How much do I get for unemployment benefits in Washington state?
I'm about to file for unemployment and trying to figure out my weekly benefit amount. I was making $48,000 a year at my last job before getting laid off. Does anyone know how Washington ESD calculates the benefit amount? I've heard different things from people and want to know what to expect.
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Jamal Wilson
Washington ESD uses your highest quarter earnings from your base year to calculate benefits. Maximum weekly benefit is $999 plus $25 for dependents. Your benefit amount is roughly 3.85% of your highest quarter wages. So if you made $12,000 in your best quarter, you'd get around $462 per week.
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Zoe Papanikolaou
•Thanks! That helps. How do I know what my highest quarter was? Is that something I can see when I file my claim?
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Jamal Wilson
•Yes, when you file online at esd.wa.gov it will show your quarterly wages from employers who reported to Washington ESD. Make sure all your employers are listed correctly.
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Mei Lin
The calculation can be confusing but it's based on your base year which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file. So if you file in January 2025, your base year would be October 2023 through September 2024.
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Zoe Papanikolaou
•That makes sense. I was working the whole time during that period so hopefully my wages are all there.
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Liam Fitzgerald
•Make sure to double check your wage history when you file. Sometimes employers don't report correctly and you have to provide pay stubs to get it fixed.
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GalacticGuru
I had trouble getting through to Washington ESD when I needed to verify my wages. Spent hours on hold and kept getting disconnected. Finally used Claimyr.com to get connected directly to an agent - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made the whole process so much easier.
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Zoe Papanikolaou
•Never heard of that service before. Does it actually work for getting through to Washington ESD?
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GalacticGuru
•Yeah it worked great for me. They handle the calling and waiting so you don't have to sit on hold for hours. Really helpful when you need to talk to someone about your claim.
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Amara Nnamani
•Interesting, I might have to try that. I've been trying to reach them for weeks about my benefit calculation.
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Giovanni Mancini
depending on ur income u might get anywhere from like $295 to $999 per week. i was making around 45k and got about $440 per week
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Zoe Papanikolaou
•That sounds about right for what I might expect then. Thanks for sharing your experience!
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
•Same here, I made about $50k and got $475 weekly. The amount seemed fair based on what I was earning.
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Dylan Cooper
Don't forget you can also get an extra $25 per week for each dependent child under 18. It's not a huge amount but every bit helps when you're unemployed.
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Zoe Papanikolaou
•I don't have kids but good to know for others reading this thread.
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Sofia Morales
•The dependent allowance really helped when I was on unemployment with two kids. That extra $50 per week made a difference.
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StarSailor
The Washington ESD benefit calculator used to be easier to find on their website. Now you pretty much have to file a claim to see what you'll get. Kind of annoying when you're just trying to plan ahead.
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Dmitry Ivanov
•Yeah I noticed that too. Used to be able to estimate benefits before filing but now it's all integrated into the application process.
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Zoe Papanikolaou
•Well I guess I'll find out when I file. At least I have a better idea of what to expect now.
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Ava Garcia
Just remember your benefits are taxable income. You can have taxes withheld from each payment or pay quarterly. I learned that the hard way and owed money at tax time.
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Zoe Papanikolaou
•Good point! I'll make sure to set up tax withholding when I file my claim.
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Miguel Silva
•Yes definitely do that! They withhold 10% federal if you request it. Saves you from a big tax bill later.
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Zainab Ismail
Been on unemployment twice in the past few years. The benefit amount stayed pretty consistent both times since it's based on your wage history. Just make sure you file your weekly claims on time or you could lose benefits for those weeks.
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Zoe Papanikolaou
•How often do you have to file the weekly claims? Is it every Sunday?
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Zainab Ismail
•You can file starting Sunday for the previous week. I always filed on Sunday mornings to make sure I didn't forget. The system reminds you too.
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Connor O'Neill
•I set a phone reminder for every Sunday. Missing even one weekly claim can mess up your payments.
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QuantumQuester
The job search requirements are more important than people realize. You need to document 3 job search activities per week to keep getting benefits. Make sure you understand what counts as valid job search activities.
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Zoe Papanikolaou
•What kind of activities count? Just applying for jobs or other things too?
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QuantumQuester
•Applying for jobs, networking events, job fairs, skills training, even some volunteer work can count. Check the Washington ESD website for the full list.
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Yara Nassar
My friend had issues with her benefit calculation because one of her employers didn't report wages correctly. She had to provide pay stubs and W2s to get it fixed. Took a few weeks but they backdated the higher benefit amount.
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Zoe Papanikolaou
•Good to know they can fix it if there are errors. I'll keep my pay stubs handy just in case.
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Keisha Williams
•Always keep documentation! I had a similar issue and having my pay records made the correction process much faster.
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Paolo Ricci
One thing that helped me was using Claimyr when I had questions about my benefit amount. Instead of waiting hours on hold, they got me connected to a Washington ESD representative who could explain exactly how my benefits were calculated.
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Zoe Papanikolaou
•That's the second time someone mentioned that service. Might be worth looking into if I run into issues.
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Amina Toure
•I was skeptical at first but Claimyr actually worked. Saved me so much time trying to get through to Washington ESD on my own.
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Oliver Zimmermann
Don't stress too much about the exact amount until you file. The system will calculate it automatically based on your reported wages. Focus on getting your application submitted correctly first.
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Zoe Papanikolaou
•You're right, I'm probably overthinking it. I'll just file and see what happens.
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CosmicCommander
•Exactly! The hardest part is usually just getting the claim filed. The benefit calculation is pretty straightforward once your wages are verified.
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Natasha Volkova
Remember you can work part-time while on unemployment but they'll reduce your benefits based on what you earn. There's a formula for that too but basically you can earn up to your weekly benefit amount before they start deducting.
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Zoe Papanikolaou
•That's helpful to know. I might pick up some freelance work while job hunting.
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Javier Torres
•Just make sure to report any earnings when you file your weekly claims. Being honest about income is super important.
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Emma Davis
The whole unemployment system seems complicated but once you get into the routine it's pretty manageable. File your weekly claims, do your job searches, and keep good records of everything.
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Zoe Papanikolaou
•Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! I feel much more prepared to file my claim now.
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Malik Johnson
•Good luck with your claim! Hope you find a new job soon but at least the unemployment benefits will help in the meantime.
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