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Faith Kingston

How much does unemployment pay in Washington state - confused about benefit amounts

I'm trying to figure out how much unemployment actually pays here in Washington. I keep seeing different numbers online and I'm getting confused. My last job paid $52,000 a year and I worked there for 2 years before getting laid off. Does anyone know what the actual weekly benefit amount would be? I heard it's based on your wages but I can't find a clear calculator anywhere. Also wondering if there's a maximum amount they'll pay regardless of what you made. Any help would be appreciated!

Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your earnings during your base period, which is usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim. They take your highest earning quarter and divide by 26 to get your weekly benefit amount. The maximum weekly benefit for 2025 is $999.

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Thanks! So if I made $13,000 in my highest quarter that would be $500 per week?

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Exactly right! And you'd be eligible for up to 26 weeks of benefits assuming you meet all the other requirements.

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Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your highest earning quarter in your base period. The base period is usually the first four of the last five completed quarters before you file. They take your highest quarter wages, divide by 26, then multiply by 0.0385 to get your weekly amount. Maximum weekly benefit is currently $999.

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Thanks! So if I made like $12,000 in my highest quarter that would be about $178 per week? That seems really low compared to what I was making.

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Yeah that sounds about right for your wage level. Remember unemployment is designed to be temporary assistance, not full wage replacement. You can request 10% federal tax withholding when you file your weekly claims.

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Your weekly benefit amount depends on your earnings in your base year (the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed). Washington ESD takes your highest earning quarter and divides by 26 to get your weekly benefit amount. The maximum is currently $999/week but most people get way less than that. At $18/hour working full time you'd probably get somewhere around $400-500 per week.

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Thanks! That's actually higher than I expected. Do you know if that includes the extra federal money or is that just the state amount?

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That's just the regular Washington state UI benefits. There's no federal add-on money anymore like there was during covid.

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Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount using your highest earning quarter from the past 18 months. They take that amount and divide by 26 to get your weekly rate. The current maximum weekly benefit is $999 for 2025, but most people don't get the max unless they were making really good money.

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So if I made like $7,000 in my best quarter, that would be around $269 per week? That seems lower than I expected.

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Yeah that sounds about right. Remember you also have to meet the minimum earnings requirement - you need at least $3,850 in your base period to qualify at all.

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The benefit calculator on the Washington ESD website is pretty accurate if you have your wage info handy. But honestly, trying to get through to them by phone to verify anything is a nightmare. I spent weeks trying to get someone on the line about my benefit amount calculation.

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Tell me about it! I've been calling for days and either get disconnected or stuck in a queue for hours. It's so frustrating when you just need a simple answer.

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I actually found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me so much time and stress.

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Interesting, I'll have to look into that. At this point I'm willing to try anything to avoid sitting on hold for 3 hours again.

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Washington unemployment benefits are calculated based on your earnings in your base period, which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 quarters before you filed. The weekly benefit amount ranges from $295 to $999 as of 2025. Your friend is way off - $200 would be extremely low for Washington state.

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Oh wow that's way more than I expected! So if I made around $37k last year, what would that translate to roughly?

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With $37k annual income, you'd probably qualify for somewhere around $450-550 per week, but Washington ESD calculates it precisely based on your quarterly wages. The exact formula divides your highest quarter earnings by 26.

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Washington unemployment benefits are calculated based on your highest earning quarter from the past 5 quarters. The weekly benefit amount is roughly 3.85% of your highest quarter earnings, but there's a minimum of $295 and maximum of $999 per week as of 2025. If you made $18/hour working full-time, you're probably looking at somewhere between $500-700 weekly depending on your exact earnings history.

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That's helpful, thanks! I worked pretty consistently so hopefully I'm on the higher end. Do they take taxes out or is that something I need to handle myself?

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You can choose to have 10% federal taxes withheld when you file your weekly claims, but it's optional. Washington doesn't have state income tax so you don't need to worry about that part.

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Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount using your highest earning quarter from your base period. Take your total wages from that quarter, divide by 26, and that's roughly your weekly benefit amount. Maximum is currently $999 per week. So if you made $22,000 in your highest quarter, you'd get about $846 weekly.

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Thanks! That actually matches pretty close to what I was making. Do you know if they automatically deduct federal taxes or do I need to request that?

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You have to request tax withholding when you file your weekly claims. It's optional but definitely recommended since unemployment is taxable income.

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Washington unemployment benefits are calculated based on your highest earning quarter from the past year. The weekly benefit amount ranges from $295 minimum to $999 maximum for 2025. They take your highest quarter earnings, divide by 26, then you get about 3.85% of that as your weekly amount. So if you made $13,000 in your best quarter, you'd get around $500 per week.

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Thanks! That helps a lot. I think my highest quarter was around $14,500 so maybe I'll get close to $550 weekly?

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Sounds about right. You can also get up to 26 weeks of benefits typically, so that's important to factor into your planning.

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just filed last week and got approved for $627/week which is pretty decent. took about 10 days to get my first payment though so don't expect it immediately

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That's actually really good! Did you have any issues with the application process or was it straightforward?

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mostly easy but had trouble reaching washington esd when i had questions about my claim status. kept getting busy signals

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Washington unemployment benefits are calculated based on your earnings during your base period. They use the highest quarter of earnings from your base year and divide by 26. The current maximum weekly benefit is $999 and minimum is $295. So if you made $52k, you're probably looking at somewhere around $650-750 per week depending on how your earnings were distributed throughout the year.

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That's actually higher than I expected! So they use the quarter where I made the most money? That would help since I got a raise mid-year.

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Yeah the formula is designed to replace about 50% of your average weekly wage up to the maximum. Most people don't hit the max unless they were making really good money.

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just filed last week and still waiting to hear back from them about my benefit amount, the online calculator gave me an estimate but not sure how accurate it is

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The online calculator is pretty accurate as long as you entered your wages correctly. You should get your monetary determination letter within a week or two.

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ok good to know, been checking my account obsessively lol

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just remember they take out taxes too unless you opt out. i learned that the hard way when i got a big tax bill

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Oh no, I didn't think about taxes! How much do they typically take out?

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10% federal if you choose withholding. you can change it anytime in your esd account

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If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to ask about your benefit calculation, I'd suggest trying Claimyr.com - they help people connect with ESD agents without the usual phone hassles. I used them when I needed to verify my weekly benefit amount and it saved me hours of calling. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works.

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Never heard of that before but might be worth checking out if the phone lines are as bad as everyone says

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Interesting, I'll have to remember that. Washington ESD phone system is definitely frustrating when you need answers quickly.

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yeah the amount varies a lot depending on how much you made. i got like $200 something per week when i was unemployed last year but i was only working part time before that

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Did you have any issues getting your payments? I keep hearing horror stories about people waiting months.

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mine took like 3 weeks to start coming but after that it was pretty regular every tuesday

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Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount using your base period wages, which are the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed. They take your highest quarter earnings and divide by 26, then that amount can't exceed the state maximum which is currently $999 per week for 2025.

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So if my highest quarter was around $15,000, I'd get about $576 per week? That seems higher than I expected.

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That math looks right, but remember you also have to meet the minimum earnings requirement across your entire base period to qualify.

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just got my first payment and it was way less than i expected... thought it would be closer to my actual pay but its only about 60% or so

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That sounds about right actually. Unemployment isn't meant to replace your full salary, just provide temporary assistance while you job search.

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yeah i get that but still a shock when you see the actual amount in your account

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Washington ESD uses your highest quarter earnings from the base period (first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters). The weekly benefit amount is roughly 3.85% of your highest quarter earnings. So if your highest quarter was $13,000, you'd get around $500 weekly. Maximum is $999 per week in 2025.

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Washington unemployment benefits are calculated based on your highest earning quarter in your base period. The maximum weekly benefit amount for 2025 is $999 per week, but most people get way less than that. It's usually around 60-70% of what you were making weekly, up to that max.

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So if I was making around $880 a week gross, I'd get maybe $550-600 in unemployment? That's actually not terrible.

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Yeah that sounds about right, but it depends on your earnings history over the whole base period, not just your last job.

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Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your highest earning quarter in your base period. It's roughly 3.85% of your total wages in that quarter, but there's a weekly maximum of $999 for 2025. Your base period is typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed.

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Thanks! So if my highest quarter was around $13,000, that would be about $500 per week?

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That sounds about right. The formula is total wages in highest quarter divided by 26, then that gets you close to your weekly amount.

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Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount using your base year wages - that's the first four of the last five completed quarters before you filed. They take your highest quarter earnings and divide by 26, then that amount can't exceed the state maximum (currently $999/week for 2025). You need to have earned at least $5,265 in your base year and at least $1,755 in your highest quarter to qualify.

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Thanks! So if my highest quarter was like $5,850 that would be about $225/week? That's actually more than I expected.

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Exactly, around $225 sounds right for your situation. You can get up to 26 weeks of benefits if you qualify for the full duration.

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The Washington ESD benefit calculator is honestly terrible - I spent forever trying to figure out my amount too. What helped me was using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to actually get through to someone at Washington ESD who could walk me through the calculation over the phone. They have this system that helps you bypass the busy signals and actually reach a human agent. There's even a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Way better than trying to decipher that confusing website calculator.

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Never heard of that service before. Does it actually work or is it just another scam? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for two weeks with no luck.

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It's legit - I was skeptical too but it got me through to an actual Washington ESD rep in like 20 minutes instead of the hours I was spending getting busy signals. They explained my benefit calculation and helped me understand when my payments would start.

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Anything that helps you actually talk to someone at Washington ESD is worth it. I swear they designed that phone system to keep people from getting through.

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the calculation is weird though, they use some formula based on your quarterly earnings. i think its like your highest quarter divided by 26 or something? honestly i never understood it until i got my determination letter

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It's actually your two highest quarters added together, then divided by 2, then divided by 26. But yeah it's confusing as hell.

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Just went through this myself. Your weekly benefit amount is calculated using wages from your base period, which is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed. They take your highest earning quarter, divide by 26, then that's your weekly amount. Plus you might be eligible for the additional $25 per week if you have dependents.

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Wait, there's extra money for dependents? I have two kids - how does that work exactly?

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Yeah, it's $25 per week total (not per child) if you have qualifying dependents. You'll need to provide their social security numbers when you file your claim.

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That actually sounds reasonable for my situation. Do you know if there are any deductions from that amount?

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The formula is confusing but basically Washington tries to replace about 50% of your average weekly wage up to the maximum. Since you were part-time you might qualify for less than the full 26 weeks depending on your total base year earnings.

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How do I find out my exact base year earnings? Do I need to dig up all my old paystubs?

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No, Washington ESD has all your wage records from employers. When you file your initial claim they'll calculate it automatically and show you the breakdown.

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I had the same confusion when I first filed. Here's the deal - Washington ESD looks at your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters) and calculates your weekly benefit amount using your two highest earning quarters. The minimum is $295/week and maximum is $999/week for 2025. Most people end up somewhere in the $400-700 range.

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Thanks, that helps! Do you know how long benefits last? I heard it was 26 weeks but wasn't sure if that changed.

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Yes, standard unemployment in Washington is up to 26 weeks, but it can be less depending on your work history and the state's unemployment rate.

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The Washington ESD benefit calculator should give you a pretty accurate estimate once you enter all your wage information correctly. Make sure you're looking at the right base period - they use the first four of the last five completed quarters. If you're having trouble getting through to verify your benefit amount, I actually found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get connected to ESD agents faster. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

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I'll check out that calculator again. What's this Claimyr thing about? Is it legitimate?

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Yeah it's legit - basically helps you get through the phone queues to talk to actual ESD staff when you need clarification on your benefits or claim status.

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I used Claimyr last month when my benefit amount seemed wrong. Got through to someone in like 20 minutes instead of trying to call for hours.

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No deductions unless you have an overpayment or child support garnishment. You will owe federal taxes on it though if you don't elect withholding.

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The calculation can be tricky to figure out on your own. I spent hours trying to calculate mine and was still wrong. If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to ask questions about your benefit amount, I found this service called Claimyr that actually gets you connected to agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really helped me get my questions answered about my weekly benefit calculation.

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Never heard of that before. Does it actually work? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for days about my claim.

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Yeah it worked for me. I was getting nowhere with the regular phone number and this got me through to someone who could explain my benefit calculation properly.

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Interesting... might have to try that. The Washington ESD phone system is absolutely terrible.

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DONT GET YOUR HOPES UP TOO HIGH!!! The system is so backed up right now and they're denying claims left and right for stupid reasons. I've been waiting 6 weeks just to get my initial determination and still don't know what I'll get paid. The whole system is a joke.

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That's really frustrating, but the OP is just asking about benefit amounts, not claim processing times.

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Yeah well what good is knowing the amount if you can't even get approved? Just saying don't count on anything

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the formula is confusing but basically its around 50% of what you were making give or take. i was making $16/hr and got about $320/week so yours should be similar maybe bit less

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That's actually higher than what the other person calculated for me. Maybe it depends on how many hours you worked?

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yeah i was working full time 40hrs consistently for like 18 months so that probably helped my base period wages

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i think the max is like $844 or something not $999? i was making good money and mine topped out lower than that

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The maximum was increased to $999 for 2025. It goes up each year based on the state average wage.

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oh wow really? wish i knew that when i was claiming last year lol

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Been trying to get through to Washington ESD for three days straight to ask about my benefit calculation and I keep getting hung up on after waiting for hours. This system is absolutely ridiculous! How are people supposed to get answers when you literally cannot reach a human being?

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I had the same problem until someone told me about Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents - you basically schedule a callback instead of sitting on hold. I used it last month and actually got to talk to someone within like 20 minutes. Here's their site: claimyr.com and they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

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The maximum weekly benefit amount in Washington is $999 as of 2025, but most people don't qualify for the maximum. Your weekly benefit is calculated as your highest quarter base period wages divided by 26. There's also a one-week waiting period before you can receive your first payment, and you must be able and available for work each week.

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What exactly does 'able and available' mean? I can work but I'm being picky about jobs since I don't want to take a huge pay cut.

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You need to be genuinely looking for work and willing to accept suitable employment. Being too picky about wages could potentially disqualify you, but 'suitable work' considers your skills and previous wage level.

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Mei Liu

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THIS IS IMPORTANT - don't be too honest about being picky or Washington ESD might flag your claim for adjudication. I learned this the hard way.

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I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks to ask about my benefit calculation because something seems off with my amount. Has anyone actually managed to reach a real person there? The phone system is impossible and I keep getting disconnected after waiting on hold for hours.

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I had the same problem until I found Claimyr (claimyr.com). They actually help you get through to Washington ESD agents by phone. I was skeptical at first but watched their demo video (https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ) and decided to try it. Got connected to an agent within 30 minutes and got my benefit calculation explained properly.

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Interesting, I've never heard of that service before. Did they charge you a lot for it?

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They focus more on the value of actually reaching someone rather than the cost. For me it was worth it since I'd been trying for weeks on my own.

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just to add - you also get the extra $13 per week for each dependent child under 18. not much but every little bit helps when you're unemployed

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Good to know! I don't have kids but that's useful info for others.

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