How much can I make on unemployment in Washington - confused about benefit amounts

So if I made $50,400 last year, that would put me at the max? That seems almost too good to be true honestly.

Pretty much, yeah. Washington has one of the higher maximum benefits in the country. Just remember you'll pay taxes on unemployment benefits.

Good point about the 26 weeks. Is there any way to extend that if you're still looking for work?

Extensions depend on unemployment rates and federal programs. Right now there aren't any active extension programs in Washington, so it's the standard 26 weeks maximum.

I had the same problem last month until someone told me about Claimyr. It's a service that calls Washington ESD for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. I was skeptical at first but it worked - got through in about 20 minutes instead of spending my whole day redialing. Check out claimyr.com, they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

This is super helpful, thank you! So if I file in January 2025, my base period would be January 2024 through September 2024?

Close - it would actually be October 2023 through September 2024. The base period uses completed calendar quarters, so if you file in January 2025, you'd use Q4 2023, Q1 2024, Q2 2024, and Q3 2024.

That actually sounds about right. If your highest quarter was $15,000, divided by 26 weeks gives you $577. But they also look at your total base period wages and other factors. $400 might mean you had some lower earning quarters that affected the calculation.

ok that makes more sense i guess. still barely enough to cover rent though

You're right - there are eligibility requirements beyond just the high quarter. You need at least $4,900 total in your base period, AND wages in at least two quarters, AND your high quarter needs to be at least 1.25 times your next highest quarter. It's not just about having one good earning period.

Thanks, I knew there was more to it but couldn't remember the exact rules.

Good reminder about the job search requirement. Do they actually check on that or is it honor system?

They can audit your job search log anytime and if you can't prove you did the required activities, they'll make you pay back benefits. So definitely keep good records.

Oh wow, I didn't even think about taxes. Is it taxed like regular income?

Yes, unemployment benefits count as regular income for federal taxes. Washington doesn't have state income tax so at least you don't have to worry about that part.

Sometimes they use an alternate base period if you don't qualify under the standard one, which can result in different amounts. Or there might be deductions for things like union dues or retirement contributions that were taken from your wages.

That could be it. I had some 401k contributions that might have affected the calculation.

That's close to the max! You must have had really consistent income. I'm hoping mine comes out somewhere in that range.

Yeah I was lucky to have steady work for the whole base period. Really makes a difference in the calculation.

Good point, but remember you can't file until you're actually unemployed and available for work. Washington ESD requires that you be involuntarily separated from your job to qualify.

Right, definitely don't file before you're actually laid off. I just meant if you know it's coming, timing can matter for which earnings quarters get counted.

Yes, overtime pay definitely counts. Washington ESD uses your total wages including overtime, bonuses, commissions, etc. Anything that was subject to unemployment tax gets included in the calculation.

Awesome, that should help my benefit amount then. Had tons of overtime last year.

That's one of the frustrating things about the system - it looks backwards at completed quarters, not your most recent earnings. If your current job paid significantly more but you only worked it for a few months, those wages might not be in your base period yet.

That seems really unfair. So someone could be making great money but still get low benefits because of an old lower-paying job?

Exactly. There's an alternate base period option in some cases, but it's not automatic. You'd need to specifically request it if you don't qualify under the standard base period.

Same thing happened to me multiple times until I found Claimyr. It's a service that handles the calling for you and gets you connected to Washington ESD agents. Worth every penny to avoid the phone hell. The website is claimyr.com and shows exactly how it works.

Thankfully I only worked in Washington so that shouldn't be an issue for me.

Good, that definitely makes it simpler. Multi-state claims can be a real headache to sort out.

What counts as 'suitable work'? Is it anything in your field or any job at all?

It depends on factors like your previous wages, skills, and how long you've been unemployed. Early on, suitable work is usually similar to your previous job. As time goes on, they expect you to consider a wider range of positions.

Good point. I'm trying to learn all the rules upfront so I don't mess anything up later.

Smart approach. It's much easier to do everything right from the start than to try to fix problems after they happen.

How do you know if the amount is wrong though? Is there a way to double-check their calculation?

You can request a copy of your wage transcript from Washington ESD to see what wages they have on file for you. If it doesn't match your records, that's when you'd want to appeal.

That would be amazing if true. Really hoping it works out that way when I file my claim.

Just make sure you have all your employment documentation ready when you file. Pay stubs, W-2s, anything that shows your earnings history.