How much does Washington ESD pay for unemployment benefits?

Thank you! So if I made around $11,400 in my highest quarter, that would be about $438 per week?

That's right! And you'll receive benefits for up to 26 weeks as long as you keep filing your weekly claims and meet the job search requirements.

Did you have any issues with the weekly claims? I'm nervous about messing something up.

nah just make sure you file every week and report any work you do, even part time stuff

I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com. They basically call Washington ESD for you and get you connected to an actual agent. I was skeptical at first but watched their demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ and decided to try it. Got through to an agent within an hour and got my benefit amount issue resolved.

Really? That sounds too good to be true. How does it work exactly?

They have some kind of system that keeps calling until they get through, then they conference you in with the Washington ESD agent. You don't have to give them any personal info about your claim, just your phone number so they can call you back when they get an agent on the line.

I'm definitely going to check this out. I've wasted so many hours trying to get through to Washington ESD on my own.

While I understand the frustration, Washington ESD's benefit formula is actually designed to replace about 50% of your average weekly wage up to the maximum. It's not perfect but it's consistent with most state unemployment programs.

50% if you're lucky and they don't find some reason to deny or delay your claim. I waited 8 weeks for my first payment because of 'adjudication issues' that were never explained.

This is really helpful! So if my base period total was $45,000, I'd get about $15,000 total in benefits over 26 weeks?

Close! It would be the lower of 30 times your weekly amount OR one-third of $45,000 (which is $15,000). So yes, in your case it would likely be around $15,000 total.

wait i'm confused about the base period thing. is that the last 4 quarters before i file or some other time period?

It's typically the first four of the last five completed quarters before you file. So if you file in January 2025, your base period would likely be January 2024 through December 2024.

What happened when you reported the freelance work late? Did they reduce your benefits?

They sent me a questionnaire asking about it and I had to explain when I did the work and how much I earned. Luckily they just adjusted that one week's payment instead of penalizing me.

This is why I'm scared to do any side work while on unemployment. The rules seem so complicated.

The job search requirements don't affect your benefit amount, but you need to meet them to continue receiving benefits. Three per week is the minimum, but make sure you're keeping good records in WorkSourceWA.

ok good, i was worried they might pay me less if i only did the minimum

Just make sure those job searches are legitimate. Washington ESD does audit these and if they find fake applications you can lose your benefits entirely.

Which calculator did you use? The one on the Washington ESD website or somewhere else?

The one on the Washington ESD site. You have to enter your quarterly earnings for each quarter in your base period. It's a bit confusing at first but gives you a good estimate.

That gives me hope! I was making a bit more than that so maybe I'll get around $450-500 per week.

Just remember you'll have to pay taxes on unemployment benefits. A lot of people forget about that and get surprised at tax time.

This is so true! My claim was in adjudication for 6 weeks because they wanted to verify my employment dates, even though I provided my termination letter when I first applied.

I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier to get through to Washington ESD about my adjudication issue. The agent was able to see exactly what documents they needed and got it resolved in one call. Worth every penny to avoid the phone runaround.

How much does that service cost? If it actually works it might be worth it.

I don't want to get specific about pricing since it might change, but for me it was definitely worth it compared to the weeks I spent trying to get through on my own. You can check their site at claimyr.com for current info.

You file weekly claims every week, but payments are typically processed twice per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) depending on when you file your claim. Most people get paid within 1-2 business days of filing their weekly claim.

perfect, thank you! so if i file sunday night i should get paid by tuesday or wednesday?

Usually yes, as long as there are no issues with your claim that week.

Good tip! I have most of my pay stubs but I'm missing a few from earlier in the year. Will that be a problem?

You can usually get copies from your employer's HR department or payroll company. Washington ESD might also accept your W-2 or tax return if you can't get the individual stubs.

I just used my online banking statements to show my direct deposits. Worked fine for me.

What kind of mistakes should I watch out for when filing weekly claims?

biggest ones are forgetting to report work (even one day of work), not doing your job searches, or missing the deadline to file. also make sure you answer the availability questions correctly - saying you were sick or unavailable can mess up your payment

This is why the system is so stressful. One small error and suddenly you're fighting to get your benefits back.

That's really helpful to hear from someone who worked there! Any other insider tips for navigating the system?

Keep detailed records of everything - your job searches, any work you do, all correspondence with Washington ESD. Also, if you ever need to call, try calling right when they open at 8am or during lunch hours when call volume is sometimes lower.

I tried calling at 8am sharp for weeks and still couldn't get through. That's when I found Claimyr and finally got my issues resolved. Sometimes you just need help cutting through the phone maze.

Good luck! Just remember to file your weekly claims on time every week and keep up with the job search requirements. The system works well if you follow the rules consistently.

Make sure to set up direct deposit right away if possible. Getting paper checks can add delays and they're easy to lose or have delivery issues with.

Will do! I really appreciate everyone taking the time to explain how this all works.