How much is unemployment benefit amount in Washington - confused about weekly payment

Thanks! So if I don't have them withhold taxes I get the full $487 each week?

Exactly, but remember you'll owe taxes on it later. Most people choose to have 10% withheld for federal taxes to avoid a big bill at tax time.

Good to know! I'm not planning to work while collecting but wasn't sure if the amount could change for other reasons.

Yeah it stays the same which is nice for budgeting. Just make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even if you think you might not qualify that week.

Never heard of that service but sounds useful. The regular phone system is impossible to get through on.

Is that legit? I might need to call them about something else and the phone system is awful.

Yeah it's legitimate, they just help you get through to actual Washington ESD staff instead of waiting on hold forever. Saved me probably 3-4 hours of trying to call.

That math sounds about right then. I was worried they calculated it wrong but $487 seems reasonable based on what I made.

The base period thing trips people up a lot. If you just started a new job recently those wages might not count toward your claim.

Yes, unemployment benefits are fully taxable at the federal level. You'll get a 1099-G form showing how much you received during the year.

ugh that sucks. so basically we're getting less money than it looks like

It's still income replacement, just taxed like regular wages would be. Better than no income at all while you're job searching.

Yeah I've been applying to jobs but wasn't keeping detailed records. Should I start tracking everything better?

Absolutely. Use the WorkSourceWA website to log your activities, or keep your own detailed log with dates, company names, and what type of activity it was.

I got audited last year and had to provide proof of all my job searches. Luckily I kept good records but it was stressful.

Right? There's so much information to keep track of between the job search stuff, reporting requirements, taxes, etc.

The Washington ESD website has decent info but it's hard to find sometimes. I bookmark pages when I find good explanations.

Yes, you can change your tax withholding election online through your Washington ESD account. Just log in and look for tax withholding options under account settings.

Perfect, thanks! I'll do that this week before I file my next claim.

Good idea to start withholding. I learned the hard way that unemployment income can bump you into a higher tax bracket.

Yeah I'm definitely job hunting actively. Hopefully I'll find something before the 26 weeks are up.

26 weeks goes by faster than you think. I'm on week 18 and starting to get nervous about finding something soon.

Keep your head up and stay consistent with applications. The job market is getting better in some sectors.

Yes, you can appeal the monetary determination if you believe there's an error in your wage records or benefit calculation. You have to do it within 30 days of receiving the determination letter.

Good to know, thanks. I'll review my wage records more carefully and see if something looks off.

I successfully appealed mine last year when they missed some wages from a previous employer. Got an extra $78 per week after the appeal was approved.

Yeah I've heard Washington has some of the better unemployment benefits in the country.

The cost of living here is higher though so it balances out somewhat. $487/week doesn't go as far in Seattle as it would in other places.

I did set up direct deposit when I first applied. The payments have been coming pretty quickly which is nice.

Yeah direct deposit is definitely the way to go. I had issues with the debit card at first.

That's the second time someone mentioned that service. Might be worth remembering if I run into issues.

The regular phone system is broken honestly. Anything that helps get through to actual people is valuable.

Right, so my maximum would be 26 weeks times $487, which would be about $12,662 total if I used all my benefits.

Exactly! And if you work part-time some weeks and get reduced benefits, those partial payments still count toward using up your benefit year.

Good point, though I don't have any pension or retirement income to worry about at my age.

Yeah this mostly affects older workers who might have pension payments starting. Something to keep in mind for the future though.

Absolutely, I'm treating this as temporary income replacement while I find my next job. Not planning to coast on it.

Good attitude. UI is meant to be a bridge, not a destination. Keep applying and networking.

Just be honest and accurate when filing your weekly claims. Report any work or income, even small amounts. It's better to report something and find out it doesn't affect your benefits than to not report it and face an overpayment.

Thanks, I'll make sure to be extra careful with my reporting. The overpayment stories I've heard are scary.

The key is keeping good records and being truthful. Washington ESD has access to wage databases so they'll catch unreported income eventually anyway.

That's good to know. So basically once I find a job I should make sure it's stable before I stop filing claims?

Well, you have to stop filing if you're working full-time. But you can restart benefits if you become unemployed again within the same benefit year, as long as you haven't used up all 26 weeks.

The benefit year vs benefit weeks thing confuses a lot of people. It's worth understanding though since it affects your options.