How much do you get off unemployment benefits in Washington state?
I'm trying to figure out how much I'll actually receive from Washington ESD unemployment benefits. I worked at a warehouse making $18.50 an hour for about 14 months before getting laid off last week. I've heard different amounts from people - some say it's half your wages, others say there's a maximum cap. Does anyone know the actual formula Washington ESD uses to calculate weekly benefit amounts? Also wondering if there are any deductions I should expect.
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Lucas Turner
Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount using your highest paid quarter from your base year. It's not exactly half your wages - they look at your total earnings from the four quarters before you filed and use a specific formula. The maximum weekly benefit amount for 2024 is $999, but most people don't get the max.
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Eleanor Foster
•So they don't just look at my most recent job? That's confusing. I had a lower paying job before the warehouse position.
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Lucas Turner
•Right, they look at all your covered employment in the base year. If your warehouse job was your highest earnings quarter, that'll help your benefit amount.
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Kai Rivera
I was making about $20/hour and my weekly benefit amount came out to around $580. But you have to remember there are taxes taken out if you choose that option, plus you have to do your weekly claims and job search requirements.
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Eleanor Foster
•Wait, taxes are optional? I thought they automatically took them out.
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Kai Rivera
•Nope, you can choose to have 10% federal tax withheld when you file your weekly claim. I'd recommend it unless you want a big tax bill next year.
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Anna Stewart
Just went through this process and honestly the hardest part wasn't figuring out the benefit amount - it was actually getting through to Washington ESD to ask questions. Took me weeks of calling before I found a service called Claimyr that helped me reach an actual agent. They have this system that keeps calling for you until they get through. Worth checking out at claimyr.com if you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD.
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Eleanor Foster
•How much does something like that cost? I'm already worried about money.
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Anna Stewart
•It's definitely worth it when you're stuck. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call.
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Layla Sanders
•I've heard of services like this but never tried one. Did they actually get you through to a real person?
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Anna Stewart
•Yeah, connected me to an actual Washington ESD agent who could look at my account and explain exactly how my benefit amount was calculated.
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Morgan Washington
The formula is basically: take your two highest earning quarters from your base year, add them together, divide by 2, then divide by 25. That gives you your weekly benefit amount, but it can't exceed the maximum.
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Eleanor Foster
•This is getting complicated. Is there a calculator somewhere I can use?
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Morgan Washington
•Washington ESD has a benefit calculator on their website, but it's pretty basic. Your best bet is to just file your claim and see what they determine.
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Kaylee Cook
Just remember you can only collect for 26 weeks maximum in Washington, and you have to meet all the job search requirements. I made the mistake of not keeping good records of my job contacts and almost got disqualified.
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Eleanor Foster
•How many job contacts do you need per week?
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Kaylee Cook
•It's 3 job search activities per week, but they can be different things - applications, networking, attending job fairs, etc. Keep detailed records!
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Eleanor Foster
This is all more complicated than I thought. I figured I'd just get half my wages for a few months while I look for work.
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Lucas Turner
•The system is definitely complex, but once you get through the initial setup it's not too bad. Just make sure you file your weekly claims on time every week.
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Oliver Alexander
•Yeah don't stress too much about the calculations. Washington ESD will tell you your benefit amount once you file. Focus on getting your claim submitted.
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Layla Sanders
I've been on unemployment twice and the benefit amount was different each time based on my work history. First time I got about $450/week, second time it was $620/week because I had been working more hours.
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Eleanor Foster
•Did you have any issues with the weekly claims process?
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Layla Sanders
•Not really, just had to remember to file every week and report any income. The job search log was the most annoying part.
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Kai Rivera
One thing to watch out for - if you worked in another state recently, you might need to file an interstate claim. That can complicate things and affect your benefit amount.
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Eleanor Foster
•I've only worked in Washington so that shouldn't be an issue for me.
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Kai Rivera
•Good, that makes it simpler. Just make sure you have all your employment info ready when you file.
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Lara Woods
The waiting week was eliminated during COVID but I think it's back now? Can someone confirm if there's still a waiting week before benefits start?
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Lucas Turner
•No waiting week currently in Washington. You can start receiving benefits for the week you file your claim if you're eligible.
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Lara Woods
•Thanks for clarifying! That's one less thing to worry about.
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Oliver Alexander
Don't forget about the work search requirements! You need to register with WorkSource and actively look for work. It's not just free money - there are obligations.
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Eleanor Foster
•I already registered with WorkSource when I got laid off. Is there anything else I need to do?
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Oliver Alexander
•You'll need to log your job search activities and report them when you file your weekly claims. Keep it organized from the start.
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Adrian Hughes
The system is so confusing and getting worse every year. I spent HOURS trying to call Washington ESD about my benefit calculation and could never get through. Finally used one of those callback services and got connected within a day.
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Eleanor Foster
•Which callback service did you use? I might need to call them with questions.
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Adrian Hughes
•It was Claimyr - they basically keep calling Washington ESD for you until they get through. Really saved my sanity.
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Molly Chambers
Your benefit amount also depends on when you file. If you wait too long after being laid off, you might lose out on some benefits. I'd recommend filing as soon as possible.
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Eleanor Foster
•I got laid off last week and haven't filed yet. Is that going to hurt me?
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Molly Chambers
•You should be fine if you file this week. Just don't wait much longer - benefits are typically backdated only to when you file.
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Ian Armstrong
Make sure you have your Social Security card and ID ready when you file. Washington ESD is pretty strict about identity verification these days.
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Eleanor Foster
•Do I need any other documents from my employer?
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Ian Armstrong
•If you have your final pay stub or layoff notice that can help, but it's not required. Washington ESD will verify with your employer directly.
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Eli Butler
Just to add - if you're thinking about working part-time while collecting benefits, make sure you understand how that affects your weekly benefit amount. You can work and still collect, but there are limits.
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Eleanor Foster
•Good to know. I might pick up some gig work if I can't find full-time employment quickly.
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Eli Butler
•Yeah just report all income when you file your weekly claims. They'll adjust your benefit amount accordingly.
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Marcus Patterson
The Washington ESD website has gotten better over the years but it's still not the most user-friendly. Take your time filling out the application and double-check everything before submitting.
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Eleanor Foster
•Is there a way to save your progress if you can't finish it all at once?
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Marcus Patterson
•I think you can save and come back to it, but I'd recommend just setting aside an hour and completing it all in one session to avoid any issues.
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Lydia Bailey
been on unemployment 3 times over the years and the benefit amount varies so much based on your work history. sometimes its more than you expect, sometimes way less. just file and see what happens
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Eleanor Foster
•That's kind of nerve-wracking not knowing what to expect financially.
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Lydia Bailey
•yeah but theres not much you can do about it. the formula is what it is. just hope for the best
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Mateo Warren
I had to appeal my benefit amount determination because I thought it was calculated wrong. Turns out Washington ESD was right, but the appeals process was pretty straightforward if you ever need to go that route.
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Eleanor Foster
•How long did the appeal take?
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Mateo Warren
•About 6 weeks from when I filed the appeal to when I got the decision. They kept paying me the original amount during the appeal process.
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Sofia Price
Whatever you do, don't miss filing your weekly claims! I forgot one week and it was a huge hassle to get it sorted out. Set a reminder on your phone or something.
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Eleanor Foster
•What day of the week do you have to file?
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Sofia Price
•You can file Sunday through Saturday for the previous week. I always did mine on Sunday mornings to get it over with.
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Anna Stewart
One more thing about getting help from Washington ESD - if you do need to call them, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really does work. I was skeptical at first but it saved me so much time and frustration. They basically handle all the calling and waiting for you.
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Eleanor Foster
•I might need to try that if I run into any issues with my claim. Thanks for the recommendation!
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Alice Coleman
•I've been meaning to try something like that. The regular phone system is impossible to get through.
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Owen Jenkins
Bottom line - your benefit amount is based on your earnings history, not your most recent job. Washington ESD has a formula they use and there's a maximum cap. File as soon as you can and don't stress too much about the exact amount until you know for sure.
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Eleanor Foster
•Thanks everyone for all the helpful info. I'm going to file my claim today and see what happens.
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Owen Jenkins
•Good luck! The process seems overwhelming at first but it's really not that bad once you get started.
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