ohhhh that makes so much more sense now. Thanks for explaining that!

That's important to know! I was trying to figure out why my calculation seemed high.

Exactly. So if you made $15,000 gross in your highest quarter but only took home $11,000, they use the $15,000 for the calculation.

Is there a cost for using Claimyr?

There is a fee but honestly it was worth it to avoid the phone nightmare. Plus they guarantee you'll get through to an agent.

What do you need to earn to get the maximum benefit?

You'd need to earn about $25,900 in your highest quarter to max out at $999/week. That's roughly $103,600 per year.

The initial processing can take 2-4 weeks, especially if there are any issues with your claim that require adjudication. Have you been filing your weekly claims while waiting?

Yes, I've been filing weekly but they all show as pending. Should I be worried?

If you need to check on your claim status, definitely use that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier. It's the fastest way to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD about what's holding up your claim.

Yes, reported tips count as wages. But only the tips that were properly reported to your employer and showed up on your W-2.

That makes sense. Cash tips that weren't reported probably don't count then.

Overtime pay counts the same as regular wages in your benefit calculation. It's all just reported wages to Washington ESD, regardless of whether it was regular time or overtime.

Good to know, thanks! That should help my benefit amount then since I worked tons of overtime last year.

Good to know! My calculation came out to $487 so I'm well under the maximum.

Yeah most people don't hit the maximum unless they were making really good money in their highest quarter.

Wish I had known this earlier. I threw away most of my old pay stubs and now I'm having issues proving my wages.

You might be able to get copies from your former employer's HR department or payroll company. Worth asking!

I guess that makes sense but it still screws over people who recently got better jobs before being laid off

That's why the alternate base period option exists. If your recent earnings were significantly higher, you can request to use the last 4 completed quarters instead of the standard base period.

Awesome! Glad it worked out for you. That's a significant increase in your weekly benefits.

I'm definitely going to try requesting the alternate base period for my claim now. Thanks for sharing your experience!

That's a great example of why it's worth understanding how the system works instead of just accepting whatever they initially calculate.

Did you have to file an appeal or was there another process?

I called Washington ESD and they opened a wage investigation. Once they verified the correct wages with my employer, they issued a new determination with the higher benefit amount.

What if I go back to work and then get laid off again? Do they recalculate?

Only if you file a new claim after your benefit year ends. If you reopen your existing claim, the weekly amount stays the same.

I feel you. The bureaucracy is frustrating but at least the weekly amount is decent compared to some other states.

That's exactly why services like Claimyr exist. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person who can explain it in plain English.

Thanks for all the helpful information everyone! I feel like I understand my benefit calculation much better now.

This thread has been super helpful. Bookmarking it in case I need to reference the calculation formula later.