How much does Washington ESD unemployment pay in weekly benefits?

Thanks! So if my highest quarter was around $15,000, that would be about $273 per week?

Yeah that sounds about right. You can also use the benefit calculator on the Washington ESD website to get an exact estimate.

The initial processing can take 2-3 weeks, especially if your claim needs adjudication. Have you been able to get through to Washington ESD by phone to check your status?

no way, I've tried calling like 50 times and either get a busy signal or they hang up on me after an hour on hold

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr (claimyr.com). They actually got me through to a Washington ESD agent in like 20 minutes. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration.

interesting, never heard of that before. might have to check it out if I can't get through soon

I mean it's not supposed to replace your full salary, just provide temporary assistance while job searching

temporary my ass, some people are on UI for months because there aren't enough decent paying jobs out there

That's the gross amount before taxes. You can choose to have federal taxes withheld when you file your weekly claims, or pay quarterly/annually.

Got it, thanks. Probably smart to have them withhold taxes so I don't get hit with a big bill later.

Congrats on getting approved! How long did it take from when you first filed?

About 3 weeks total, though I was worried it would take longer since my claim went into adjudication briefly.

Do they actually check those logs regularly or just if there's an issue?

It's random but they do audit people. I got selected for a job search review last year and had to submit all my documentation.

This is why I always save screenshots and emails from job applications. Better safe than sorry.

Yeah the site has been glitchy. Try filing early in the morning or late at night when there's less traffic. You can file anytime during your filing week.

good tip thanks

Standby is nice when it works out but there's no guarantee your employer will actually call you back. Have you considered looking for other work?

Yeah I'm starting to think about it. Union says maybe 2-3 more weeks but I've heard that before.

How does that work exactly? Sounds too good to be true.

They basically monitor the phone lines and call you back when an agent becomes available. Check out claimyr.com or watch their demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Worth it if you're stuck on hold for hours like I was.

I was skeptical too but honestly after spending 8 hours on hold last week with no luck, I'm willing to try anything. Going to check this out.

Washington state doesn't provide dependent allowances for unemployment benefits. Your weekly amount is based solely on your past earnings, not family size.

Darn, was hoping that might help. Every little bit counts when you're unemployed with kids.

Are extended benefits still a thing? I thought those ended after COVID.

Extended benefits can trigger during high unemployment periods but they're not automatically available. It depends on state unemployment rates.

Definitely appeal that! You should have documentation from your employer showing it was a layoff. The appeal process can take a few weeks but if you win, you'll get back pay for the weeks you missed.

I do have the layoff notice from HR. Should I try calling Washington ESD to explain or just file the appeal?

File the appeal AND try calling. Sometimes they can expedite things if you have clear documentation. I used Claimyr to get through to an agent when I had a similar issue - saved me weeks of waiting.

You can earn up to your weekly benefit amount minus $5 without it affecting your UI payment. Anything above that gets deducted dollar for dollar from your weekly benefit.

So if my weekly benefit is $300, I can earn up to $295 without any reduction?

Exactly. Just make sure to report all earnings when you file your weekly claim, even if it's under the threshold.

You need to appeal that right away if you think it's wrong. The notice should explain why they think you were overpaid - usually it's because of unreported earnings or eligibility issues.

The letter is confusing and doesn't give specific details. I really need to talk to someone at Washington ESD to understand what happened.

Good luck getting through to them. I tried for days before finding Claimyr which actually connected me to an agent who could explain my overpayment issue. Worth checking out if you're stuck.