How much does job attached unemployment pay in Washington ESD?

That's way more than I expected! So standby pays the same as regular unemployment benefits?

Yes, the payment amount is identical. The difference is you don't have to actively search for work since you have a definite return date from your employer.

If you're approved for standby status, no job search is required. But you need your employer to confirm your return date with Washington ESD.

ugh nobody told me this. I've wasted so much time applying to jobs I didn't want

I used claimyr.com to get through to an actual agent when I had standby questions. Way easier than calling repeatedly. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Never heard of that service but anything beats spending hours on hold with Washington ESD.

How do I calculate my exact amount? The Washington ESD website calculator seems broken.

Take your highest two quarters of earnings, average them, then multiply by 0.0385. That gives you your weekly benefit amount.

The calculator worked fine for me last week. Maybe try clearing your browser cache?

Standby can last up to 8 weeks initially. Extensions are possible but require employer verification that the recall is still definite.

My employer just keeps saying 'soon' but no specific date. This is getting frustrating.

If they can't give you a firm date, Washington ESD might convert you to regular UI with job search requirements.

What forms do they need to file? I want to make sure HR does this right.

They need to complete the employer portion of your UI application and confirm your definite recall date. Some employers don't know this process.

I'm definitely asking my employer about standby status. This sounds way easier.

Just make sure they give Washington ESD a specific return date, not just 'sometime this year' or you'll get denied.

Yes, file your initial claim now. If standby gets approved, they'll adjust your claim retroactively. Don't wait or you'll lose benefit weeks.

Definitely file ASAP. I made that mistake and lost 2 weeks of benefits waiting for standby approval.

Yes, standby counts against your total benefit year just like regular UI. You still have the same maximum weeks available.

good to know, thanks

Try Claimyr - I mentioned it earlier. They help you get connected to actual Washington ESD agents instead of the runaround phone system. Saved me hours of frustration.

Is that legit? Sounds too good to be true

I used it last month when I had adjudication issues. Got through to an agent same day. Worth it if you need actual answers.

That gives me hope! Did your employer give Washington ESD a specific return date or was it vague?

They gave a specific month and Washington ESD approved it. The key is having definite plans, not just 'we might reopen.

You still need to file your weekly claims, but you don't need to report job search activities. Just answer the basic questions about availability and any work performed.

ok cool, that's way easier than what I'm doing now with regular UI

Same here. The website barely mentions standby and when you call they just put you on hold forever.

That's exactly why services like Claimyr exist. The regular Washington ESD contact methods are broken. At least with Claimyr you can get real answers about these programs.

Yikes, good to know. My employer seems pretty confident about the timeline but I'll keep that in mind.

Yeah they want definite dates, not moving targets. If it changes once they might be okay but multiple changes and they'll convert you to regular UI.

That's good to hear. I was worried standby might have different payment schedules.

Nope, everything's the same except no job search requirements. It's honestly the best unemployment situation you can have.

Congratulations! How long did the approval process take after your employer submitted the paperwork?

About 5 business days from when HR filed everything. Pretty quick once they had all the right forms.

What if you get a temporary job while waiting? Does that automatically end standby?

You'd need to report any work on your weekly claims. Part-time work might be okay but taking a full-time job would probably end your standby status.

That sounds perfect. Really hoping my employer comes through with the proper paperwork so I can get approved too.

Keep following up with HR. The paperwork is pretty straightforward but some employers need reminding to actually submit it to Washington ESD.

Glad it worked out! Standby is definitely the way to go when you have a definite recall date.

Awesome news! Shows how much easier things are when you can actually get proper information about these programs.

Good luck! Just make sure they give Washington ESD a specific return date in January, not just 'sometime in January.

Will do, thanks for the tip!