How much is unemployment benefit amount in Washington ESD weekly claims?

Thanks! So if my highest quarter was around $15,000, that would be about $577 per week? That seems pretty good actually.

yeah but remember you still have to pay taxes on unemployment benefits so factor that in

Thanks! So if my highest quarter was like $12,000 that would be about $460 per week? That seems pretty good actually.

Yeah that sounds about right, but remember you also have to meet the minimum earnings requirements in your base period to qualify.

Wait, so they use two quarters not just the highest one? This is getting confusing.

You're right, I simplified it too much. It's the average of your two highest quarters divided by 26.

I tried calling Washington ESD to get clarification on this exact calculation but spent 2 hours on hold and never got through. Super frustrating.

Wait so they don't look at my most recent wages? That seems weird.

nope, there's a lag period so employers have time to report wages to Washington ESD

The lag exists because wage reports aren't instant. Your most recent quarter might not be fully processed yet when you file.

Really? How does that work exactly? I'm desperate to talk to someone about my claim status.

It basically handles the calling and waiting for you until an agent is available, then connects you. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.

I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get through to Washington ESD agents by phone. I watched their demo video (https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ) and decided to try it. Got connected to an agent in like 20 minutes instead of calling for hours myself.

The trick is calling right at 8am when they open, but even then it's hit or miss with how busy they are.

Good point. I might pick up some gig work while I'm looking for full-time employment.

Washington ESD allows you to earn up to your weekly benefit amount before they start reducing your UI payment. Anything over that gets deducted dollar for dollar.

How long did it take to get your first payment after filing your initial claim?

About 3 weeks, but that was because I had to do the whole adjudication process. If your claim is straightforward it should be faster.

Correct, the maximum is tied to the state average weekly wage which gets updated annually.

Where do they publish the current maximum? I want to make sure I'm looking at the right numbers.

This is really helpful! I definitely meet the minimum requirements. Do you know if they count overtime wages in the calculation?

Yes, all wages reported to Washington ESD count, including overtime, bonuses, and commissions.

wait I thought the max was like $800 something? did it go up this year?

That's still a decent safety net while job hunting. Better than nothing!

True, but you need to actively job search and document it or they'll cut off your benefits. Washington ESD requires 3 job search contacts per week.

How many job searches do you have to do per week?

Usually 3 job search activities per week, but it can vary depending on your situation. They're pretty strict about documenting everything.

And make sure you keep good records of your job searches because they do audit people randomly!

Are you finding the job search requirements difficult to meet? I'm worried about that part.

Not really, you just need to apply to jobs and keep track of it. WorkSourceWA helps with tracking your searches.

How did you finally get through? I've been trying for days.

I used that Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier. Worked like a charm, got connected to an agent in about 20 minutes.

So if I get $577 weekly, my total would be around $17,310 for the year? That makes sense.

That's correct, assuming you don't exhaust your benefits before the full 26 weeks.

So timing matters when you file? I was thinking of waiting a few more weeks to see if I can find work first.

yeah if you wait your base period shifts and they might look at different quarters. could be higher or lower depending on your wages

True, but I like to know what to expect before I file. Helps with budgeting.

Good point. I've been consistently employed so hopefully that won't be an issue for me.

The base period looks at completed quarters, so recent gaps might not matter depending on when you file.

That's a solid amount. Did she have any issues with the adjudication process?

Nope, her claim was approved right away since it was a clear layoff situation.

Can you have taxes automatically withheld from unemployment benefits?

Yes, you can elect to have 10% federal tax withheld when you file your weekly claims. I'd recommend it.

Still helpful for planning purposes though. I'll try the estimator first.

I'm fully unemployed as of next week, but good to know for the future.

Partial benefits can be tricky - you have to report your earnings very carefully each week.

I'm going to try that service today. This is ridiculous how hard it is to reach them.

The video demo on their site shows exactly how it works. Pretty straightforward process.

That's good to know. I was worried taking temp work might mess up my benefit rate.

Correct, your benefit year amount is locked in when you file your initial claim.

Thanks for the tip! I'll keep that in mind if I need to call.

Or just use Claimyr and avoid the phone tag altogether. That's what I did and it saved so much time.

Oh perfect! I'll check that out. Do you remember where on their site it is?

I think it's under the 'Unemployment Benefits' section but I'm not 100% sure of the exact location. Shouldn't be too hard to find.

Just search for 'benefit calculator' on their site and it should come up

Good point! Can you have them withhold taxes automatically?

Yes, you can elect to have 10% federal tax withheld when you file your weekly claims. There's a checkbox for it.

Are you stuck in adjudication? That's usually what causes long delays with new claims.

I used Claimyr to get through to someone about my adjudication delay. The agent was able to tell me exactly what was holding up my claim and gave me a timeline. Worth it to avoid weeks more of waiting in the dark.

I only worked in Washington so that shouldn't affect me, but good to know for others!

Yeah if you've only worked in Washington it's straightforward. The multi-state stuff gets messy quickly.

Yes, commissions count as wages as long as they were reported properly by your employer to Washington ESD.

awesome thanks! i was worried they might not count since the amounts varied so much week to week

How can you tell which quarter they used?

It should show on your monetary determination letter that Washington ESD sends after you file your claim. Lists out all your quarterly wages.

How long does an appeal take?

Mine took about 6 weeks but I got back pay for the difference once it was resolved.

Appeals can be tricky to navigate on your own. If you need to talk to Washington ESD about an appeal, Claimyr can help you get through to the right department.

Good point! I'm hoping to find work before I need the full 26 weeks anyway.

That's the right attitude! Unemployment should be a bridge while you're job searching, not a long-term plan.

Yeah I've heard they're strict about that. Better to start job searching right away even if you're not sure about your benefit amount yet.

exactly! and keep good records of everything you do for job searching