How much is a Washington ESD unemployment check - what to expect?

Thanks! So if I made around $13,000 in my highest quarter, that would put me at maybe $500 per week?

That sounds about right, maybe a bit higher. The exact formula is on the Washington ESD website under benefit calculator.

6 weeks?? That's terrible. What caused the adjudication delay?

they said there was an issue with my separation reason, even though i was clearly laid off. couldn't get through to anyone on the phone to explain

This is super common unfortunately. If you run into phone issues, I discovered claimyr.com which actually got me through to a Washington ESD agent in under 30 minutes. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

I've been working steady for 2+ years so I should meet the requirements. Just worried about how long it'll take to actually get payments.

File as soon as possible! The sooner you file, the sooner your claim gets processed. And don't forget you have to do weekly claims every week even while it's processing.

Good point about taxes. I'll probably have them withhold it to avoid a big tax bill later.

smart choice, i didn't withhold and owed like $2k at tax time

What counts as a job search activity? Just applying for jobs or other things too?

Applying for jobs, networking events, career fairs, informational interviews, updating your resume with a professional - lots of different activities count. Just keep detailed records.

Make sure you actually do the job searches too. They audit claims randomly and if you can't prove your job search activities, they'll disqualify you and make you pay everything back.

You can work part-time and still collect some unemployment benefits as long as you report the earnings. Washington ESD will reduce your weekly benefit based on how much you earn that week.

How does that work exactly? Like if I make $200 in a week, do they subtract the whole $200 from my benefit?

No, there's a formula. Generally they subtract 75% of your gross earnings over $5. So on $200, you'd keep some of your UI benefit.

Have you tried calling right at 8am when they open? That's usually the best time to get through.

I've tried everything - calling at 8am, during lunch, different days of the week. Nothing works.

I had the same problem until someone told me about Claimyr. It's a service that calls Washington ESD for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. Worked for me when I couldn't get through on my own.

Wait, so even if everything goes smoothly, I won't get paid for the first week?

Exactly. The first week is unpaid, then you have to wait for processing. So realistically you're looking at 2-3 weeks minimum before your first payment.

That's if everything goes perfectly. If you hit any snags with adjudication or verification, it could be months.

I was laid off due to company downsizing, so that should be straightforward. No severance unfortunately.

Layoffs are usually the easiest for getting approved. Just make sure you have documentation of the layoff if Washington ESD asks for it.

Washington doesn't provide additional benefits for dependents. Your weekly benefit amount is based solely on your earnings history, not family size.

Bummer. Every little bit would help with kids to feed.

You might qualify for other assistance programs though - food stamps, WIC, utility assistance. Worth looking into while you're unemployed.

Standby is different from regular unemployment. You still file weekly claims but you don't have to do job searches since you're expected to return to work with your current employer.

Right, but do I get the same weekly amount as regular UI?

Yes, the benefit calculation is the same. It's based on your previous earnings, not your current employment status.

Definitely planning to be completely honest. Don't want to deal with overpayment issues down the road.

Good call. I know someone who had to pay back $8,000 because they didn't report some freelance work properly.

Thanks for the encouragement. Sounds like patience is key with this whole process.

Patience helps, but don't be afraid to be persistent if you need to talk to someone. Services like Claimyr can save you hours of trying to get through on the phone when you really need help.