How much from unemployment benefits can I expect in Washington ESD?
I'm about to file for unemployment in Washington and trying to figure out how much I might get per week. I was making about $4,200 a month at my last job before getting laid off. Does anyone know how Washington ESD calculates the weekly benefit amount? I've heard it's based on your highest quarter earnings but I'm not sure exactly how they do the math. Also wondering if there's a maximum amount they'll pay regardless of how much you were making.
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Ian Armstrong
Washington ESD uses your highest quarter earnings from your base period to calculate your weekly benefit. They take that amount and divide by 26, then you get roughly half of that. So if your highest quarter was around $12,600, you'd be looking at about $240 per week before taxes.
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Molly Chambers
•Thanks! That helps me get a rough idea. Do you know what the maximum weekly benefit is right now?
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Ian Armstrong
•I think it's around $999 per week max, but that changes every year based on the state's average wage.
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Eli Butler
You can actually get an estimate before you file by using the benefit calculator on the Washington ESD website. It's pretty accurate if you have your earnings info handy.
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Molly Chambers
•Oh perfect, I didn't know they had a calculator. I'll check that out right now.
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Marcus Patterson
•yeah the calculator is helpful but sometimes it takes forever to load, typical government website issues lol
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Lydia Bailey
Just remember they'll also deduct taxes if you choose to have them withheld. You can elect to have 10% federal tax taken out when you file your weekly claims. Also, your benefit amount depends on having enough earnings in your base period - they look at the first four of the last five completed quarters before you file.
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Molly Chambers
•Good point about the taxes. Is it better to have them withheld or just pay at tax time?
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Lydia Bailey
•Depends on your situation, but I usually recommend having them withheld so you don't get hit with a big tax bill later. Unemployment benefits are fully taxable.
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Mateo Warren
•I made the mistake of not withholding taxes last year and owed like $2,000 come tax time. Definitely withhold if you can afford the slightly smaller weekly payment.
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Sofia Price
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. The phone system is impossible - either busy signals or I get disconnected after waiting for hours. Anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there?
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Alice Coleman
•I had the same problem until I found Claimyr.com - it's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. They have this system that keeps calling until they connect you and then calls you back when an agent is available. Saved me so much time and frustration. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.
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Owen Jenkins
•Try calling right at 8am when they open, that's usually the best time to get through without waiting too long.
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Lilah Brooks
The benefit amount also depends on whether you're eligible for any dependents allowance. If you have qualifying dependents you can get extra money per week.
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Molly Chambers
•I don't have any dependents so that won't apply to me, but good to know for others reading this.
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Jackson Carter
•How much extra do you get for dependents? I have two kids under 18.
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Lilah Brooks
•I think it's like $32 per dependent per week but there might be a maximum. You'd need to check with Washington ESD for the current rates.
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Kolton Murphy
One thing to keep in mind is that your benefit year lasts 52 weeks from when you file, but you only get a maximum of 26 weeks of benefits (or whatever your benefit balance allows). So even if you find work and stop claiming, you can come back and restart your claim if you become unemployed again within that benefit year.
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Molly Chambers
•That's good to know. So if I find a job after 10 weeks but then get laid off again 6 months later, I could still have benefits left?
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Kolton Murphy
•Exactly, as long as it's within your benefit year and you haven't exhausted all your weeks. You'd just reopen your existing claim rather than filing a new one.
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Evelyn Rivera
washington unemployment system is so confusing compared to other states ive dealt with... why do they make it so complicated to figure out your benefit amount??
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Julia Hall
•Every state has their own formula and rules. At least Washington's benefits are decent compared to some states that cap you at like $300 a week max.
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Arjun Patel
•True, the max here is pretty good if you were making decent money before. Just wish the website was easier to navigate.
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Jade Lopez
Make sure you have all your employer information ready when you file - company names, addresses, dates of employment, reason for separation. The more accurate info you provide upfront, the smoother your claim process will be and the faster you'll know your exact benefit amount.
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Molly Chambers
•Good point, I'll gather all that info before I start the application. Do I need pay stubs or will they verify earnings with employers directly?
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Jade Lopez
•They usually verify directly with employers, but having your own records helps if there are any discrepancies or questions during the process.
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Tony Brooks
Also remember you have to be actively looking for work and report your job search activities when you file your weekly claims. That doesn't affect your benefit amount but it's required to keep getting paid.
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Ella rollingthunder87
•How many job contacts do you need to report each week in Washington?
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Tony Brooks
•I think it's 3 job search activities per week, but they can be various things like applying for jobs, networking, attending job fairs, etc. Check the Washington ESD website for the current requirements.
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Yara Campbell
•They're pretty flexible about what counts as job search activity. I've included things like updating my LinkedIn profile and taking online courses related to my field.
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Isaac Wright
If your benefit amount seems wrong after you file, don't wait too long to question it. I waited months thinking mine would get corrected automatically and it never did. Had to appeal to get it fixed.
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Maya Diaz
•How long did the appeal process take? I'm worried mine might be calculated wrong too.
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Isaac Wright
•About 6 weeks from when I filed the appeal to when I got the decision. But I got back pay for all the weeks where I was underpaid once it was approved.
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Tami Morgan
•That's exactly why I used Claimyr when I had questions about my benefit calculation. Got through to an agent in like 20 minutes and they explained everything over the phone instead of having to file an appeal.
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Rami Samuels
The benefit amount is just the starting point - make sure you understand all the other requirements too like reporting any work or income during weeks you claim, being available for work, etc. Missing any of those requirements can delay or stop your payments.
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Molly Chambers
•Yeah I've been reading about all the requirements. Seems like a lot to keep track of but I guess it makes sense they need to verify you're truly unemployed and looking for work.
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Haley Bennett
•It's really not that bad once you get into the routine of filing your weekly claims. Just be honest about everything and keep good records.
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Douglas Foster
One more tip - if you do any part-time or temporary work while collecting unemployment, make sure you report it properly. You can still get partial benefits but you have to report all earnings or you could get in trouble for overpayment.
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Molly Chambers
•Good to know. How do they calculate partial benefits if you work a few hours during the week?
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Douglas Foster
•They subtract your earnings from your weekly benefit amount, but there's usually a small earnings disregard so you can make a little bit without it affecting your benefits. The exact formula is on their website.
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Nina Chan
•yeah definitely report everything. i got hit with an overpayment notice for not reporting some cash work i did and it was a nightmare to deal with
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