How much does Washington ESD pay for unemployment benefits weekly?

Thanks! So it's based on my highest quarter, not my annual salary? That's helpful to know.

Yeah and don't forget you can get benefits for up to 26 weeks in most cases, assuming you keep filing your weekly claims and meeting the job search requirements.

That sounds about right for what I was expecting. Did you have any trouble getting your claim approved?

Mine went through pretty smoothly, but I've heard some people get stuck in adjudication for weeks. Just make sure all your information is accurate when you file.

Good point. I might do some freelance work while I'm looking, so I'll need to report that.

Yeah you have to report ALL income, even if it's just $20 from selling something online. Washington ESD is pretty strict about that.

The phone system is definitely overwhelmed. I found this service called Claimyr that actually helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. It saved me hours of calling.

Really? I've never heard of that. Does it actually work or is it just another scam?

It's legit. They basically handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when an agent is available. I used it when my claim was stuck in adjudication and finally got answers.

Oh wow, I didn't think about that. So I should probably have them withhold taxes then?

yeah probably a good idea so you don't get hit with a big tax bill next year. its like 10% federal and 5% state i think

I tried using their calculator but couldn't figure out which quarters to use for my base year. The instructions weren't very clear.

Your base year is the first four of the last five completed quarters before you filed. So if you filed in January 2025, your base year would be October 2023 through September 2024.

That's helpful to know what someone in a similar situation is getting. How many job contacts do you have to make each week?

You need to make at least 3 job search activities per week and keep a log of everything. Can be applications, networking, interviews, job fairs, etc.

I felt the same way at first, but once you get through the initial setup it's not too bad. The weekly claims are pretty straightforward.

Maybe, but getting to that point is a nightmare. Half the time their website doesn't even work properly.

I tried that but still couldn't get through. That's when I decided to try Claimyr like someone mentioned earlier. It actually worked and I got connected to an agent within an hour.

Good to know that service actually works. I might try it if I run into problems with my claim.

I was laid off due to company downsizing, so I should be okay on that front.

Perfect, that's exactly the kind of situation unemployment is designed for. You shouldn't have any issues with eligibility.

You can work part-time and still collect partial benefits. They basically subtract your earnings from your weekly benefit amount, but there's a small earnings disregard so you might come out ahead.

That's great to know. I wasn't sure if any work would disqualify me completely.

Any tips for keeping track of job search activities? I want to make sure I'm doing it right.

I keep a simple spreadsheet with the date, company name, position, and type of activity. Washington ESD accepts online applications, networking contacts, job fairs, interviews, and even things like updating your LinkedIn profile.

Yes, the waiting week is permanently eliminated in Washington. You get paid starting from your first week of eligibility.

Good, that was always such a cruel policy. When you lose your job you need money immediately, not after waiting an extra week.

Thanks for the warning. I'll make sure to file consistently every week.

Yeah, you can't go back and file for missed weeks easily. It's better to file and potentially get denied than to miss filing altogether.

Or use that Claimyr service to actually talk to someone about what's holding up your claim. I was in adjudication for 6 weeks before I finally got through to an agent who explained what documents they needed.

That's a good point. Sometimes a quick phone call can resolve issues that would otherwise take weeks of waiting.