How much can I get Washington ESD unemployment benefits - weekly benefit amount calculation?

So if I made $13,000 in my highest quarter, that would be $1,000 per week average, and my benefit would be around $380 weekly?

That's about right, but remember there's also a minimum threshold. You need to have earned at least 680 hours of work or $18,900 in your base year to qualify.

Same here! I wish Washington ESD had a simple calculator on their website.

They do have a benefit estimator tool buried somewhere on their site, but it's not very user-friendly.

How does that service work? Do they just help you get through the phone lines?

Yeah, they basically handle the calling and waiting for you. You get connected directly to a Washington ESD agent when one becomes available instead of sitting on hold for hours.

That sounds too good to be true. Is there a catch?

What if I had a gap in employment during my base year? Does that affect the calculation?

Gaps don't matter as long as you meet the minimum earnings requirement. They just look at total wages reported by employers during those quarters.

I have two kids under 18. Would they qualify as dependents for the allowance?

Yes, children under 18 qualify. You'll need to provide their birth certificates and Social Security numbers when you file.

The dependency allowance helped me a lot when I was on unemployment last year. Every bit counts when you're trying to pay bills.

You should still qualify as long as you meet the minimum requirements. $8,000 in your highest quarter would give you around $230 per week in benefits.

That's actually more than I expected! I was worried it would be way less.

Yes, all wages reported on your W-2 count, including overtime, bonuses, and commissions.

sweet that should help my benefit amount then

I hear you on that. It took me weeks to understand all the rules and requirements.

While the system could be more user-friendly, unemployment benefits were never designed to fully replace your income. They're meant to provide temporary assistance while you search for work.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr. The phone system is impossible to navigate on your own.

Try calling right when they open at 8am. Sometimes you can get through faster in the morning.

I'll give that a try tomorrow morning. If that doesn't work I might look into that Claimyr service you mentioned.

So if my weekly benefit is $380, I could get up to $9,880 total over 26 weeks?

Exactly. But you have to keep filing weekly claims and meet all the job search requirements to continue receiving benefits.

Good point. I waited two weeks before filing and lost out on those benefits.

I was laid off last Friday so I should file this week then?

Yes, file immediately. There's a one-week waiting period anyway, so the sooner you file the sooner you can start receiving benefits.

Only W-2 wages count for regular unemployment benefits. 1099 income doesn't qualify unless you paid into the optional self-employment program.

Damn, I didn't know about that program. Most of my income was 1099.

I'll look for that tool. It would be helpful to get an estimate before filing.

i tried that tool but couldn't find it. their website is confusing

I forgot about taxes. Should I have them withhold 10% or pay at tax time?

Depends on your situation. If you're in a higher tax bracket, you might want to withhold. Otherwise you could owe a big bill at tax time.

That's good to know. What's the threshold for partial benefits?

Generally if you earn less than 1.5 times your weekly benefit amount, you can still get some unemployment. So if your benefit is $380, you could earn up to about $570 and still get partial benefits.

That sounds really helpful. I'm definitely going to check out their website.

How much does a service like that cost? Seems like it could get expensive.

It's reasonable considering how much time it saves. Plus getting accurate information from an actual Washington ESD agent is invaluable.

Do online applications count as job search contacts?

Yes, online applications count. You need to keep a log with employer name, position applied for, date, and method of contact.

The job search requirement is no joke. They do audit people and can deny benefits if you can't prove you're actively looking for work.

You're right. I've been overthinking this. I'm going to file my claim tomorrow morning.

Good luck with your claim! The whole process can be overwhelming at first but it gets easier once you understand the system.

Thanks for all the advice everyone. This thread has been super helpful in understanding how unemployment benefits work in Washington.

Glad we could help! Don't hesitate to ask if you run into any issues during the filing process.