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Kyle Wallace

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

I'm trying to figure out what my weekly unemployment benefit will be if I file with Washington ESD. I made about $52,000 last year working full time and I'm not sure how they calculate the weekly amount. Does anyone know how much unemployment pays in 2024? I've heard it's based on your previous wages but I can't find clear info on the Washington ESD website about the actual dollar 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.

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Thanks! So if I made $12,600 in my highest quarter, that would be around $485 per week?

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Exactly right! $12,600 divided by 26 = $484.61, so you'd get $484 per week assuming you qualify.

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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

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I'll check that out, thanks! Did your actual amount match what the calculator estimated?

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pretty close, was within like $20 of what it predicted

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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.

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Thanks! That's helpful. Do you know if they count overtime pay in those quarterly earnings?

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Yes, overtime counts as regular wages when they calculate your base period earnings.

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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.

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Wait, I thought it was based on just one quarter? I'm confused about the base period calculation.

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The base period is the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file. They look at all 4 quarters but use your highest single quarter to calculate the weekly amount.

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Ah ok that makes more sense, thanks for clarifying!

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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.

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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.

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Thanks! So if I made $15,000 in my highest quarter that would be about $557 per week? That seems pretty good actually.

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Yeah that math looks about right. Just remember you still have to pay federal taxes on unemployment benefits unless you choose to have them withheld.

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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

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You're right, it did increase. The maximum weekly benefit amount for 2024 is $999, up from $844 in 2023. It's adjusted annually based on the state's average weekly wage.

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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?

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I had the same problem last month. Spent hours calling and getting nowhere. Then I found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. I was able to talk to someone within 20 minutes using their service.

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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.

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How much does that cost? Seems sketchy to pay someone to make phone calls for you.

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It's actually legit - they just handle the waiting and calling back part. When an agent picks up, they transfer you directly. Saved me hours of trying to get through myself.

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

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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

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You're right, Washington State increased the maximum weekly benefit amount for 2024. It's tied to the state average weekly wage so it goes up most years.

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That's good to know. I was worried it would be way less than what I need to pay my bills.

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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?

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Yes, they'll withhold federal taxes if you request it (10%), and you can also have state taxes withheld. Some people choose not to have taxes taken out and just pay at tax time.

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i made that mistake last year - didn't withhold taxes and owed like $2800 when i filed. definitely recommend having them take out taxes

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Good to know, I'll definitely elect to have taxes withheld if I end up filing.

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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.

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It might be because of when you filed vs your base period. If you had a gap in employment or your highest earning quarter was further back, that could explain it.

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That could be it - I was unemployed for 2 months before I filed. Wish I had understood the timing better.

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

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

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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.

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I don't have kids but good to know for others. Is there a limit on how many dependents they'll count?

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Yes, there's a maximum of 5 dependent children they'll count for the dependency allowance.

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

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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?

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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.

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How much does that cost? I'm already worried about money if I lose my job.

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It's way cheaper than missing out on benefits because you can't reach anyone. The time I save is worth it since I don't have to spend hours calling.

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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.

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There's a waiting week? So even if I get approved right away, I won't get paid for the first week?

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Exactly - it's like a deductible. The first week you're unemployed and eligible is your waiting week with no payment.

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this is so stupid, people need money right away when they lose jobs

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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.

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That's confusing. So they don't use the most recent quarters?

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Not always. They use the first four of the last five completed quarters. Sometimes there's an alternate base year if you don't qualify with the regular base year.

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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?

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Unemployment is only supposed to replace about 50% of your wages, so it's not meant to fully replace your income. Still sucks though when you have bills to pay.

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Yeah I get that, but 50% of $3800 should be $1900/month, and $445/week is only $1780. Even the percentage seems off.

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The calculation isn't based on your most recent monthly income - it's based on your base period wages from up to 18 months ago. If you got raises recently, those won't count toward your benefit amount.

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Ugh that explains it. I got a big promotion 6 months ago so my base period probably has my old lower salary.

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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.

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wait washington doesn't tax unemployment? i thought all states did that

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Nope! Washington has no state income tax at all, so unemployment benefits are only subject to federal taxes.

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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.

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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

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Once you file your initial claim, Washington ESD will send you a monetary determination letter that shows your weekly benefit amount and total benefit year amount. Usually takes 1-2 weeks.

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ok good to know, i was getting worried something was wrong with my claim

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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.

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Good point about taxes. I didn't think about that. Is there state tax on unemployment too?

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No, Washington doesn't have state income tax so you only worry about federal taxes on your UI benefits.

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

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You can get an estimate by logging into your SecureAccess Washington account and looking at your wage history. That'll show your quarterly earnings.

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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.

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That helps give me a reference point. Sounds like mine might be around $500-600 based on my income.

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Yeah that sounds about right for your income level. The formula is pretty straightforward once you know which quarter they're using.

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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.

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What kind of error? Now I'm worried there might be mistakes in my calculation too.

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They had the wrong employer information for one quarter, so my wages were lower than they should have been. The agent was able to fix it over the phone and my weekly amount went up by $78.

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This is exactly why I always double-check everything with Washington ESD. Their systems make mistakes all the time.

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

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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.

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I understand the frustration, but the benefit amount is calculated based on your earnings history. If you think there's an error in your monetary determination, you can appeal it within 30 days.

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I already looked into appealing but apparently my wages were too low in my base period because I was working part time for health reasons. The system punishes people who can't work full time.

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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.

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Good point! How do you request tax withholding?

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You can set it up when you file your weekly claims or change it in your account settings. They'll withhold 10% for federal taxes if you choose that option.

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

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Yes, overtime pay counts as wages for benefit calculation purposes. Washington ESD looks at all wages reported to them by your employer, including overtime.

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sweet, that should help bump up my weekly amount then

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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.

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That's exactly why I started using Claimyr! I was spending hours trying to call and getting nowhere. Now I can actually talk to an agent when I need to.

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I might have to look into that. This is ridiculous that you can't reach anyone at Washington ESD.

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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.

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That's helpful info. I was wondering if there was a minimum threshold to qualify.

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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.

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Washington doesn't have a dependent allowance for unemployment benefits. The $999 is the maximum regardless of how many dependents you have.

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That's disappointing but good to know. Thanks for the info!

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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.

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How do you check if they have all your wage info?

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When you file your claim, they'll show you the wage information they have on file. Compare it to your tax documents or pay stubs to make sure nothing's missing.

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good advice! i had to submit additional wage info for a part time job they didn't have on record

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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?

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Same here! Filed three weeks ago and still nothing. This is exactly why I need to talk to someone at Washington ESD but can't get through on the phone.

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I used Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD when my claim was stuck. Turns out they needed additional verification documents from me. Sometimes claims get held up for simple things like that but they don't tell you what's needed.

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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.

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True, but cost of living here is also higher than many states, so it balances out somewhat.

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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.

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I tried that but couldn't find the calculator. Do you have a direct link?

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I think they moved it around on their website. You might have to search for 'benefit calculator' or look under the unemployment services section.

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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.

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That's a good point. The claim year is 52 weeks from when you first file, not the calendar year.

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

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Yes, bonuses count as wages for the quarter they were paid in. So if you got a bonus in Q4 2023, it would be included in that quarter's earnings for your base year calculation.

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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.

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