How much are unemployment benefits in Washington - what's the maximum weekly amount?

Thanks! So if I made about $15,500 in my highest quarter, that would be around $596 per week?

That sounds about right. The exact calculation is $15,500 x 0.0385 = $596.75, so yes around $597 weekly.

No, it's specifically your highest earning quarter that determines your weekly benefit amount. The other quarters are used to see if you qualify for benefits at all.

oh ok that makes more sense then. i was trying to average all my quarters and getting weird numbers

I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works. Saved me so much frustration.

Interesting, never heard of that before. Does it actually work or is it just another scam?

It's legit - they basically handle the calling process for you so you don't have to sit there redialing all day. Really helped when I needed to talk to someone about my claim status.

What's the base year exactly? Is that the last 12 months before I file?

The base year is typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. So if you file in 2025, it would usually be Q1 2024 through Q4 2024.

This is so confusing why cant they just use your last year of work like a normal calculation

What are the job search requirements? Do I have to apply to a certain number of jobs each week?

You need to make at least 3 job search activities per week and keep a log. This can include applying for jobs, networking, attending job fairs, or career counseling sessions.

That might be because your highest earning quarter was lower than you calculated, or you might be looking at the wrong base year period. Check your monetary determination letter for the exact quarters they used.

Where do I find that letter? I don't think I ever got one in the mail.

It should be in your Washington ESD online account under 'Correspondence' or 'Documents'. If you can't find it there, you might need to call and request another copy.

Yes, if you work part-time you'll need to report those earnings on your weekly claim. Washington ESD will reduce your benefit based on how much you earn, but you can still collect partial benefits as long as you earn less than your weekly benefit amount plus $5.

so if my weekly benefit is $500 and i earn $300 from part time work, id get $200 in unemployment that week?

Not exactly - the calculation is more complex. They subtract your earnings from your weekly benefit amount, but there's a small earnings disregard. You'd probably get around $205-210 in that scenario.

That sounds like adjudication. Mine was stuck there for a month before they finally approved it. The waiting is the worst part.

Did you ever find out what was causing the delay? I'm going crazy not knowing what's happening with my claim.

I ended up using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier to actually get through to an agent. They explained that my former employer had disputed something and they needed to investigate. At least I finally knew what was going on.

Ugh I didn't think about taxes. How much should I expect to owe at the end of the year?

It depends on your total income for the year and tax bracket. I'd recommend having 10-15% withheld to be safe, or set aside money for quarterly payments.

True, but try actually getting through to them when you have questions! The phone system is terrible.

Yeah that's definitely the biggest complaint I hear. The benefits themselves are good but the customer service is lacking.

Unemployment is meant to be temporary assistance, not full income replacement. You might want to look into other assistance programs or consider moving somewhere less expensive if needed.

easier said than done when you dont have money for moving expenses. just hoping to find a new job quickly

Oh I didn't know they had a calculator! I'll definitely check that out. Thanks for the tip.

Yeah it's pretty helpful for planning purposes. Just remember it's only an estimate - your actual amount might be slightly different.

Because it depends on verification of your wages from employers, which can take time. They can't give you a final amount until they confirm your earnings history.

I guess that makes sense but it's still frustrating when you're trying to budget and plan

still better than nothing though! $445 a week is like $23k a year which isnt terrible for temporary assistance

True, I shouldn't complain. Just wish I had been working full-time when I got laid off so I'd qualify for more.

Yes, they'll use wages from all employers during your base year quarters. It's your total earnings that matter, not individual jobs.

Good to know! I was worried they'd only count my main job and ignore my weekend gig.

Severance can delay when you're eligible to start collecting benefits. Washington ESD treats it as wages for the period it covers, so you might not be able to collect until after that period ends.

That's what I was afraid of. Got 8 weeks severance so I probably can't file until that runs out.

You should still file your claim as soon as possible though, even if you can't collect right away. That way when your severance period ends, you can start getting benefits immediately. I learned this the hard way - if you wait to file, you lose those weeks forever.

That's normal - they need complete quarters to calculate benefits accurately. If your more recent earnings were significantly higher, you might be able to request alternate base year calculation, but there are specific requirements for that.

How do I request that? My 2024 earnings were way lower than what I was making at the end of the year.

You'll need to contact Washington ESD directly to request alternate base year consideration. They'll review your case to see if you qualify for the different calculation method.

Exactly this. The benefits themselves are fair but dealing with their office is a nightmare. That Claimyr thing really helped me avoid the phone hell when I needed answers.

I'll have to check that out if I run into issues. Thanks for sharing!

Good point! I almost forgot to file one week because nothing had changed. Glad I remembered at the last minute.

Yeah it's easy to forget when you're in a routine. I set a Sunday reminder on my phone to make sure I never miss the deadline.