How much does unemployment pay in Washington - need to know if it's worth filing

That's actually better than I expected! Do they take taxes out automatically or do I need to handle that myself?

You can choose to have 10% federal tax withheld when you file your weekly claims, but it's optional. I'd recommend it though since you'll owe taxes on unemployment benefits.

Yeah I'm starting to think the same thing. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

How does that work exactly? Do they just call for you or what?

They handle the calling and waiting part, then connect you directly with a real ESD agent when they get through. Saved me hours of trying to call myself.

That math is confusing but sounds like I should qualify for a decent amount since I've been working full time for over 2 years.

Yeah don't worry about the math too much, Washington ESD calculates it automatically when you file your initial claim.

Right, I heard about the job search requirements. How many jobs do I need to apply to each week?

It's 3 job search activities per week in Washington. Can be applications, networking, interviews, job fairs, etc. You need to keep a log of what you do.

That helps give me a better idea, thanks! Did you have any issues with your claim or did it go smoothly?

took about 3 weeks to get my first payment but after that it was pretty smooth as long as i filed my weekly claims on time

Good tip! I was planning to do it online anyway since I'm comfortable with computers.

Yeah someone mentioned that earlier about the tax withholding. I'll probably opt for that to avoid a surprise tax bill.

Smart move. I got hit with a $800 tax bill my first year because I didn't know unemployment was taxable.

Wait, there's a waiting period even if I qualify? That seems weird.

Yes, there's a one-week waiting period for regular unemployment benefits in Washington. It's standard across most states.

6 weeks?! That's crazy. Did you ever find out why it took so long?

Never got a straight answer. Just kept saying 'processing' whenever I could get through to someone.

This is exactly why I used Claimyr - got tired of waiting weeks for answers and needed to talk to someone who could actually see what was happening with my claim.

That's reassuring. I was worried it would be like $200 a week or something that wouldn't even cover groceries.

No worries there - I got laid off, didn't quit. Sounds like that makes a difference for eligibility.

Correct, you generally need to be unemployed through no fault of your own to qualify for benefits.

60% would actually work for me if I can find something within a few months. Better than nothing while I look for work.

Good point about keeping records. I'll start a spreadsheet or something to track applications and interviews.

WorkSource has a good online tool for tracking job searches too if you register with them.

How long are we talking? Like hours or days to get through?

I've spent entire days trying to get through, only to get disconnected after waiting 2+ hours. It's incredibly frustrating.

This is why services like Claimyr exist - they handle that nightmare calling process for you so you can actually get answers about your claim status.

Thanks for the warning! I'll make sure to set a reminder to file every week once I get started.

Patience isn't my strong suit but I'll try to keep that in mind. At least I have a better idea of what to expect now.

That's actually really good to know! I was thinking I'd have to choose between a part-time job and unemployment benefits.

Right, Washington has partial benefit calculations for people who work reduced hours or find part-time work while collecting unemployment.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! I'm going to file my claim this week and start the process.