How much can you make with unemployment benefits in Washington?

So if I made like $7,000 in my best quarter, that would be around $270 per week? That's actually better than I expected.

Yeah, that sounds about right. Just remember you'll need to file weekly claims and do job search activities to keep getting paid.

How hard is it to actually get through to Washington ESD when you have questions? I keep hearing horror stories about people waiting on hold forever.

Oh man, it's terrible. I've spent hours trying to get through. Actually found this service called Claimyr that helps you get connected to ESD agents - saved me so much time and frustration.

Never heard of that, how does it work?

You just go to claimyr.com and they handle the calling for you. There's even a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.

wait what? i thought it was just half of what you made per week before getting laid off

That's a common misconception. It's actually based on your quarterly earnings, not your weekly wage. The formula ensures people with inconsistent work histories get fair treatment.

They add up ALL your wages from all employers during your base period. Doesn't matter if it was one job or five jobs - they look at total earnings.

That's actually good news for me then. My combined income was decent even though each job individually wasn't great.

Sounds like you might be in adjudication. That's when they're reviewing something about your claim - could be anything from job separation details to identity verification. The waiting is the worst part.

How long does adjudication usually take? I can't afford to wait much longer.

Can be anywhere from a few days to several weeks unfortunately. If you need to talk to someone about your specific case, that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier might help you get through to an agent faster.

Wait, so if I work a few hours somewhere while collecting unemployment, they reduce my benefits?

Yes, but only dollar-for-dollar after the first $5. So if you earn $100 in a week, they'd deduct $95 from your unemployment payment. You still have to report all earnings on your weekly claim.

Wow, that's a lot more than I expected unemployment could pay. I thought there was like a really low cap.

Washington state has one of the higher maximum benefit amounts compared to other states. But you have to have been making good money to qualify for the higher amounts.

You should definitely appeal that decision. Performance issues usually don't count as misconduct unless there was willful disregard of company policies. The appeals process exists for exactly these situations.

how do i even start an appeal? the letter they sent was confusing

You have 30 days from the date of the decision letter to file an appeal. You can do it online through your ESD account or mail in the form. Definitely worth fighting if you believe the denial was wrong.

Oh no, I didn't even think about taxes. So the amount they give you isn't what you actually get to keep?

Exactly. If you're getting $400/week and don't have taxes withheld, you'll owe about $40/week in federal taxes plus whatever your state tax rate is. Better to have it withheld automatically.

That makes sense. I've been pretty consistent at my retail job for 2 years, so hopefully that helps.

Yeah, consistent work history definitely helps. Just make sure you have all your employer information ready when you file - they'll need addresses, dates of employment, and reason for separation.

I mean, it's supposed to be temporary assistance while you look for work, not a permanent income replacement. But yeah, it's definitely not enough to maintain the same lifestyle.

Tell that to people who've been looking for work for months. The job market isn't exactly overflowing with opportunities right now.

Is that service expensive? I'm already worried about money.

It's way cheaper than losing benefits because you can't get through to resolve an issue. Plus they have a video demo so you can see exactly how it works before deciding.

What happens if you accidentally don't report something small like that?

If it's an honest mistake and you catch it quickly, you can usually fix it. But if they think you're trying to hide income, they can make you pay back benefits plus penalties. Not worth the risk.

What counts as job search activities?

Applying for jobs, networking events, job fairs, informational interviews. Even creating or updating your resume counts. Just keep detailed records of what you did and when.

That seems like a long time ago. What if I was making less money back then but more recently?

There's an alternate base period they can use in some cases - the last 4 completed quarters. But you have to qualify for it, usually by not having enough earnings in the regular base period.

Ugh, so even if I file right away I won't get anything for the first week?

Exactly. File as soon as possible after you lose your job, but know that first week is unpaid. Better to start the process early than wait.

I had the same problem until someone told me about Claimyr. It's a service that calls ESD for you and gets you connected to an agent. Saved me hours of frustration.

How does that even work? Sounds too good to be true.

They basically handle all the calling and waiting for you. Check out their demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ - shows exactly how it works. Way better than the endless busy signals.

Well, I definitely wasn't making anywhere near that much! But good to know how it works.

Most people get somewhere between $300-600/week depending on their work history. Your retail experience should qualify you for a decent amount, especially if you were working close to full-time hours.

Thanks! I'll check that out. This thread has been super helpful for understanding how it all works.

No problem! The unemployment system is confusing but once you understand the basics it's not too bad. Good luck with your claim!