How much do unemployment pay you - Washington ESD weekly benefit amounts?

That makes sense! I think my highest quarter was around $14,500 so I should expect somewhere in the $270-280 range then?

Yeah that sounds about right. Keep in mind they'll take out federal taxes unless you opt out, so your actual deposit will be a bit less.

Good to know there's a cap! I definitely wasn't expecting anywhere near $999 but it's helpful to know the range.

Wait, how do they determine the base year? Is it the last 12 months or calendar year?

It's based on the first four of the last five completed quarters before you file. So if you file in January 2025, they'd look at quarters from 2024 and maybe part of 2023.

OMG yes the phone system is horrible! I finally got through using this service called Claimyr that calls for you and gets you connected to an actual person. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustration.

I had the same problem and ended up messaging them through the secure portal. It took about a week to get a response but at least I got an answer eventually.

That's encouraging! How long did the whole process take from filing to getting your first payment?

filed on a tuesday, got approved the next friday, then had to wait for the following week to do my first weekly claim. so about 2.5 weeks total

Good point! I didn't even think about the tax implications. I'll make sure to set that up when I file.

Can you change the tax withholding after you've already filed your claim?

Yes, you can update your tax withholding preferences in your eServices account at any time during your claim.

I feel you. The benefit amounts haven't kept up with cost of living at all. That's why they keep extending the benefit periods during economic downturns.

At least you're getting something. I'm still waiting for my adjudication to finish after 5 weeks. Can't even get anyone on the phone to tell me what's taking so long.

That's exactly why I used Claimyr - I was in adjudication limbo for weeks and needed to talk to someone to understand what was happening with my claim. Worth every penny to get through to an actual agent.

Thanks for the formula! That's way clearer than the explanation on their website.

Is there a minimum benefit amount? What if someone only worked part-time?

Yes, the minimum weekly benefit in Washington is $295 for 2025. But you still need to meet the earnings requirements to qualify at all.

Yes, overtime counts toward your total wages for benefit calculation purposes. Any wages reported to Washington ESD by your employer get included.

That's good news then! I probably made an extra $8K in overtime last year.

How did you get them to add the missing employer? Did you have to provide pay stubs or something?

I had to send them copies of my W-2 and final pay stub through the secure message system. Took about 2 weeks to get it updated.

I'm pretty sure one of my employers isn't showing up either but I can't get through to anyone to fix it. This is so frustrating.

You can work part-time and still collect benefits, but they'll reduce your weekly payment based on how much you earn. Generally, you can earn up to about 1/3 of your weekly benefit amount without any reduction.

That's helpful! So if I'm getting $300/week I could earn up to $100 without penalty?

Exactly, but you still have to report all earnings when you file your weekly claim. Be honest about it or you could face an overpayment.

I keep telling people about Claimyr but nobody wants to listen. I used it three times now and always get connected within an hour instead of wasting my whole day on hold.

What exactly is Claimyr? Is it like a callback service?

It's a service that calls Washington ESD for you and waits on hold, then calls you back when they get an agent on the line. Way better than sitting there listening to hold music for hours.

Easy to say when you're not facing eviction. Some of us need every dollar we can get right now.

i get it trust me. was just trying to be encouraging. the job market is rough right now

Thanks for the estimate! That's pretty much what I was hoping for. Should be enough to cover my basic expenses while I look for something new.

Just make sure you're actively job searching and keeping track of your contacts. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week.