How much for unemployment benefits in Washington - what's the calculation?

So if I made $13,000 in my highest quarter that would be $500 per week? That seems pretty good actually.

Yes, exactly $500 per week in your case. You can also use the benefit calculator on the Washington ESD website to double-check the math.

Yeah the minimum weekly benefit amount is $295 for 2025. You have to have earned at least a certain amount in your base period to qualify at all.

Makes sense, thanks for confirming that!

Is that legit? Seems too good to be true that they can actually get you through to Washington ESD.

I was skeptical too but it actually worked for me. Saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals.

Might be worth trying if I have issues with my claim calculation. Thanks for the tip.

That would be $13,000 total for me. Definitely helps to know what I'm looking at financially.

The 26 weeks can extend during high unemployment periods too, but that's rare these days.

Good point, I'll make sure to stay on top of the weekly filings.

Absolutely critical advice. Washington ESD is strict about the weekly claim filing deadlines.

learned this the hard way when I missed one week and had to go through a whole appeal process

They use the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. So if you file in January 2025, they'd look at Jan-Mar 2024, Apr-Jun 2024, Jul-Sep 2024, and Oct-Dec 2024.

Oh that makes more sense, thanks for breaking it down!

Good reminder, I'll make sure to set aside money for taxes or have them withhold it.

You can elect to have 10% federal taxes withheld when you file your initial claim or change it later.

I'll definitely use that calculator, thanks for confirming it works well.

The calculator saved me from having to call and wait on hold forever just to get a simple question answered.

That's a good point, I should look at all my quarters not just assume the highest one counts.

They only use your highest quarter to calculate the weekly amount, but you need sufficient wages across the entire base period to qualify initially.

Right, I think I was confusing the qualification requirements with the benefit calculation.

Yes, overtime pay counts as regular wages for benefit calculation purposes. Any wages reported to Washington ESD by your employer will be included.

Great, that should help bump up my weekly amount then!

That's where Claimyr comes in handy - they handle the calling hassle for you. Made my life so much easier when I was dealing with a complicated claim issue.

I'll definitely look into that if I run into problems, thanks!

Same here, the phone system is a nightmare to navigate on your own.

Good advice, I'll gather all my pay stubs and employment records before filing.

I had to provide additional wage documentation because my employer reported my wages late. Having my own records saved me weeks of delays.

How many job contacts do I need to make each week?

You need to make at least 3 job search activities per week and keep a detailed log. This can include applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, etc.

And make sure to keep good records because they do audit job search logs randomly.

Washington state eliminated the waiting week, so you can be paid for your first week of unemployment if you're otherwise eligible.

Oh good, I thought I remembered reading that but wasn't sure if it was still true.

Thanks, I'm planning to file this week. This thread has been super helpful for understanding what to expect.

I waited too long to file thinking I'd find work quickly and ended up losing out on several weeks of benefits.

If your employer disputes your claim, Washington ESD will investigate and make a determination. You'll have a chance to provide your side of the story during the adjudication process.

This is exactly when you'd want to use something like Claimyr to talk to an agent about your specific situation and make sure you understand the process.

Good point, I might need to get some guidance on handling the dispute.

Agreed, sounds like it'll be worth filing for in my situation. Thanks everyone for all the helpful info!

This whole thread has been educational, glad the OP asked the question!