How much do you receive unemployment benefits in Washington - need to budget

Thanks! So if my highest quarter was around $15,000, I'd get about $577 per week before taxes?

That sounds about right. Just remember you have to file your weekly claims every week to keep getting paid.

It's not 60% - that's a common misconception. Washington uses the quarter method like the previous poster explained.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD, I found this service called Claimyr that helped me reach an agent last month. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

Wait, so they use whichever calculation gives me LESS money? That doesn't seem fair.

Exactly. It's designed to prevent people from working just one really high-paying quarter and then collecting maximum benefits. The system wants to see consistent work history.

This is why I hate dealing with Washington ESD. The rules are so complicated and they never explain this stuff clearly on their website.

There's a waiting week? Nobody told me that! How am I supposed to pay rent?

Actually, Washington eliminated the waiting week during COVID and it hasn't been reinstated. You should get paid for your first week if you're eligible.

oh really? good to know, thanks for the correction

Do I need to keep a log of my job searches? How detailed does it need to be?

Yes, keep detailed records. Washington ESD can audit your job search activities at any time. Include company names, dates, contact methods, and results.

Six weeks?? What caused the delay in adjudication?

They needed to verify my separation reason with my employer. Couldn't reach anyone at Washington ESD to check on status until I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Finally got through to an agent who explained what was happening.

claimyr really works? might have to try that since i still cant get through on the phone

Should I have taxes withheld or just pay at the end of the year?

If you think you'll owe taxes anyway, it's usually better to have them withheld. Avoids a big bill later and potential penalties.

This happened to me! I waited too long to file and missed out on including my best earning period. File as soon as possible after you lose your job.

I got laid off last week and haven't filed yet. Is it too late?

No, you're fine. Just don't wait months like I did. The sooner you file, the sooner you can start receiving benefits.

So if I make $200 in a week from a side gig, they take $195 off my unemployment check?

Not exactly. It's more complicated than that. There's a formula but yes, substantial earnings will reduce your benefits significantly.

Is the online application pretty straightforward? I'm not great with computers.

It's not too bad. Take your time and have all your employment information ready - employer names, dates, addresses, reason for separation.

The online system crashes a lot though. I had to restart my application three times before it finally went through.

How do I know if extended benefits are available?

Washington ESD will notify you automatically if you're eligible. It depends on the state unemployment rate and federal programs.

What happens if you miss filing a weekly claim?

You lose that week's benefits permanently in most cases. They don't let you backdate very often.

This is another reason why having a way to actually reach Washington ESD agents is crucial. Claimyr helped me sort out a similar issue when I couldn't get through the regular phone system.

That does seem high. Either she's not telling you the full story about her earnings, or there might be some other factor involved like dependent benefits.

oh she does have 2 kids, does that increase the amount?

No, Washington doesn't provide additional benefits for dependents. She might be getting other assistance programs mixed up with unemployment.

I agree the system has issues, but once you get through the initial hurdles, the weekly filing process is pretty smooth.

This is all really helpful everyone. I feel more prepared to file my claim now. Thanks for all the detailed responses!

Good point. Should I print physical copies or are digital copies okay?

Digital is fine, just make sure you back them up somewhere safe. I keep mine in a dedicated email folder and cloud storage.

Screenshots are your friend too. The Washington ESD website sometimes doesn't save confirmation pages properly.