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

So if my highest quarter was around $13,000, I'd get about $250 per week? That seems lower than I expected.

That sounds about right. Keep in mind you can also earn up to your weekly benefit amount while working part-time without it affecting your UI payment.

Yeah I'm worried it won't be enough to cover all my bills. Did you have to pay taxes on it?

yep they dont take taxes out automatically so u gotta pay at tax time or request withholding

Interesting, I've never heard of that service. How much does it cost?

I'd rather not discuss pricing publicly but it was worth it for me when I couldn't get through after dozens of calls. Much less stressful than sitting on hold for hours.

I'll definitely keep that in mind if I run into issues with Washington ESD. Thanks for sharing!

That formula is helpful! So the $5 is just added to everyone's calculation?

Correct, it's a flat addition to the calculated amount. Also remember you need to have worked in at least two quarters of your base year to qualify.

Really? That's a pretty big difference. Did you ever figure out why it was wrong?

never got a straight answer, had to appeal and everything. took months to fix

The online calculator is just an estimate. Your actual determination letter will have the precise calculation based on your wage records.

How do you verify they have the right wage information? Do you need to provide pay stubs?

You can see your wage records in your Washington ESD account online. If something's missing, you'll need to contact your employer or provide documentation.

I feel you, it's really tough. The benefits are meant to be temporary assistance, not full wage replacement unfortunately.

Temporary is one thing but when it takes 6+ months to find a decent job, 'temporary' becomes your new reality.

Did they actually help resolve your benefit amount question?

Yes, they got me connected to an agent who was able to explain exactly how my benefits were calculated and fix an error in my wage records.

Wait, so there's always a week delay before you get your first payment?

yep, it's called a waiting week. you file your weekly claim but don't get paid for that first week

Actually Washington eliminated the waiting week in 2023. You should get paid for your first week if you're eligible.

That's scary. How did you end up resolving the overpayment issue?

I appealed it and provided documentation showing I did report the earnings. Took 3 months but they reversed the overpayment decision.

Really? I have two kids and never knew about this. Do you have to apply separately for dependent benefits?

You request it when you initially file your claim. You'll need to provide documentation like birth certificates or tax returns showing the dependents.

Did they explain why there was a difference?

something about how they calculated my quarterly wages, honestly the explanation was confusing

I did have two part-time jobs for a few months. Should I be concerned about that affecting my benefits?

Not concerned, but just be aware it might make the calculation less predictable. All your covered wages should count toward your benefit amount.

Easy for you to say, some of us have had nothing but problems with Washington ESD calculations and getting anyone to explain them.

fair point, i did have to use that claimyr thing once to actually talk to someone when my claim got messed up

Good to know it adjusts over time. I guess that helps with inflation somewhat.

Yeah though the increases are usually pretty modest. Don't expect big jumps year to year.

That's exactly my situation! I got promoted and a big raise 6 months ago. So my benefits won't reflect that?

Probably not, since your base year uses older quarters. But in some cases you can use an alternate base year if it results in higher benefits.

Agreed, I spent weeks trying to get clarification on my benefit amount calculation and couldn't reach anyone until I used their service.

Seems like a lot of people have had success with that Claimyr service. I'll definitely remember that if I need help navigating the Washington ESD system.

Thanks, that's a realistic way to think about it. Better to plan conservatively and be pleasantly surprised than the other way around.