How much are unemployment benefits in Washington - confused about my payment amount

Thanks for explaining! So they look at my highest earning quarter - that would probably be last fall when I had some overtime and bonuses.

Just remember that's the maximum you can get per week, but you still need to file your weekly claims and meet all the job search requirements to actually receive it.

Oh no, I didn't know that! How do I request the tax withholding? Is it too late to change it?

You can change your tax withholding election anytime by logging into your account and updating your preferences. I'd recommend having them withhold 10% for federal taxes.

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 they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

I've been calling at 7:59 AM right when they open and sometimes get through after 20-30 tries. It's ridiculous but that's the only way I've had success.

So it's not based on my final salary? That explains why it might seem a bit off from what I expected.

Exactly - it's based on your base period which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim.

What counts as a job search activity? I've been applying to jobs but wasn't sure if I needed to do anything else.

applying for jobs counts but you can also do things like attending job fairs, networking events, or taking skills assessments. just make sure you log everything in WorkSourceWA

The job search requirements are no joke - I know people who got disqualified for not meeting them properly. Keep detailed records of everything.

That does seem low for your income level. You might want to request a redetermination if you think there's an error in your wage calculation. Do you have all your pay stubs from the base period?

I have most of them but not all. Would that affect the calculation if some wages weren't reported correctly?

Definitely. If your employer didn't report all your wages or there were reporting errors, it could significantly impact your benefit amount. You should contact Washington ESD to verify your wage record.

I agree! And then when you try to call them to get clarification, you can't even get through. The system is broken.

That's why I ended up using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Finally got answers about my benefit calculation after weeks of trying to call on my own.

That's really helpful! I'll try to calculate it myself to see if my amount is correct.

Just remember there are other factors that can affect it, like if you had multiple employers or gaps in employment. But it gives you a ballpark figure.

26 weeks - that's about 6 months right? Hopefully I'll find something before then.

Yes, exactly 6 months. And remember, if you find part-time work, you might still be eligible for partial benefits depending on how much you earn.

How did you know it was wrong? What should I be looking for?

I compared my actual wages from tax documents to what they had on file and there was a significant discrepancy. Always verify their wage information against your own records.

This is another situation where Claimyr really helped me out - I was able to speak directly with an agent who walked me through my wage record and explained exactly how they calculated my benefits.

I don't have any pension income since I'm only 28, but good to know for the future.

Yeah, it mainly affects older workers, but it's something to be aware of if you have any retirement accounts that pay out.

What if I do some freelance work occasionally? Do I need to report that too?

Yes, absolutely. Any income needs to be reported on your weekly claims, including freelance, gig work, or even selling stuff online if it's regular income.

I got hit with an overpayment notice for not reporting some side work I did. Had to pay back over $2,000. Don't make my mistake!

Yeah, I feel fortunate. I know some people in other states who get much less. I just want to make sure I'm doing everything right.

The key is staying on top of your weekly claims and job search requirements. As long as you do that, you should be fine.

Severance pay can affect your unemployment benefits depending on how it's structured and paid out. Lump sum payments are treated differently than weekly severance payments.

That's what I was thinking. I might need to talk to someone at Washington ESD about how my severance will impact my benefits.

Good luck getting through to them! That's exactly the kind of question I needed Claimyr's help with because it's too complex to figure out from their website alone.