How much do you get unemployment benefits in Washington - confused about payment amounts

Thanks! So if I made $52k last year, what would that work out to roughly per week?

Hard to say exactly without knowing your quarterly breakdown, but if it was evenly distributed you'd probably get somewhere around $400-500 per week. The exact calculation depends on which quarter was your highest.

You should definitely call Washington ESD to verify your wage information is correct. Sometimes employers don't report wages properly or there are data entry errors.

Good luck getting through to anyone at Washington ESD though. I've been trying to call for weeks about my adjudication and can never get past the busy signal.

Have you tried using Claimyr? It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. I used it last month when I couldn't reach anyone about my claim status. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Not quite - it's more complex than that. It's based on your actual reported wages during specific quarters, not just half your regular pay.

I'll try that calculator - didn't realize it existed. Do I need to wait until my claim is approved to use it?

No, you can use it anytime. It's just an estimator though - your actual WBA might be slightly different based on how Washington ESD processes your wage records.

Tell me about it. My claim has been in adjudication for 5 weeks with no explanation.

That's exactly when I used Claimyr to get through to someone. The adjudication was taking forever and I needed answers. Worth every penny to actually talk to a real person.

That sounds about right for your income level. How long has your claim been processing?

Just filed last week so I'm still in the initial review period. Hoping it goes through without any issues.

Wait, there's still a federal supplement? I thought all the COVID stuff ended.

This isn't COVID related - it's a regular program for people who are participating in reemployment services. Talk to your WorkSource office about it.

The phone lines are always swamped. Try calling right when they open at 8am or using their online contact form, though that takes days to get a response.

I mentioned this earlier but seriously check out Claimyr. It's designed specifically for getting through to Washington ESD when you can't reach them normally. Saved me hours of frustration.

I'm desperate at this point so I'll try anything. Thanks for the suggestion.

Yeah I definitely won't be getting the maximum. My $485 estimate seems more realistic.

Seriously, try Claimyr if you need to get through. I know I keep mentioning it but it actually works. Much better than sitting on hold for hours or getting hung up on.

How does that service work exactly? Do you have to pay upfront?

They handle the calling process for you and connect you when they get an agent on the line. Much easier than doing it yourself. Check their video demo to see how it works.

I've been working full time for the past 3 years so that shouldn't be an issue for me.

I mean, it's insurance that we all pay into through our paychecks. We should be able to get decent benefits when we need them.

That's helpful context. So people who made less money get a higher percentage to help them out more?

Exactly. It's designed to replace a higher percentage of income for lower wage workers since they have less financial cushion.

Good point - I'll make sure to set aside money for taxes or have them withhold it.

That's encouraging! How long did it take from filing to getting your first payment?

About 3 weeks total, but I had a straightforward case with no adjudication issues.

True, but it's also more expensive to live here so it balances out somewhat.

Oh I didn't realize there was a total maximum. How is that calculated?

It's typically 26 times your weekly benefit amount, so if you get $485/week you'd have a total of about $12,610 available for the full benefit year.

How can I check if they have all my wage info?

You should be able to see your wage records in your online account once your claim is processed. If anything looks wrong, contact them immediately.

And good luck getting through to them if you need to make corrections. That's where services like Claimyr become really valuable.

You should be fine with your work history and income level. Good luck with your job search!

Keep us updated on how it goes. Always helpful to hear real experiences from people going through the process.