How much is unemployment 2024 - Washington ESD weekly benefit amounts?

Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your highest earning quarter from the past 18 months. The maximum weekly benefit for 2024 is $999 per week. Your amount depends on your base period wages - they take your highest quarter earnings, divide by 26, then multiply by 0.0385 to get your weekly amount.

just filed last month and my weekly is $645. the formula is confusing but washington esd has a calculator on their website that helps estimate it

Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount (WBA) using your highest earning quarter from your base year. For 2024, the maximum weekly benefit is $999. They take your highest quarter earnings and divide by 26 to get your WBA. So if you made $13,000 in your highest quarter, you'd get $500 per week.

The 2024 maximum is $999/week but most people don't get the max. You need to have earned at least $67,600 in your base period to qualify for maximum benefits. Also remember you can collect for up to 26 weeks in Washington, so that's potentially $25,974 total if you get the maximum amount.

Washington ESD uses your highest earning quarter from your base year to calculate benefits. They take that quarter amount, divide by 26, then you get roughly 50% of that as your weekly benefit. The maximum weekly benefit for 2024 is $999.

Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your highest earning quarter from your base period. For 2024, the maximum weekly benefit is $999 and minimum is $295. They take your highest quarter wages, divide by 26, then multiply by 0.0385 to get your weekly amount.

i think the max went up this year but not sure by how much. when i filed in 2023 it was like $844 or something

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for three days to ask about my benefit calculation and can't reach anyone! The phone just rings and rings or I get a busy signal. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there?

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks to ask about my benefit calculation and it's impossible. Their phone lines are always busy. Found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually got me through to an agent - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Might be worth checking out if you need to talk to someone about your specific situation.

Thanks! So if my highest quarter was around $15,000, I'd get about $288 per week?

i think the max went up this year, used to be like $844 or something. my friend got $780 a week last month so its definitely higher than before

Update: I found the Washington ESD benefit calculator and it's showing $487 per week for my situation. That's actually higher than I expected! Does anyone know if there are any deductions from that amount?

The system is so complicated! I've been on unemployment for 3 months and still don't fully understand how they calculated my amount. Got $623/week but can't figure out why it's not higher based on what I was making.

That sounds about right. The exact formula is a bit more complex but that's close to what you'd get.

i think the max went up this year, wasnt it like $844 in 2023? glad to see they increased it

The benefit amount also depends on your dependency allowance if you have kids. For 2024, it's $28 per week for each dependent child under 18. So if you have two kids, that's an extra $56 per week on top of your regular WBA.

Yes, Washington adjusts the maximum benefit amount annually based on the state average weekly wage. The $999 max is definitely higher than last year.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for two weeks to ask about my benefit calculation because the online estimate seems wrong. Their phone system is impossible! Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there?

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to check your potential benefit amount, I found this service called Claimyr that helps you actually reach an agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. I used it last month when I couldn't get through the phone lines.

Don't forget about the waiting week! Your first week of unemployment won't be paid, so factor that into your planning. Also make sure you're doing your weekly claims every week even if your claim is still pending.

Just to clarify the calculation - they look at your base year, which is usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. So if you file in 2024, they might look at quarters from 2023 depending on when exactly you file.

I'm getting $445/week which seems low compared to what others are posting here. Was making about $3800/month before I got laid off. Anyone else feel like the formula doesn't give you enough to actually live on?

For anyone wondering about taxes: if you have them withhold 10% federal, your $487 weekly would be $438 after taxes. State withholding is optional in Washington since there's no state income tax on unemployment benefits.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get through to ESD agents by handling the calling for you. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustration.

just filed my claim last week and still waiting to hear back about my weekly amount. the whole process is confusing and the washington esd website doesn't make it clear

Also keep in mind that Washington ESD unemployment benefits are subject to federal income tax. You can choose to have 10% withheld for federal taxes when you file your weekly claims, which I'd recommend so you don't owe a big chunk at tax time.

ugh the whole system is so complicated. why can't they just tell you upfront what you'll get instead of making you guess

I filed in January and my WBA is $687 per week. I was making about $65,000 annually before my layoff. The calculation seemed pretty accurate based on my highest quarter earnings.

Been trying to call Washington ESD to verify my benefit amount because the online portal is showing something different than what I calculated. Used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and finally got through to an actual person who could explain the discrepancy. Turns out there was an error in how they recorded one of my quarters.

That sounds too good to be true. Does it actually work?

THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED!! I worked for 20 years and when I finally need help they give me PEANUTS. $400 a week doesn't even cover my rent let alone food and utilities. This whole unemployment system is a joke.

Don't forget you have to pay taxes on unemployment benefits! They don't automatically withhold federal taxes unless you request it. I learned that the hard way last year.

does anyone know if they count overtime pay when calculating your weekly benefit amount? I worked a lot of OT last year

I've been trying to call Washington ESD for three days to ask about my benefit calculation and can't get through. The phone system just hangs up on me after being on hold forever.

The minimum weekly benefit for 2024 is $295 if anyone's wondering about the low end. You need to have earned at least $7,670 in your base year to qualify for benefits at all.

Quick question - does the $999 maximum include any dependents allowance or is that just the base amount? I have two kids and wondering if that affects anything.

Pro tip: if you worked for multiple employers during your base period, make sure Washington ESD has wage information from ALL of them. Sometimes they miss smaller employers or contract work, which can lower your benefit amount.

I'm still waiting for my claim to be processed after filing two weeks ago. Status just says 'under review' but no idea what that means or how long it'll take. Anyone else dealing with delays?

For what it's worth, Washington state has one of the higher maximum benefit amounts compared to other states. The $999 max is pretty generous.

You can also use the online benefit calculator on the Washington ESD website to get an estimate, though it's not always 100% accurate. But it'll give you a ballpark figure.

Just remember that your weekly benefit amount stays the same for your entire claim year, even if you get a new job and then become unemployed again within that year. It's based on the wages from when you first filed.

anybody know if bonuses count toward the quarterly earnings? i got a decent bonus last year that might bump up my benefit amount

The whole process is frustrating but once you get your first payment, it's pretty straightforward. Just make sure you file your weekly claims on time every week.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD, try calling right when they open at 8 AM or during lunch hours. Sometimes the wait times are shorter then.

It worked for me. I was able to talk to an ESD rep about my benefit calculation within a day of using their service.

The minimum weekly benefit is $295 in 2024, just FYI for anyone wondering about the low end.

Good to know there's a minimum floor. I was worried I might get something really low.

Don't forget you have to pay taxes on unemployment benefits. I learned this the hard way last year when I owed money at tax time.

Yeah, you can have them withhold 10% for federal taxes when you file your weekly claims. Saves you from owing later.

Oh wow, I didn't know that. Thanks for the heads up!

I'm getting $487 per week and I was making about $42K before. Seems like the calculation varies depending on when you worked and how your earnings were distributed.

The base year timing definitely matters. If you had a slow quarter in your base year, it can lower your benefit amount even if you were earning more recently.

Washington ESD has a benefit calculator on their website but it's not always accurate. Mine was off by like $50 per week.

The online calculator is just an estimate. Your actual benefit amount depends on the wage data ESD has on file from your employers, which might be different from what you think you earned in each quarter.

That makes sense. I had some commission payments that probably got reported in different quarters than I expected.

IMPORTANT: Remember that your total benefit amount for the year is limited to 26 times your weekly benefit. So if you're getting $400/week, your maximum total is $10,400 for the benefit year.

So even if I'm unemployed longer than 26 weeks, the benefits just stop?

Correct. Regular unemployment benefits max out at 26 weeks unless there are special extended benefit programs in effect.

Does anyone know if part-time work affects the benefit calculation? I had a part-time job along with my full-time one.

All W-2 wages from the base year count toward your benefit calculation. Part-time, full-time, multiple jobs - it all gets included in your quarterly wage totals.

I'm still confused about this base year thing. When exactly is the base year if I file in January 2024?

If you file in January 2024, your base year would typically be October 2022 through September 2023. But Washington ESD can use an alternate base year if it gives you a higher benefit amount.

That seems like such an old timeframe. What if my wages were much higher in 2023?

That's exactly why they have the alternate base year option. If your recent wages were higher, they'll calculate both ways and give you the better amount.

Been getting unemployment for 8 weeks now and still can't figure out why my weekly amount is $341 when I thought it would be higher. The ESD customer service line is always busy or hangs up on me.

I had a similar issue and used Claimyr to get through to ESD. Worth checking out - they basically handle all the calling for you so you don't have to deal with busy signals.

Is that expensive? I'm already tight on money with reduced benefits.

The peace of mind was worth it for me. Being able to actually talk to someone at ESD and get my questions answered was huge.

For anyone wondering, you can see your wage history that ESD used for your calculation by logging into your SecureAccess Washington account. Look for the monetary determination notice.

Thanks! I'll check that out. Hopefully it explains why my estimate was different from reality.

The $999 maximum seems high compared to other states I've lived in. Washington's unemployment system is pretty generous.

It's because Washington has a higher cost of living and wages compared to many states. The benefits are supposed to reflect that.

Quick question - do unemployment benefits count as income for things like food stamps or housing assistance?

Yes, unemployment benefits count as income for most government assistance programs. You'll need to report them when applying or recertifying.

I've been trying to understand if overtime pay affects the benefit calculation differently than regular wages. Anyone know?

All wages reported on your W-2 are treated the same for unemployment purposes. Overtime, regular time, bonuses - it's all just wages in whatever quarter it was paid.

One thing that caught me off guard is that you have to be actively searching for work to keep getting benefits. They require work search activities each week.

Yeah, you need to do at least 3 job search activities per week and log them in WorkSourceWA. It's a pain but required.

My benefit year is about to end and I'm still unemployed. What happens then? Do I need to reapply?

You can file a new claim if you have sufficient wages in a new base year. Otherwise, you might be out of regular unemployment benefits until you work again.

That's scary. Hopefully I find something before my benefits run out.

For what it's worth, I called ESD at exactly 8:00 AM on a Tuesday and got through after only 15 minutes on hold. Early morning seems to be the best time.

I've tried that strategy multiple times and still can't get through. Maybe I'll have to try that Claimyr thing people mentioned earlier.

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who helped explain the benefit calculation. I finally understand why my amount is what it is!

Same here! This thread was way more helpful than the ESD website.

The whole base period thing is confusing because it's not the most recent quarters. If you file in January 2024, your base period would be Oct 2022 through Sept 2023. So any raises or new jobs from late 2023 wouldn't count.

Just want to confirm - unemployment in Washington is $999 max per week, payable for up to 26 weeks, and there's a one week waiting period. The amount is calculated from your highest quarter earnings in your base period. Did I get that right?

One more thing about 2024 rates - the $999 maximum went up from $929 last year, so if you're looking at older information online make sure it's current. Washington adjusts the maximum benefit amount annually.

Quick question - if I made $48,000 last year but it was spread unevenly (like I made way more in Q4 than Q1), does that affect my weekly benefit amount?

For 2024, I think the dependency allowance is $32 per week for each dependent child under 18. That's on top of your regular weekly benefit amount if you qualify.

this is all so confusing. i just want to know if i can survive on unemployment while i look for another job. seems like it varies so much person to person

I got laid off in December and just started collecting. My weekly benefit is $445 which is about half what I was making working. It's tight but doable if you budget carefully.

Don't forget you have to actively look for work and report your job search activities when you file your weekly claims. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week.

I'm still confused about the base period thing. How do they determine which quarters to use for calculating benefits?

anyone know if commission income gets counted the same as regular wages for benefit calculation?

I tried using that Claimyr service someone mentioned and it actually worked! I was able to talk to a Washington ESD agent in like 15 minutes instead of calling for hours. They explained exactly how my benefit amount was calculated.

Just a heads up that if you work part time while collecting unemployment, it can affect your weekly benefit amount. They have a formula for partial benefits.

the whole unemployment system needs an overhaul. took me 3 weeks just to get my first payment and now i'm still not sure if my weekly amount is correct

For what it's worth, I think Washington's unemployment benefits are pretty decent compared to other states. The maximum is almost $1000 a week which is way higher than a lot of places.

Does anyone know if the $999 maximum includes the dependency allowance or is that on top of it?