How much does Washington ESD pay for unemployment benefits - need to know amounts

Thanks! So if my highest quarter was around $15,000, I'd get about $576 per week? That seems reasonable for covering basic expenses.

Exactly right - $15,000 divided by 26 equals $576.92 per week. Just remember you'll need to file your weekly claims every week and meet the job search requirements.

Never heard of Claimyr before but the phone situation with Washington ESD is absolutely terrible. Did it actually help you get through?

Yeah it worked great. I was able to reach an agent within a day instead of calling for weeks. Totally worth it when you need to resolve benefit calculation issues.

Good point about taxes. Should I have them withhold taxes from my weekly payments or just pay at the end of the year?

You can choose to have 10% withheld when you file your weekly claims. I'd recommend it unless you're good at saving money for tax time.

Wait, so even though the weekly amount is based on your highest quarter, the duration can be different? How do they calculate how many weeks you get?

Right, it's based on your total base period wages. They divide your total wages by your weekly benefit amount to determine duration, but it's capped at 26 weeks maximum.

To be more specific, you need at least 680 hours of work in your base period AND total wages of at least 1.25 times your highest quarter earnings to qualify for the full 26 weeks.

I know it seems complex but it's actually designed to be fair - people who earned more get higher benefits (up to the max), while everyone gets at least the minimum amount.

yeah but the whole system is a mess, try calling them to ask questions and you'll be on hold for hours or just get hung up on

That sounds about right based on what others have said. How do I check if they have all my wage information?

You can see your wage information in your eServices account after you file your claim. If something looks missing, you'll need to contact Washington ESD to get it corrected.

Is there a cost for that service? I'm already unemployed so I don't want to spend money unless it's really necessary.

There is a cost but it's worth it when you're dealing with benefit calculation errors or missing wages that could affect your payments. Much cheaper than losing weeks of benefits.

I feel your frustration but complaining doesn't help solve the immediate problem. The phone system is definitely overwhelmed but there are ways to get through if you really need to.

This is exactly why services like Claimyr exist. They know the system and can get you connected when you can't do it yourself. Sometimes you just need to use the tools available.

I did get some vacation pay when I was laid off. Will that delay my benefits even though I'm already unemployed?

It depends on how the vacation pay is structured. Lump sum payments usually don't delay benefits, but if it's paid out over time it might. Check with Washington ESD to be sure.

Really? So I could work a part-time job and still get my full unemployment benefits as long as I don't earn more than my weekly benefit amount?

Exactly, but you still need to report all wages when you file your weekly claim. And you still have to meet the job search requirements and be available for full-time work.

Good to know. I'm filing now so I'll get the 2025 rates. Sounds like I should file sooner rather than later.

Definitely file as soon as you're eligible. There's no reason to wait and you can't get retroactive payments for weeks you delay filing.

Yeah that makes sense. At $52K I probably won't hit the maximum but should still get a decent amount to help with bills.

Thanks for the reminder. I've been so focused on the money part I almost forgot about the job search requirements. Do I need to start that immediately?

Yes, you need to start your job search activities right away. The requirements begin with your first week of benefits.

How do you know if your calculation is wrong? Is there a way to double-check their math?

You can request a detailed breakdown of your wage information from Washington ESD. Compare it to your tax records to make sure they have everything.

I'm skeptical of any service that charges money to help with unemployment stuff. Seems like taking advantage of people who are already struggling.

I thought the same thing initially, but when you're losing hundreds of dollars in benefits because of calculation errors, the service pays for itself quickly. Sometimes you need professional help to navigate the system.

I've been at my job for 2 years so I should have plenty of wage history in the standard base period. But good to know there's an alternate option if needed.

That's a helpful way to think about it. At $52K annually that's about $1000/week, so I'd expect around $500-600 in unemployment benefits.

Good point. I was laid off on Friday so I'll file my claim this weekend. No point in waiting around.

Will do. Thanks everyone for all the helpful information. I feel much more prepared to file my claim now.

You're welcome! The process seems overwhelming at first but it's pretty straightforward once you understand how it works. Good luck with your claim!