How much do you get paid when you file for unemployment in Washington?

That's helpful, thanks! Do you know if they count bonuses or just base salary?

They count all wages reported on your W-2, including bonuses and overtime. Just make sure your employer reported everything correctly to Washington ESD.

Yeah that's what I'm worried about. My hours were all over the place especially during the holidays.

Perfect, I'll check that out! Is it on the main esd.wa.gov site?

Yes, it's under the 'Unemployment Benefits' section. Just search for 'benefit calculator' and it should pop up.

Is that legit? Seems too good to be true with how impossible it is to reach anyone at Washington ESD these days.

I was skeptical too but it worked for me. Check out claimyr.com if you want to see for yourself. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.

How do they determine if you worked enough? I was at my job for 2 full years.

They look at your base year which is the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file. If you have wages in at least 2 quarters and meet the minimum wage requirements, you should qualify for the full 26 weeks.

Good to know! When do you have to file the weekly claims?

Every Sunday for the previous week. You can file online or by phone but online is way faster. Just don't miss the deadline!

Actually you have until Saturday night to file for that week, but Sunday is when the new claim week opens. I always file on Sunday mornings to stay on schedule.

Washington ESD allows you to earn up to your weekly benefit amount minus $5 before they start reducing your benefits. So if your weekly benefit is $400, you can earn up to $395 without any reduction.

oh that's way more generous than I thought! good to know for when I'm looking for part time work

What kind of things cause adjudication? I'm hoping my claim will be straightforward.

Common reasons are if you were fired vs laid off, if there are questions about your availability for work, or if your employer contests the claim. Most get resolved but it adds weeks to the process.

You can always call and ask them to explain your benefit calculation. They should be able to break down exactly how they got your weekly amount.

Good luck getting through on the phone! I've been trying for weeks.

Oh wow I didn't even think about taxes. Is it better to have them withhold or just pay at the end of the year?

I always have them withhold so I don't get hit with a big tax bill in April. It's optional but worth considering depending on your tax situation.

How much does something like that cost? Seems like we shouldn't have to pay extra just to talk to our own unemployment office.

I agree it's frustrating that we need third party help, but sometimes you just need answers. Check their site at claimyr.com for details on how it works.

I'll definitely use the calculator. Thanks everyone for all the helpful info!

Good to know there's an appeal process. Hopefully I won't need it but that's reassuring.

Appeals can take months to resolve though, so make sure you really have a case before going that route. Most benefit calculations are correct.

That's encouraging! What paperwork did you need besides your basic info?

mainly just employment dates and reason for separation. they pull your wage info from employers automatically so you don't need paystubs or anything like that

What counts as a job search contact? Is it just applying for jobs or other things too?

Job applications, networking events, career fairs, informational interviews, even some online training courses can count. Washington ESD has a list of approved activities on their website.

So if my weekly is $400 and I can collect for 26 weeks, my maximum would be $10,400?

Exactly! Though the actual maximum might be slightly different based on your specific wage history and how Washington ESD calculates it.

That's good to hear about the timing. Do you get any notice when the payment is deposited?

you can set up alerts through your bank or check your claim status online. I just got used to checking Tuesday afternoons

Why would an employer contest a claim? I was laid off due to budget cuts so hopefully that won't be an issue.

Layoffs due to budget cuts are usually pretty straightforward. Contests happen more when there are questions about whether someone was fired for misconduct vs laid off.

Yeah I can see how that would be helpful. The automated systems never seem to have answers for specific situations.

I've used similar services for other government agencies and they're usually worth it when you're stuck. Better than wasting days trying to get through on your own.

Thanks everyone! This has been super helpful. I feel much more prepared to file now.

Good luck with your claim! The first time can be nerve-wracking but it's usually pretty straightforward if you have all your info ready.