How much do I get from Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

Thanks! So if I made like $9,000 in my highest quarter that would be about $346 per week? That seems pretty good actually.

Yeah that sounds about right. Just remember you'll need to file your weekly claims every week and meet the job search requirements to keep getting benefits.

So if I made $14,400 in my highest quarter, I'd get around $553 per week? That's actually better than I thought!

Exactly! And that's before any taxes if you choose to have them withheld. You can elect to have 10% federal tax taken out when you file your weekly claims.

It's actually not a straight percentage. Washington ESD uses a formula based on your quarterly wages. The 60% thing might be what you're thinking of from other states.

oh ok my bad, i was thinking of something else i guess

Really? I've been dreading having to call them if I have issues. How does that service work exactly?

Basically they handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when they get through to an agent. Saved me so much time and frustration.

Never heard of that but sounds too good to be true. What's the catch?

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD by phone, there's actually a service called Claimyr that can help you reach an agent. They have a system that calls for you and gets you connected. Check out claimyr.com - they even have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

Thanks! I'll definitely check that out. I've been trying to call for three days with no luck.

I've been at this job for about 8 months so hopefully that's enough time to have decent wages in the base period.

Should be fine then. Just make sure you have all your wage info ready when you apply.

Good to know about the minimums. I definitely earned more than that so I should be okay.

wait what's a base period? i thought they just looked at your last job

The base period is typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. So if you file in January 2025, they'd look at quarters ending March 2024 through September 2024.

That's frustrating but not typical. Most claims get processed within 2-3 weeks unless there's an issue that needs to be resolved.

Well mine has been stuck for over a month so clearly something is wrong with their system

This is exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier - when you're stuck in adjudication you really need to talk to someone to find out what's holding it up.

That's helpful to know a real example. Did you have any issues with the application process?

It was pretty straightforward once I got my account set up on the Washington ESD website. The hardest part was getting through to verify my identity over the phone.

Oh right, I forgot about taxes. Do they take it out automatically or do I have to set aside money?

You can choose to have federal taxes withheld when you file your weekly claims. I'd recommend it so you don't get hit with a big bill at tax time.

What counts as actively looking for work? Do I need 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, attending job fairs, networking events, or working with WorkSource.

Actually I think it's 3 job search activities every week you claim benefits, not just 3 applications. Could be interviews, job searches online, networking, etc.

This is really helpful, thanks for breaking it down clearly. I don't have dependents so it would just be the base amount.

The dependent thing is nice if you qualify. I get the extra $25 for my daughter.

Yeah I saw that on the website. Do they actually check the job search log or is it just in case they audit you?

they can ask for it anytime so definitely keep good records. ive heard of people getting audited and losing benefits because they couldnt prove their job searches

Good to know! I don't have any pension but I might pick up some gig work while I'm job hunting.

Just make sure to report all earnings when you file your weekly claims. Even if it's just $20 from DoorDash or something, you need to report it.

Good to know! I'll check that out before I submit my application.

Yeah that calculator saved me from applying when I realized I wouldn't qualify for much anyway.

Actually, Washington eliminated the waiting week back in 2020. You should get paid for your first week of unemployment as long as you're eligible.

oh really? that's good news then. i was thinking of the old rules

That's pretty generous compared to some states I've heard about.

Yeah, Washington has one of the higher maximum benefits in the country. The minimum is much lower though, around $295 per week I think.

Right, there's a weekly earnings deduction. You can earn up to about 1/3 of your weekly benefit amount before they start reducing your payment. Anything over that gets deducted dollar for dollar.

That's good to know in case I find some part-time work while looking for a full-time job.

How much does something like that cost though? I'm already worried about money.

It's worth it when you consider how much time you save not sitting on hold for hours. Plus if there's an issue with your claim, getting answers faster means getting paid faster.

That's confusing. I thought it would be more straightforward than that.

Yeah the timing matters a lot. If you made more money in recent quarters that might not be included in your base period, your benefit could be lower.

Thanks for the tip! I'll set a reminder to file every Sunday.

Speaking of calling Washington ESD, I ended up using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and it actually worked! Got through to an agent in about 20 minutes instead of spending hours on hold.

That's awesome! I'll have to remember that for future reference.

Good point. So if I get around $350/week that would be over $9000 total if I need the full 26 weeks.

Hopefully you'll find a job before then but it's good to know the safety net is there.

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I feel a lot more confident about applying now that I understand how it works.

Good luck with your claim! The Washington ESD system isn't perfect but it does work if you follow all the rules.

Definitely keeping that in mind. Hopefully I won't need to call but it's good to know there are options if I do.

Agreed. I waited too long to address an issue with my claim and it cost me several weeks of benefits.

So if I get $553 per week, my maximum would be $553 x 26 weeks = $14,378 total?

Exactly! That's your maximum benefit amount for the entire benefit year, assuming you don't find work before then.

Good point! I'll probably have them withhold the 10% federal tax to avoid a big bill later.

That's usually the smart move. Washington doesn't have state income tax so you only need to worry about federal.

Good to know there are options if I run into problems. Hopefully my claim goes through smoothly.

yeah the service is pretty straightforward to use and way better than sitting on hold for hours

I'll make sure to register with WorkSource soon. Do they have good job listings?

Yeah, WorkSource has a decent job board and they offer resume help, interview coaching, and other services. It's worth checking out even if you're not required to use it.

That's useful to know. I might look for part-time work while I search for a full-time position.

yeah just make sure to report all your earnings when you file your weekly claims. they'll calculate everything for you

I'll definitely check that out. Thanks for all the helpful info everyone!

No problem! The unemployment system can be confusing but once you understand how it works it's not too bad.

Good tip! I'll start keeping a detailed log from day one.

Smart move. Better to have too much documentation than not enough if they audit your claim.

Thanks everyone for all the advice and information. This thread has been incredibly helpful!

Glad we could help! Don't hesitate to post again if you run into any issues with your claim.