How much does unemployment pay in Washington state - need to know before I apply

So if I made $13,000 in my highest quarter that would be $500 per week? That seems like a lot less than I expected.

Yes, that's about right. The benefit replaces roughly 50% of your average weekly wage, which is why it's meant to be temporary assistance while you search for work.

I tried that calculator but it kept giving me error messages. Has anyone else had problems with it?

Yeah, their website has been glitchy lately. Try clearing your browser cache or using a different browser. If that doesn't work, you can estimate it manually with the formula I mentioned above.

That's good to know. I was worried I might not qualify for much since I only worked at my last job for 8 months.

The good news is they look at all your covered employment in the base period, not just your most recent job. So if you worked other places in the past year and a half, those wages count too.

Wait, really? I had no idea unemployment was taxable income. That's going to be a nasty surprise at tax time.

Yeah, a lot of people don't realize that. You'll get a 1099-G form at the end of the year showing how much you received. I always recommend having the taxes withheld automatically.

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

They basically handle the calling process and wait on hold for you, then connect you when they get an agent on the line. Really useful when you need to talk to someone about your specific situation.

I have two kids so that would be an extra $50 per week. Do I need to provide proof of dependents when I file?

Yes, you'll need to provide documentation like birth certificates or tax returns showing your dependents. They're pretty strict about verifying dependency claims.

Actually, I think they can extend benefits during high unemployment periods. My cousin got like 39 weeks total last year.

That's true, extended benefits kick in when the state unemployment rate hits certain triggers. But the base program is always 26 weeks.

So if my weekly benefit is $500, I could earn up to $505 in part-time work without losing any benefits?

Exactly. Anything over that $505 gets deducted from your unemployment check. It's designed to encourage people to take part-time work while they're looking for full-time employment.

I agree, their website is terrible. Half the links don't work and the information is scattered all over the place.

That's why I ended up using Claimyr to talk to an actual person. Sometimes you just need someone to explain your specific situation instead of trying to decode all the general information online.

Good point. I was laid off last Friday so I should probably file this week. How long does it usually take to get approved?

If there are no issues with your claim, you should get your first payment within 2-3 weeks. But if they need to do adjudication or verify your employment, it can take much longer.

What counts as a job search contact? Is applying online enough or do you need to do more?

Online applications count, but they also want to see things like networking, attending job fairs, contacting employers directly, or working with WorkSource. The key is keeping detailed records of everything you do.

Thankfully I was laid off due to company downsizing, so that shouldn't be an issue for me.

That's good. Layoffs are usually straightforward. Just make sure you have documentation from your employer about the reason for the layoff in case they ask for it.

Actually unemployment IS taxable for federal taxes. You'll get a 1099-G at the end of the year and need to report it on your tax return.

You're right, I misspoke. It's not subject to Washington state taxes since we don't have income tax, but it is federally taxable. Thanks for the correction.

I might have to do that. This is all pretty overwhelming and I want to make sure I understand what I'm getting into before I file.

Yeah, it's worth the peace of mind to talk to someone who can look at your specific wage history and give you an exact number instead of trying to guess.

I was in a similar situation last month and called ESD directly using their callback system. It took about 2 hours to get through, but the agent walked me through the entire calculation step by step. They also helped me understand the dependency allowances and tax withholding options. Sometimes the official route works if you're patient enough!