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

Thanks! That helps me get a ballpark figure. Do you know if they automatically take out federal taxes?

You can choose to have 10% federal tax withheld when you file your weekly claims, but it's optional. I'd recommend it though to avoid owing at tax time.

That's actually pretty close to what I was hoping for. How long did it take for your first payment to come through?

took about 3 weeks total from when I first applied. had to do the waiting week thing too

Wow that's way more complicated than I thought! Is there a calculator somewhere on the Washington ESD website?

Yes, there's a benefit calculator on the Washington ESD website under the 'File a Claim' section. It'll give you an estimate if you input your quarterly earnings.

Perfect, I'll check that out. Thanks for breaking down the actual formula!

Never heard of that but honestly anything would be better than their phone system. Did they help resolve your benefit amount issue?

Yeah, turns out they were missing one of my quarters of earnings. The agent was able to add it and recalculate my benefits on the spot. Went from $280/week to $385/week.

Good to know there's a way to actually reach them if I run into problems. Their phone system sounds awful.

Interesting - would that mean I'd get back pay for the difference?

Yes, if your benefit amount increases due to additional wage information, they'll pay you the difference retroactively for all the weeks you've already claimed.

Yeah they adjust it annually based on the state average weekly wage. It's been going up steadily the past few years.

makes sense, cost of living keeps going up too so at least they're keeping pace somewhat

That's exactly why they use your highest quarters instead of just the most recent ones. The system is designed to base your benefits on your typical earning capacity, not what might have been a partial quarter.

Oh that's actually really smart then. I was worried my partial quarter would mess things up.

Good point. What counts as a job search activity?

Applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, interviews, even some online job search activities. They have a list on their website of what qualifies.

yeah they're pretty strict about the job search thing now. make sure you keep good records

All wages reported to Washington ESD count toward your base period earnings, including overtime, bonuses, and commissions. As long as your employer reported it, it should be included.

Great, that overtime should really help boost my benefit amount then.

Thanks for the heads up. Are there specific questions that trip people up?

The work search questions and reporting any part-time work or income are the big ones. Even small amounts need to be reported accurately.

I understand the frustration, but the calculation ensures benefits are fair and based on your actual work history. It prevents people from gaming the system.

i guess that makes sense but still seems unnecessarily complicated for people who are already stressed about being unemployed

That's good to know. Makes me feel a bit better about the whole situation.

yeah at least we're not in a state where the max is like $300 or something crazy low

Fortunately I've only worked in Washington, but good to know for others who might be reading this.

Yeah it's not super common but worth mentioning since it can really complicate things if people don't know about it upfront.

Right, that's why having the 10% federal tax withheld automatically is probably smart.

Exactly. Better to have it taken out as you go rather than owe a big chunk at tax time.

This is exactly why I ended up using Claimyr. Their phone system failures are ridiculous and when you actually need help, you can't get through. That service got me to a real person who unlocked my account in minutes.

Good to know there's an option that actually works. The regular phone system is completely broken.

There's still a one-week waiting period before you can receive your first payment. You file for that week but don't get paid for it.

Okay thanks, just wanted to plan accordingly for my budget.

That's reassuring. I'll definitely use that to get a realistic expectation before I file.

Yeah it takes the guesswork out of it. Just make sure you have your wage information handy when you use it.

How does that calculation work? Is it dollar for dollar reduction?

No, it's more complicated. They have a formula where you can earn up to a certain amount without any reduction, then it phases out gradually. Check their website for the exact formula.

Good luck with your claim! Make sure to file your weekly claims on time once you get approved.

Same here, feeling much more confident about the process now. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences!