How much do they give for unemployment benefits in Washington ESD?

So if my highest quarter was around $12,600, I'd get about $970 per week? That seems pretty good actually.

Yeah that sounds about right, though they'll verify all your wages when you file. Make sure you have your pay stubs ready.

That math doesn't add up. 60% of $3800 monthly would be way less than $756 weekly. Are you sure about those numbers?

idk man thats just what i got, maybe i had overtime in my calculation quarter or something

I had the same problem! Kept getting busy signals or hung up on. Finally found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to a real person at Washington ESD. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Really? How much does something like that cost? I'm already stressed about money.

It's worth it when you need actual answers from Washington ESD instead of guessing. Way better than wasting days trying to get through yourself.

What if I only worked at my current job for 8 months? Will that hurt my benefit amount?

They look at all your covered employment during the base period, not just your most recent job. If you worked somewhere else before that, those wages count too.

Good point, I hadn't thought about taxes. Can you have them withhold federal taxes from the payments?

Yes, you can elect 10% federal withholding when you file your weekly claims. Better than getting hit with a big tax bill later.

Because it's the government lol. Nothing they do is simple.

True. At least once you get approved the payments come pretty regularly.

How do I know if my employer paid into the system?

If you got regular paychecks with taxes withheld, they probably did. Independent contractor work usually doesn't count unless you paid into the system yourself.

It's actually 3 job search activities per week, not necessarily contacts. Can include things like updating your resume or attending job fairs.

oh ok good to know, i was applying to random jobs i didnt even want just to hit the number

Adjudication can take forever. That's another situation where being able to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD would help, but good luck getting through their phone system.

That's exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier. When my claim was in adjudication limbo, they helped me get through to someone who could explain what was holding it up.

Yeah it's tied to the state's average weekly wage or something like that. Goes up slightly each year.

Makes sense. At least it keeps up with inflation somewhat.

What kind of documents should I have ready when I file?

Pay stubs, W-2s, your Social Security card, and any separation paperwork from your employer. Having everything ready speeds up the process.

That's because your base period shifts depending on when you file. The timing can definitely affect your benefit amount.

yeah learned that the hard way. wish someone had explained that upfront

How would I know if waiting would help? This is all so confusing.

You'd need to understand the base period rules and calculate both scenarios. Honestly, calling Washington ESD for guidance would be ideal but we all know how that goes.

I felt the same way but eventually got through the process. The payments do help once everything gets sorted out.

Yeah, just wish it wasn't such a battle to get what you're entitled to.

True, though the cost of living here is also higher than most places, so it evens out somewhat.

Fair point. At least it's something though.

Yeah, I'm definitely treating it as a bridge while I look for something new. Just wanted to know what to expect financially.

Smart approach. Having realistic expectations about the benefit amount helps with budgeting during the job search.

I did get some severance. Should I mention that when I file?

Definitely be upfront about it. They'll find out anyway and it's better to report it correctly from the start than deal with complications later.

I'm skeptical of paying for something like that, but honestly if it works it might be worth it. The Washington ESD phone system is absolutely broken.

I was skeptical too at first, but after trying everything else I figured it was worth a shot. Ended up being one of the best decisions I made during my unemployment period.

Thanks everyone for all the info. Sounds like I should just go ahead and file and see what happens.

Exactly. You can always ask questions later if something doesn't look right, but don't delay filing while you try to figure out every detail.

Appreciate all the help from everyone here. This forum has been way more useful than the official Washington ESD website!