How is unemployment compensation calculated in Washington ESD?

Washington ESD uses your highest quarter of earnings during your base period to calculate benefits. They take that quarter, divide by 26, and that's roughly your weekly benefit amount. The base period is typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file. So if you file in January 2025, they'd look at your earnings from July 2023 through June 2024.

wait i thought it was more complicated than that? like they have minimums and stuff too

I had a similar situation with multiple jobs and Washington ESD was impossible to reach when I had questions about my calculation. Spent literally hours on hold trying to get through to someone who could explain it properly. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual Washington ESD agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Made such a difference being able to talk to someone who could look at my specific wage history.

The calculation also depends on whether you worked in Washington the whole time. If you worked in other states during your base period, you might need to file an interstate claim which complicates things.

Just be prepared for your first payment to potentially be different than what you expect. Washington ESD sometimes makes adjustments after they verify your wage information with your employers. Mine went up by $50/week after they got my employer's response.

Here's the key thing everyone needs to understand: Washington ESD looks at your GROSS wages, not your take-home pay. So don't calculate based on what you actually received after taxes and deductions. They use the full amount your employer reported to them.

ugh the whole system is so confusing why cant they just make it simple like other states

One more thing to remember - your benefit amount might be reduced if you have other income like pension payments or severance pay. Washington ESD will ask about this when you file your weekly claims.

Does anyone know if tips count toward the wage calculation? I worked at a restaurant and made decent tip money but I'm not sure if that's reported to Washington ESD.

I've been through this process twice now and the hardest part is always getting accurate information from Washington ESD when you have questions. Their website is decent but when you need to talk to someone about your specific situation it's nearly impossible. That Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier actually worked for me too - got me connected to an agent who could pull up my wage records and explain exactly how they calculated my benefits.

Just make sure you file your claim as soon as you're eligible. You can't backdate benefits in Washington, so every week you wait is money lost.

the whole thing gives me anxiety like what if they calculate it wrong and i dont know

Pro tip: keep detailed records of all your employment and wages. Washington ESD sometimes has delays getting wage information from employers, especially smaller businesses. Having your own records helps speed up the process.

Another thing to remember is that your benefit year lasts 52 weeks from when you first file, but you only get benefits for a maximum of 26 weeks during that year (unless there are extended benefits available).

i wish they would just tell you upfront what youll get instead of making you wait for the determination letter

Update on my earlier comment about Claimyr - I ended up using them again when I had questions about a wage adjustment. Still the best way I've found to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD who can look at your account and give you specific answers instead of generic information.

For anyone reading this later: the benefit calculator on Washington ESD's website gives you a rough estimate, but it's not always accurate because it doesn't account for all the specific rules and adjustments they might make.

The most important thing is making sure Washington ESD has correct wage information from all your employers. If they're missing wages from one of your jobs, it could significantly affect your benefit amount.

been waiting 3 weeks for my determination letter this whole process takes forever

Just remember that even after you get your determination letter, you still need to file weekly claims to actually receive benefits. The determination just tells you how much you're eligible for.