How much do you make on Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

Thanks! So with my salary that would put me pretty close to the maximum then. Do you know how long benefits last?

Standard unemployment benefits in Washington last up to 26 weeks, but it depends on your work history and the unemployment rate in your area.

That helps! So they look at quarters, not your annual salary. I need to figure out what my highest quarter was.

Yeah and there's a maximum weekly benefit amount too, I think it's around $929 per week in Washington right now.

Thanks for the detailed breakdown! That monetary determination letter sounds helpful.

I never got my monetary determination letter when I filed last year. Had to call Washington ESD like 50 times to get through and ask about it.

If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone, I used a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an agent. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really saved me hours of calling.

Oh right, I forgot about taxes. Do most people have them withhold or just deal with it at tax time?

I always have them withhold 10% for federal taxes. Makes tax season easier and you don't get hit with a big bill later.

I didn't withhold and ended up owing like $2,800 at tax time. Definitely recommend having them take out taxes.

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

Same issue here! I tried calling for three weeks straight and never got through. Finally found this service called Claimyr that helps you get connected to Washington ESD agents. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me so much time and frustration.

Wish I had known about that when I was dealing with my adjudication issues. Would have saved me weeks of stress.

It usually takes about a week to get your monetary determination. If you filed your initial claim correctly, you should hear something soon.

hopefully! i need to know how much ill be getting so i can budget

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

i think its 3 per week but check the washington esd website to be sure. they can audit your job search log so dont fake it

It's actually 3 job search activities per week, which can include applications, networking, or attending job fairs. The key is documenting everything properly in WorkSourceWA.

Good point about taxes! I hadn't thought about that part.

Yeah definitely have them withhold taxes if you can afford the smaller payment. Otherwise you'll owe a bunch come tax time.

I'll check that out! Didn't know they had a calculator on their site.

The calculator is helpful but remember it's just an estimate. Your actual benefit amount might be slightly different based on how they process your wage information.

What happens in the weekly claim? Just confirming you're still unemployed?

Yeah you confirm you're still unemployed, report any work you did that week, and answer questions about your job search. Takes like 5 minutes online.

And don't lie about working! They cross-reference with employers. A friend of mine got in huge trouble for not reporting some side work.

That's actually better than I expected. Did you have any issues with the application process?

Pretty smooth overall. The online application took about 30 minutes. Just make sure you have all your employment history and employer contact info ready.

How do you know if they're going to fight it?

You'll get a notice if they contest your claim. Then Washington ESD has to investigate and decide who's telling the truth. Can take weeks or even months.

This is why it's so important to document everything when you lose your job. Save emails, texts, anything that shows you were laid off or fired without cause.

That's discouraging. Is there any way to avoid dealing with them directly?

Not really, you have to go through them for everything. Though I heard some people use services to help get through to agents faster when they have problems.

Yeah that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really helps with that. Takes the headache out of trying to reach someone when you need help with your claim.

What's the maximum benefit amount based on?

It's usually 26 times your weekly benefit amount, so if you get $265 per week, your maximum would be around $6,890 for the year. But you can only collect for 26 weeks maximum unless there are extensions.

That's correct. And remember you have to be actively looking for work and filing your weekly claims to keep getting benefits.

Good to know! Do you set that up during the initial application?

Yeah there's an option during the application process. You can also set it up later in your account but easier to do it upfront.

That gives me a good reference point since our salaries are similar. Thanks!

Did you have any issues with your claim or did it go smoothly?

Pretty smooth actually. Filed online, got my determination letter in about 10 days, and started receiving benefits after my waiting week.

Definitely planning to keep looking for work. Just want to know what to expect financially while I'm searching.

Good attitude. The benefits are there to help you transition, not replace working permanently.

18 months seems like a lot. What if you can't remember all the details from older jobs?

you can call the employers or check your tax returns. washington esd needs accurate info to calculate your benefits properly

They use your base period wages which covers about 15-18 months depending on when you file. It's important to be as accurate as possible since this determines your benefit amount.

I might get a small severance. How does that work exactly?

Depends on how it's structured. If it's paid as wages for specific weeks, those weeks wouldn't be eligible for unemployment. If it's a lump sum, different rules apply. You'll need to report it when you file.

Good to know about the waiting week. So even though I file for that first week, I won't get paid for it?

Exactly. It's like a one-week deductible. You file the claim but don't receive payment for that week.

Thanks everyone! This has been really helpful. I feel much more prepared now.

Good luck with your application! Hope you find something soon.

That's smart advice. Better to have too much documentation than not enough.

exactly. learned that the hard way when my payments stopped and i had to prove i'd been filing my weekly claims correctly

I had the same problem reaching them by phone. That's when I found Claimyr - it automatically calls and waits in the queue for you, then connects you when an agent is available. Made getting answers so much easier.

That sounds helpful. I'll check it out if I need to call them again.

I don't have any dependents, so it sounds like I'd just get the base amount.

Right, the dependency benefits are extra if you qualify. Not everyone knows about that option.

I've only worked in Washington, so that makes it simple for me.

Yeah if you only worked in one state it's straightforward. Multi-state situations can get complicated fast.

Good reminder about the job search requirement. I know they're pretty strict about that.

Yeah they can audit your job search log and if you don't have proper documentation, they might make you pay back benefits. Take it seriously.

Absolutely. I'm hoping this is just a short-term thing while I find my next job.

Good attitude! The job market seems pretty decent right now so hopefully you'll find something soon.

How long did the appeal process take?

About 3 weeks for them to review and adjust my benefits. Worth doing if you think there's an error.

If you need to contact Washington ESD about an appeal or any other issue, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really helps cut through the phone queue hassles. Saved me so much time and frustration.

When is the deadline for weekly claims?

You have to file by 11:59 PM on Saturday for the previous week. I set a reminder on my phone so I never forgot.

Thanks for all the helpful information everyone! This really helped me understand how the benefit calculation works.

Good luck with your claim! Hope you find work soon and don't need unemployment for very long.