How much does unemployment give you in Washington - need to know weekly benefit amount

That's helpful! So it's not just based on my last job's pay rate but my best quarter overall?

Exactly. They look at all four quarters in your base period and use whichever quarter had your highest earnings.

wow thats way more than I thought the max would be

Yeah they updated it recently. Used to be much lower but cost of living adjustments pushed it up.

How long does that verification usually take?

Usually 1-2 weeks if there are no issues with your wage records. Sometimes longer if they need to contact previous employers.

Never heard of that service. Did it actually work for getting through to someone?

Yeah it did! Got connected within 20 minutes instead of the usual hours of busy signals. Worth it when you need answers about your claim.

Interesting, might have to check that out if I run into issues with my claim.

Good point about the job search requirement. Do they actually check on that?

Yes they do random audits. You need to keep a log of where you applied, when, and what type of job. They can ask for this documentation at any time.

Because it depends on your specific work history and earnings. Everyone's situation is different so there's no one-size-fits-all answer.

i guess that makes sense but still annoying when trying to plan finances

Oh wow I didn't even think about taxes. How much do they typically withhold?

Federal withholding is 10% if you elect it. Washington doesn't have state income tax so no state withholding needed.

That's a good amount! Hopefully mine will be somewhere in that range.

Yeah it's definitely helping while I job hunt. Just make sure you don't miss any weekly claims or you could lose benefits.

What happens if you do get an overpayment notice?

You have to pay it back, sometimes with penalties. Plus they can withhold future benefits until it's repaid. Not fun.

I got hit with an overpayment last year - $800 I had to pay back because I didn't report some gig work properly. Be super careful about reporting everything.

How many weeks can you typically collect unemployment?

Standard is 26 weeks in Washington, but it can be less if you haven't worked long enough or earned enough during your base period.

Did you have any issues with adjudication or delays?

First time was smooth, second time took about 3 weeks for adjudication because they had to verify my separation reason. Just had to be patient.

How would I know if there's a problem with my wage records?

When you file your claim, you can see the wages they have on file. If something looks wrong, you'll need to contact ESD or provide documentation to correct it.

That seems like a reasonable timeline. Hopefully mine goes that smoothly.

Yeah just make sure you have all your employment information ready when you file. Speeds things up if they don't have to hunt for details.

Good to hear! I've been putting off filing because it seemed overwhelming.

Definitely don't wait too long - there's a time limit on when you can file after becoming unemployed.

Seems like a few people have had success with that service. Might be worth trying if I run into problems.

Yeah, saved me a lot of frustration. The regular ESD phone number was giving me busy signals for days.

I don't have any of those but good to know for the future.

Yeah, it's one of those things that can trip people up if they're not aware of it upfront.

I'll check that out. Any additional resources could be helpful during the job search.

They have career counselors and job placement assistance. Plus some training programs that can help you qualify for better positions.

That's actually really helpful to know. I was thinking I'd have to stop claiming if I found any work at all.

Nope, they just reduce your weekly benefit based on how much you earned. As long as you're still below full-time earnings, you can get partial unemployment.

This is correct - I worked part-time for a few weeks while collecting and still got reduced benefits. Just be honest about your earnings on the weekly claim.

That's exactly what I'm hoping for - some breathing room to find the right opportunity.

Just remember you still need to be actively searching and applying. They do check up on job search activities periodically.

Good to know there are options if I need to reach someone directly. The regular phone system sounds pretty frustrating.

Yeah, it definitely beats spending entire days trying to get through on the main ESD line. Worth having as a backup option.