How much do you get from Washington ESD unemployment - weekly benefit amounts explained

Thanks! So if my highest quarter was around $13,000, I'd get about $500 per week?

That's right, $13,000 divided by 26 equals exactly $500 per week. You'd also need to meet the minimum earnings requirement in your base period.

The COVID-era programs like PUA and PEUC ended in 2021. Regular unemployment benefits in Washington use the same calculation formula they've used for years.

oh ok thanks for clarifying that

Did they charge you a lot for that service? Seems like we shouldn't have to pay extra just to talk to ESD.

I was frustrated about that too at first, but honestly it was worth it to actually get through and understand my benefit calculation instead of guessing.

How do you know that service is legit? Seems sketchy to pay someone to make phone calls for you.

Good point about the taxes. Can you elect to have them withheld automatically when you file your weekly claims?

Yes, you can request 10% federal tax withholding when you file your initial claim or update it later through your online account.

What ended up being wrong with your calculation? Was it a mistake in reporting your earnings?

They used the wrong base period somehow. Had to provide pay stubs going back over a year to prove what my actual earnings were.

That's confusing. Why don't they use your most recent earnings?

It's because employers have time to report wages to the state. Using older quarters ensures the wage data is complete and verified.

You can request to use an alternate base period if your recent earnings were higher, but you have to specifically ask for it.

The $999 maximum applies to regular unemployment insurance claims. There might be different amounts for things like standby status or training benefits, but for standard UI claims that's the cap.

Thanks, that helps clarify it for me.

Did you have any issues with the job search requirements affecting your payments?

had to do the job search activities each week but it wasnt too bad. just had to log 3 job search activities per week in worksourcewa

Still seems weird to me that you have to pay extra to reach a government agency that your taxes already fund.

I agree it's frustrating but sometimes you just need to get things resolved quickly, especially when bills are due.

Yes, all wages reported on your W-2 count, including bonuses, overtime, commissions, and tips if they were reported to the state.

Good to know, I had a pretty big bonus last year that should help my benefit amount then.

What day of the week do you usually file your weekly claim? Is there a best time?

I file mine on Sunday mornings when the system is usually less busy. You can file anytime during your filing week though.

That's actually not too bad, at least you can still work a little bit without losing everything.

Right, and you still get to keep the first $5 without any reduction, plus working helps with the job search requirement.

That's exactly the kind of situation where it makes sense to use a service like that. Some things you just can't resolve through the website.

Exactly, and the agent explained the whole calculation to me so I understood exactly how they got to my benefit amount.

You can choose direct deposit or they'll send a debit card. Direct deposit is faster and more reliable. First payment usually comes about a week after you're approved and file your first weekly claim.

cool thanks, direct deposit sounds like the way to go

How do you qualify for the dependents allowance? Do you have to provide proof?

You have to claim them as dependents on your tax return and they have to be under 18 or disabled. You might need to provide documentation when you apply.

I didn't know they had a benefit estimator! That would have saved me from posting this question. Where do you find it on their website?

Its under the 'Services' section I think, but honestly the website layout changes so much I can never find things when I need them

Good point, so the weekly amount matters more if you think you'll be unemployed for several months.

Exactly, and if you find work before using all 26 weeks, any leftover benefits don't carry over to a future claim.

Glad we could help! The key is understanding that it's based on your highest quarter from your base period, not your most recent earnings.

Yeah this cleared up a lot of confusion for me too. Now I know roughly what to expect if I ever need to file a claim.