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

That's way more than I expected! So if I was making $4200/month consistently, I'd get close to $999/week?

Yes, most likely. The exact calculation depends on your earnings pattern over the base period, but at your income level you should qualify for the maximum benefit amount.

Did you have any issues with the initial claim? I keep hearing horror stories about adjudication delays.

mine went through pretty smooth actually, took about 2 weeks to get first payment. make sure all your employer info is accurate when you file

Good point about the taxes. Is there an option to set that up during the initial filing process?

Yes, there's a checkbox during the application process. You can also change it later through your SecureAccess Washington account if needed.

Never heard of that service before. Is it legit or just another scam?

Totally legit, check out claimyr.com. They don't ask for any personal info or anything sketchy. Just helps you navigate the phone system to reach a real person at Washington ESD.

Good to know there's a backup option if I run into problems. Hopefully I won't need it but I'll bookmark that just in case.

Wait, I thought it was divided by 13 not 26?

No, it's definitely 26. That's a common confusion point. The formula is (highest quarter wages ÷ 26) × 3.85% = weekly benefit amount.

How do they determine which quarters to use? Is it the most recent ones or the highest earning ones?

it's the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file. so if you file in january, they'd use april-december of the previous year typically

Yikes! What counts as a valid job search activity? Just applying for jobs or other things too?

Job applications, networking events, career fairs, even updating your LinkedIn profile can count. But you need to document everything with dates and details.

The WorkSourceWA website has a good job search log feature that tracks everything automatically if you use their job search tools.

That's actually really helpful to know. So if I pick up some freelance work while job hunting, I can still get some unemployment benefits?

yep exactly. just report it accurately on your weekly claim and washington esd will calculate the reduction automatically

That does seem low for your income level. Did you check if they're using the right base period quarters? Sometimes there are calculation errors.

I had a similar issue and used Claimyr to get through to someone at Washington ESD who could review my calculation. Turns out they were missing wages from one of my employers. Worth checking on that.

I'll look into that Claimyr thing. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get this sorted out.

Thanks for the clear breakdown. Sounds like I should definitely qualify for close to the maximum given my salary.

Yes, at $4200/month you're well above the threshold for maximum benefits. Just make sure to file as soon as possible since there's usually a one-week waiting period.

Good point. I was laid off two weeks ago but kept putting off filing because I thought I might find something quickly. Probably should have filed right away.

Exactly. Even if you find a job next week, you'd still be eligible for benefits for the weeks you were unemployed and actively looking. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

It's definitely not user-friendly, but the actual benefit calculation is pretty generous compared to some other states. Washington ESD pays out some of the highest unemployment benefits in the country.

That's true. Friend of mine moved here from Texas and was shocked at how much higher the benefits are. Makes the bureaucracy a bit more tolerable I guess.

Definitely planning to do direct deposit. How long does it typically take to get the first payment after filing?

If there are no issues with your claim, usually 2-3 weeks. That includes the mandatory one-week waiting period plus processing time.

Good point about the taxes. So if I elect to have federal taxes withheld, I'd get about $900 net per week at the maximum benefit level?

Right around there, yes. $999 minus 10% federal tax would be about $899 net. No state tax in Washington on unemployment benefits.

That's really good advice. I'll start a folder with all my unemployment-related documents right away.

Smart move. Also screenshot your weekly claim confirmations. Sometimes the system shows you filed when you didn't or vice versa.

I'll check that out. Where do I find my quarterly earnings info? Would that be on my paystubs or tax documents?

Your W-2 from last year would have it, or you can request a wage statement from Washington ESD online. They have records of all wages reported by employers in the state.

When do the weekly claims usually need to be filed? Is there a specific day of the week?

sunday is usually the earliest you can file for the previous week, but you have until the next saturday to submit it. i always do mine on sunday morning so i don't forget

Several people have mentioned Claimyr now. Sounds like it's worth having as a backup option if I run into any problems with my claim.

Definitely. The peace of mind alone is worth it. Nice to know you can actually reach someone if you need to instead of just hoping the online system works perfectly.

Good luck with your claim! Feel free to come back here if you run into any issues during the process.

You've got a good plan. File soon, document everything, and don't hesitate to reach out for help if needed. The Washington ESD system works well when you understand how to navigate it.