How much do you get for Washington ESD unemployment weekly benefits?

Thanks! So if I made around $13,000 in my highest quarter, that would be about $500 per week?

Yeah that sounds about right, maybe a little less after they run the exact calculation. You'll know for sure once you file your initial claim.

Good to know there's more to it. I'll just file and see what they calculate for me.

I tried calling Washington ESD to ask about this exact thing but couldn't get through after being on hold for 2 hours

interesting, how does that work exactly?

They basically handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when an agent picks up. Saved me hours of frustration.

Might have to try that, I've been trying to reach them for days about my benefit calculation

That makes sense. I wasn't making super high wages so I probably won't hit the maximum.

I get $623 per week and I was making about $65K annually before I got laid off

Oh crap, I didn't think about taxes. Can you have them withhold taxes from the weekly payments?

Yes, when you file your claim there's an option to have 10% withheld for federal taxes

I always have them withhold. Better safe than sorry come tax season.

I got laid off in January, should I file right away or wait?

File as soon as possible! You can't get benefits for weeks you don't file, and there's no advantage to waiting.

I'll check that out, thanks for the tip

That calculator is pretty basic but better than nothing I guess

How many job contacts do you need to make per week?

I think it's 3 job search activities per week, but check the current requirements when you file

Yeah they definitely check on that now, keep good records of your job search activities

agreed, everything about unemployment is unnecessarily complicated

At least once you file the first time you know what to expect if you ever need it again

That sounds really helpful, I might need to use that if I have issues

How much does a service like that cost?

I don't remember the exact cost but it was reasonable considering how much time it saved me

True, I'm probably overthinking this. I'll just file this week.

Yeah don't stress about it too much, the process is pretty straightforward once you start

Good to know, I didn't realize it was locked in for a whole year

Yeah the benefit year is 52 weeks from when you first file, regardless of whether you use all your benefits or not

Yes, all wages including overtime count toward your benefit calculation

Perfect, that should help boost my weekly amount then

That's helpful context, thanks. Sounds like I should expect somewhere in that ballpark.

Yeah that sounds about right for those income levels

I'm seeing a few people mention that service, might be worth looking into

Anything is better than sitting on hold for hours with Washington ESD

Thanks for clarifying that! I was thinking about my take-home pay.

Yeah it's based on what you earned before any deductions

Good to know about the 26 week limit. Hopefully I won't need it that long.

Yeah hopefully you find something new quickly, but it's nice to know the safety net is there

That's important to remember. I'll make sure to stay on top of the weekly filings.

Yeah the weekly claims are crucial, don't skip them even if you think you might not qualify that week

I'll take a look at their site for more details. Thanks everyone for all the helpful info!

Good luck with your claim! The process is pretty smooth once you get started.

Definitely helped a lot! I feel much more confident about filing now.

Great thread, lots of good practical advice here