How much do you get on unemployment benefits in Washington state?

Thanks! So it's not based on your most recent salary but your highest earning quarter in the past year?

Exactly. They look at the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. So if you file in January 2025, they'd look at quarters from January 2024 through September 2024.

I had the same problem last month. Found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual Washington ESD agent. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that explains how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

Interesting, I'll look into that. At this point I'll try anything to get through to someone who can help.

That's actually better than I expected! Do you know how long benefits last?

Standard is 26 weeks of regular UI benefits, but it can vary depending on the unemployment rate in your area.

Actually, I think you might be mixing up the formulas. The standard calculation is highest quarter divided by 26, not two quarters divided by 52. Though the minimum is correct at $295.

You're right, my mistake. I was thinking of a different calculation method. Thanks for the correction!

Good point! Can you have them automatically withhold federal taxes or do you have to pay quarterly?

You can choose to have 10% withheld for federal taxes when you file your weekly claims. It's under the tax withholding section on your claim form.

That sounds about right. I think my earnings were pretty consistent throughout the year, so hopefully it'll be on the higher end of that range.

Keep in mind you'll also need to meet the job search requirements. In Washington you need to make 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of your activities.

That's actually not bad! I was expecting way less. Do you know how long the benefits last?

Standard unemployment benefits last up to 26 weeks in Washington, but you have to keep filing weekly claims and do job search activities.

It's actually simpler than that - they use your highest quarter, divide by 26, then that's your weekly benefit amount (up to the maximum).

oh ok thanks for clarifying, i always get confused by the math

Determination letters usually come within 2-3 weeks of filing. If it's taking longer, there might be an issue with your claim that needs to be resolved through adjudication.

what does adjudication mean? should i be worried?

Adjudication just means they need to review something about your claim - could be your reason for separation, work history, or eligibility. It's not necessarily bad, just takes extra time to process.

I didn't know they had a calculator! I'll check that out. Thanks for the tip.

The calculator is helpful but sometimes the actual amount is different than what it shows. Mine was about $50 less per week than the estimate.

I feel your pain. Had similar issues until I used Claimyr to get connected to a supervisor level agent who actually knew what they were talking about. Regular customer service reps often don't have access to all the information they need.

Never heard of Claimyr before. Is it legit? I'm desperate at this point.

Yeah it's legit. They basically help you get through the phone system faster. Worth checking out their demo video to see how it works.

3 weeks?? That seems like forever when you need money now. Did you have any issues with the application?

My claim went into adjudication because I had worked for two different employers in my base period. They had to verify everything which took extra time.

That's what I'm worried about. I keep hearing horror stories about people not being able to reach anyone.

Have you tried using Claimyr? I found it on claimyr.com and it actually got me through to a Washington ESD agent in like 20 minutes. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Never heard of that but anything that helps with the phone situation sounds good to me

Okay that math actually makes sense. I think I should be able to figure out roughly what I'd get based on my paystubs.

Don't forget about the job search requirements though! You have to apply for at least 3 jobs per week and keep a log of all your applications.

You're probably right. How long did it take for your first payment?

About 3 weeks from when I filed, but that was pretty normal timing

That's not necessarily true. Most claims process without major issues if you provide accurate information.

maybe you got lucky but i know plenty of people who had nightmare experiences

That's good to know. So if my benefit is $600 per week, I could earn up to $600 in part-time work without losing benefits?

Exactly. But make sure to report all earnings on your weekly claim, even if it's under the threshold. Failure to report can result in overpayment issues later.

I had the same problem until someone told me about Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. I was skeptical at first but it actually worked - got connected within an hour. Check out claimyr.com, they even have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

Really? That sounds too good to be true. What's the catch?

No catch really, they just handle the calling for you so you don't have to sit there hitting redial all day. Way better than the frustration I was dealing with trying to reach them myself.

Oh wow I didn't know that. So if I'm still working like 10 hours a week, that could affect my benefits?

yeah exactly. you have to report all earnings when you file your weekly claim. they have some formula where if you earn more than a certain amount that week, your benefit gets reduced or eliminated completely

So if I file in February 2025, what would my base period be?

Your base period would be October 2023 through September 2024. Make sure you have accurate wage information for that period.

What happens if you miss a weekly claim?

You can sometimes get it back if you have a good reason, but it's a pain to deal with Washington ESD about it

That's fast! Mine took 3 weeks but I think it was because they had to verify my employment with my previous employer.

Yeah, employer verification can definitely slow things down. I was lucky that my former employer responded quickly to Washington ESD's request.

That's actually pretty generous! So I could potentially make more money combining part-time work with unemployment than just working my reduced hours.

Just make sure you report everything accurately on your weekly claims. Washington ESD will eventually catch it if you don't report earnings properly, and then you'll have an overpayment to deal with.

Glad it helped! I've recommended it to several people having trouble reaching Washington ESD.

how much does it cost though? sounds too good to be true

It's worth it if you really need to talk to someone. Way better than wasting entire days redialing.

That's probably because of the waiting week or because you're reporting different amounts of part-time earnings. The first week you file is usually a waiting week where you don't get paid.

I thought I already did my waiting week though. This is so frustrating trying to figure out.

How many jobs do you have to apply for each week?

You need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep detailed records in case Washington ESD audits your claim.

Wait, so I won't get paid for the first week even if I qualify? That seems unfair.

It's just how the system works. Think of it as a one-week deductible. You still need to file that first week though, or it can mess up your claim.

What's the difference between regular UI and standby? My employer said there might be a chance they'll call me back.

Standby is for temporary layoffs where you expect to return to work within a specific timeframe. The benefit calculation is the same, but the job search requirements are different.

Ugh, taxes. I didn't even think about that. So the amount they pay you isn't what you actually get to keep?

Right, you'll owe federal taxes on it for sure, and depending on your total income for the year, maybe state taxes too. You can elect to have 10% withheld for federal taxes when you set up your claim.

I'll check that out, thanks for the tip!

No problem, good luck with everything

That gives me hope that I might get a decent amount too. Did it take long for your claim to get approved?

Mine was pretty straightforward, took about 2 weeks. No adjudication issues or anything like that.

That's awesome! I might have to try that service too. I've been having issues with my claim for weeks.

Good to know that service actually works! I was wondering if it was legit.

Yeah I didn't quit, they just scheduled me way less hours. Hopefully that counts as a reduction in work.

that should definitely qualify you then. reduction in hours is a valid reason for unemployment benefits

Good point, I should probably gather all that stuff before I start the application. Thanks for all the helpful info everyone!

The Washington ESD website actually has a checklist of everything you need before you start your application. Super helpful to have everything ready to go.

Gig work income gets reported as self-employment earnings on your weekly claims. It can affect your benefit amount just like regular part-time work would.

That makes sense. I'll have to keep track of all my gig earnings when I file my weekly claims then.

I'll definitely check that out. Thanks for mentioning it!

Same here, the calculator was spot on for me. Much better than just guessing what you might get.

How detailed does the job search log need to be? Just company names and dates?

Company name, position applied for, date you applied, and method of application (online, in person, etc.). They want to see you're making a genuine effort to find work.

What happens if you forget to file one week?

You can usually file a late claim but you might lose that week's benefits entirely. It's better to just set a reminder and file every week on time.

So there's automatically a one week delay before you see any money? That's rough when you need income immediately.

Exactly. It's just how the system works in Washington. Plan for that delay when you're budgeting.

How do they determine how many weeks you get?

It's based on your total base period earnings. The more you earned during your base period, the more weeks of benefits you can potentially receive, up to the 26 week maximum.

Oh wow, I didn't think about that. Can you elect to have taxes taken out?

Yes, you can choose to have 10% withheld for federal taxes when you file your claim.

That sounds about right for someone who was earning $80k+ annually.

yeah she was doing really well before the layoffs hit her company

That's good to know. I was worried about timing it perfectly.

Nope, just file right away. The sooner the better.

That's reassuring to hear from someone with actual experience.

Yeah, just be patient with the process and keep good records of everything.

Good point, I'll make sure to be completely honest about everything.

Exactly - Washington ESD cross-references with employers and other agencies. Always better to be truthful.

Oh that's great! I remember hearing about waiting weeks before.

Yeah it used to be you had to wait a week before benefits started, but not anymore.

I'm being laid off due to store closures, so I should be fine right?

Yes, layoffs due to lack of work definitely qualify. You shouldn't have any issues.

I'll keep that in mind. Seems like a lot of people have had good experiences with it.

Yeah, it's one of those things where you don't need it until you really need it, you know?

Perfect summary, thank you! I think I have all the info I need to move forward.

Good luck with everything! The system can be frustrating but the benefits definitely help.

Good point about appeals. I had to appeal my initial denial and ended up getting approved after providing additional documentation. The appeals process took about 6 weeks total.

Six weeks is pretty typical for appeals. Make sure to keep filing your weekly claims during the appeal process even if you're not getting paid.

What kind of documentation did they ask for? I want to make sure I have everything ready.

They wanted my driver's license, Social Security card, and W-2 forms from the past year. Some people get asked for additional stuff depending on their situation.

That's an important point. I didn't realize the benefit year was fixed like that. So if I work for a few months and then get laid off again, I'd still get the same weekly amount?

Correct, as long as it's within the same benefit year. If you exhaust your benefits and need to file a new claim, then they'll recalculate based on your recent earnings.

Before going that route, you might want to try Claimyr first. I used them when I was having trouble getting answers about my benefit calculation and they got me connected to someone who could actually help. Much faster than going through political channels.

I'll look into that option. At this point I'm willing to try anything that might work faster than the usual channels.

Good to know about the timing. I'll make sure to set up direct deposit when I file my claim.

Direct deposit is definitely the way to go. The debit card option has fees and the paper checks take forever to arrive by mail.

Thanks for the reminder. I'll definitely opt for tax withholding to avoid a big bill next year.

Yeah, I learned that lesson the hard way. Owed over $3,000 in taxes on my unemployment benefits because I didn't have anything withheld.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! I feel much more prepared to file my claim now. Really appreciate the detailed explanations.

No problem! Good luck with your claim. Hope you get back to work soon but at least you'll have some income while you're job searching.