How is unemployment compensation determined by Washington ESD?

So if my highest quarter was $12,500, that would be about $480 per week? That sounds about right for what I'm getting.

Exactly! And the current maximum weekly benefit in Washington is $999, so you're well under that cap.

Washington doesn't add extra for dependents like some states do. It's purely based on your wages during the base period.

Yeah Washington keeps it simple compared to other states. No dependent allowances here.

That's interesting about the base period timing. I filed in January 2025 so I'm guessing they're looking at quarters from 2024?

Probably Q3 2023 through Q2 2024 if you filed in January. The base period ends before the quarter you file in.

Never heard of Claimyr but might be worth trying. I've been on hold for 2 hours trying to get through to Washington ESD about my own benefit calculation.

The determination letter should actually show your quarterly wages if you look closely. It's usually in small print or on the second page.

I'll check again but I swear mine doesn't have that level of detail. Maybe I got a different version?

How did you get that fixed? Did you have to appeal or was there a simpler process?

I called and they walked me through submitting additional wage documentation. Took about 3 weeks to process but they backdated the higher benefit amount.

Same thing happened to my friend. Small companies especially seem to mess up the wage reporting to Washington ESD.

is that before taxes or after? my checks seem smaller than the amount they told me

Before taxes. They withhold federal income tax if you elect it, and you still owe taxes on unemployment benefits when you file your return.

If you filed in Q1 2025 (Jan-Mar), your base period would be Q3 2023 through Q2 2024. So mostly 2024 wages but starting from July 2023.

That makes sense now. I was wondering why some of my recent higher wages weren't reflected in my benefit amount.

You might be able to use an alternate base period if your recent wages were significantly higher. Worth asking Washington ESD about.

All wages count equally - regular pay, overtime, bonuses, commissions. It's just total gross wages reported to Washington ESD for each quarter.

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

Did they charge you for that service? Sounds too good to be true.

There is a fee but honestly worth it to avoid sitting on hold forever. They connected me directly to a Washington ESD agent who explained my whole benefit calculation.

I might try that. I've been trying to get through for weeks about a similar issue with my benefit amount calculation.

Did you have to provide documentation for the reconsideration request?

Yes, I submitted pay stubs and W2s to show the missing wages. Washington ESD verified with the employer and made the correction.

Actually Washington ESD does have a benefit calculator on their website, but it's kind of buried in the FAQ section. Search for 'benefit calculator' on esd.wa.gov.

seriously? ive been looking everywhere for that. thanks!

That's helpful! I did have a small freelance gig during that time that probably added to my total wages.

Yep, as long as the employers reported the wages properly to Washington state, they all get included in your base period calculation.

That makes sense and explains why my calculation seemed higher than I expected based on my net pay.

Exactly! A lot of people get confused because they think about their actual paychecks rather than their gross wages.

How do you request that breakdown? Is there a specific form or do you just call?

You can call or send a message through your online account. Just ask for a detailed wage and benefit computation statement.

This thread has been super helpful. I was totally confused about my benefit amount but now I understand how Washington ESD calculated it.