How much is unemployment benefits in Washington - confused about payment amounts

So it's not just based on my last job? That's confusing because I only worked at this warehouse for 8 months.

Exactly - they look at ALL your covered employment during that base period. If you had other jobs during those quarters, that income counts too.

That's really helpful! So it's not based on my annual salary but just my best quarter? I think my highest quarter was probably around $12,500 so that would put me at like $480 weekly if I'm doing the math right.

Exactly right! And you can receive benefits for up to 26 weeks in Washington, so long as you meet the work search requirements and file your weekly claims on time.

Did you check your monetary determination letter? It breaks down exactly which quarters they used and what wages they counted.

yeah i looked at it but still didnt make sense to me honestly

No, the weekly amount is calculated from your highest earning quarter, but you need sufficient work history in your entire base period to qualify for benefits at all. Two different things.

oh ok that makes more sense thanks

You've got the formula backwards! It's highest quarter divided by 26, then that amount becomes your WBA (with the max/min limits). So $8,400 ÷ 26 = about $323 per week, assuming that's within the benefit range.

That makes way more sense! So I need to add up my wages from my best 3-month period in the last year?

Thanks! So if my WBA shows $450, that's what I get before taxes? And I can request the 10% withholding?

Exactly. You'll see the tax withholding option when you file your weekly claim on the Washington ESD website.

Oh interesting, I've never heard of that service before. Was it expensive to use?

They don't charge you anything upfront, it's more about helping you get through the phone queue. Way better than spending hours redialing Washington ESD and getting nowhere.

I'm skeptical of third party services but honestly the Washington ESD phone system is so broken that I might try this if I can't get through myself.

Good to know! I definitely won't be hitting the maximum but $450-500 sounds about right for my situation.

Yeah the max is really high but like you said most regular workers won't see anywhere near that amount.

Oh no, that's confusing. How do I figure out which quarters count? I don't want to mess this up.

If you file in Q1 2025 (Jan-Mar), your base period would be Q1 2023 through Q4 2023. Washington ESD should have all your wage records if your employer reported them correctly.

Did you have to pay taxes on it later or did they withhold enough?

haven't done taxes yet but my friend said unemployment income counts as regular income so yeah you owe taxes on it

Thanks! I've been trying to call for days but keep getting disconnected. I'll check that out.

Never heard of that service but honestly anything is better than trying to get through their regular phone line

Oh that makes more sense when you put it that way. I was thinking it would be closer to my full wages.

Yeah unemployment is meant to be temporary assistance, not full wage replacement. Still helpful though!

Better than nothing but man it's tough living on half your income

I hadn't heard about that! What kind of training qualifies for the extra $25?

Has to be approved by Washington ESD beforehand. Usually trade schools, community college programs, or certain online courses. You have to apply for approval before starting the training.

Yeah I've been doing them every Sunday. The job search requirement is 3 per week right?

Yes, 3 job search activities per week and you need to keep a log of them in case they audit you.

that math seems complicated, is there like a calculator somewhere to figure it out?

Washington ESD has a benefit calculator on their website, but it's pretty basic. Your exact amount will show up once your claim is processed.

I tried the calculator but it gave me a range instead of exact amount. Guess I'll just wait to see what my actual WBA is.

I feel you on that. The job search requirements are ridiculous when there aren't even that many jobs in some areas.

I get the frustration but the system does serve a purpose. The requirements exist to encourage people to actively look for work.

Sure but when you're spending more time documenting job searches than actually searching it becomes counterproductive

Wait, there's actually a way to get through to Washington ESD without spending hours on hold? How does that work?

Yeah, Claimyr basically calls for you and navigates the phone system automatically. When they get a human on the line, they patch you through. Saved me so much frustration trying to get answers about my claim.

Sounds too good to be true but honestly the Washington ESD phone system is so broken I'd try anything at this point.

That's good to know. How much can you earn before they start reducing benefits?

i think you can earn up to your weekly benefit amount minus $5 before they start reducing it but don't quote me on that exact number

It's actually a bit more complex - you can earn up to 1.5 times your weekly benefit amount before you lose eligibility completely, but they start reducing benefits dollar for dollar after you earn more than 25% of your weekly benefit amount.

Wait what? I have to pay taxes on this money?

yep its considered income, you can have them take out taxes when you file your weekly claims though

Yeah there's an option to have 10% federal tax withheld when you do your weekly certification

How would I know if there was an error? The amount seems reasonable based on what others are saying here.

Check your monetary determination letter against your pay stubs from the base period. If wages are missing or incorrect, you can appeal.

Never heard of that before. Does it actually work or is it some kind of scam?

It's legit - they basically call the Washington ESD phone lines for you and get you connected to an actual agent. Saved me hours of trying to call myself.

How much does something like that cost? Seems like it could be expensive.

Worth checking out their site for details, but honestly after weeks of not being able to get through, it was worth it just to get answers about my claim.

I have one kid - where do I add that information? I don't remember seeing that option when I filed.

You should be able to update your claim information online or call Washington ESD to add dependents. It's not automatic.

The 10% federal withholding is optional and might not cover your full tax liability depending on your total income for the year. You can always pay estimated taxes quarterly if you're worried.

Ugh more paperwork. Why can't they just make this simple?

ikr the whole unemployment system seems designed to confuse people

This is exactly why I ended up using Claimyr to talk to someone at Washington ESD directly. The online calculators and websites just don't give you the full picture for your specific situation.

Yeah I might have to look into that service you mentioned. Getting actual answers seems impossible otherwise.

Good point about tips! We report them but I'm not sure if my manager submits everything properly. How would I check that?

You can log into SecureAccess Washington (SAW) and view your wage records there, or request a statement by mail. If wages are missing, you'll need documentation like pay stubs to prove what you actually earned.

Did you work for multiple employers? Sometimes people think their total annual income should determine their benefits, but it's really just based on that one highest quarter.

Yeah I had 2 jobs but one was just part time on weekends. Maybe that's why it seems low??

Yeah I'm definitely not planning to stay on it long. Already have a few leads from my job search activities.

Good attitude! Construction picks up in spring anyway so you should have more opportunities soon.

Good point about the job search thing. How many applications do I need to submit each week?

You need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week in Washington. Keep detailed records because they audit these.

I got audited last year and had to provide all my job search documentation. Pain in the butt but glad I kept good records.

6 weeks for adjudication?? That seems really long. Did they tell you why it took so long?

They said they had to verify my employment history with my previous employer. Apparently my former company was slow to respond to their requests.

Same thing happened to me! Adjudication took 5 weeks because of employer verification issues. So frustrating when you need the money.

No, it's based on your quarterly earnings during your base period, not your annual salary. The base period is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed.

that's really confusing. so if you got a raise recently it doesn't help your benefit amount?

Correct. If you got a big raise in your most recent quarter, it might not be included in your base period calculation.

26 weeks should be plenty of time hopefully. Thanks for all the help everyone!

You got this! The job market is actually pretty decent right now compared to a few years ago.

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

applying for jobs, networking, career counseling, job fairs, even informational interviews count. but you gotta document everything

And they do random audits where they ask for your job search log, so don't slack on keeping records!

Yes, unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have federal taxes withheld (10%) and state taxes withheld (varies) when you file your weekly claims, or pay when you file your tax return.

Thanks! I'll probably have them withhold taxes so I don't get hit with a big bill next year.

How much can you earn before they start reducing benefits?

In Washington, you can earn up to your weekly benefit amount minus $5 before they start reducing. So if your WBA is $450, you can earn up to $445 without any reduction.

You're right, the maximum WBA for 2025 is $999, up from $929 in 2024. The minimum also increased to $295 from $280.

That's helpful to know! Hopefully I won't need to find out, but good to have the current numbers.

Good to know it actually works. I might need that if I have more questions about my benefits.

How much does it cost though? If I'm already on reduced income from unemployment...

It's reasonable considering how much time and frustration it saves. Way better than spending all day trying to get through on your own.

I think it's because they need time to verify the income with employers. Can't just take your word for it.

Still seems backwards. Other states do it differently I think.

That's good to know. I might pick up some side work if I can find it.

Yeah just be honest about any income. Getting caught not reporting work can disqualify you from benefits.

Mine has been coming through on Tuesdays like clockwork so far.

That's good, mine usually hits Tuesday or Wednesday depending on holidays

Actually someone said earlier that unemployment is taxable income?

Oh you're right, my mistake! It is taxable. I was thinking of something else.

yeah definitely taxable, found that out the hard way lol

That's a good point. I guess I should be grateful it's something at least.

Yeah I have friends in other states who get way less. Washington treats unemployed workers pretty fairly.

How long did the appeal process take?

About 3 weeks from when I submitted additional wage documentation. They backdated the increase too which was nice.

This is exactly why I ended up using Claimyr - needed to talk to someone about my wage calculation but couldn't get through on the phone. Much easier than trying to figure it out through their website.

What day of the week do you have to file by?

You can file starting Sunday for the previous week, but you have until Saturday to file. Don't wait too long though.

Oh that's good to know! So the 10% federal withholding might actually be close to what I'll owe then.

Depends on your other income and tax situation, but yeah it helps that there's no state tax on it here.

How long does it take to get the money after you file your weekly claim?

Usually 2-3 business days if you have direct deposit set up. Takes longer if they mail you a check.

Agreed. I spent way too much time trying to calculate mine ahead of time when I should have just been patient.

Yeah I'm starting to realize that. Just have to wait and see what they approve me for.

Wait what? They don't pay you for the first week at all?

Nope, it's called a waiting week. You still have to file the claim but you don't get paid for that first week.

That's such BS. Like people filing for unemployment aren't already struggling financially.

That's exactly what I'm worried about - what if my wages weren't reported correctly? How would I even know?

You can check your wage history on the Washington ESD website, but if something looks off you really need to talk to someone to get it corrected.

I think that's kind of the point - make it complicated so fewer people apply or figure out how much they're entitled to.

Probably true. Good thing there are forums like this to help people figure it out.

Yeah this thread has been super helpful. Thanks everyone for all the info!

Perfect summary. I feel much more prepared now for when my benefits start.

Wish someone had explained it this clearly when I first filed. Would have saved me a lot of confusion.

Good advice! Each state really is different. Some use your total base period wages, others use just the highest quarter like Washington does.

Oh I didn't think about taxes! Is it better to have them taken out each week or pay at the end of the year?

Depends on your situation, but having them withheld can prevent a big tax bill later. It's 10% federal withholding if you choose that option.

Same experience here! The phone system hangs up on you constantly. Worth checking out Claimyr if you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD without the hassle.

Starting to think that might be my best option if I have questions after I apply. The phone system sounds terrible.

Wait, so even if I qualify I don't get anything for the first week? That seems harsh when people are already struggling financially.

Exactly, it's frustrating but that's how it works. You still have to file for that first week though, you just don't get paid for it.

The waiting week is such BS honestly. Like people filing for unemployment are doing great financially already 🙄

Good point, I might pick up some shifts here and there. Do you know what the limit is before they reduce your benefits?

I think you can earn about 1.5 times your weekly benefit amount before they start reducing it, but don't quote me on that. You definitely need to report any earnings when you file your weekly claim.

Yeah it's weird but there's a reason - they need time to get all the wage reports from employers. There's also something called alternate base period if your regular base period doesn't qualify you, but I don't know much about that.

The alternate base period uses the last 4 completed quarters instead of the first 4 of the last 5. Sometimes helps people who had recent wage increases or just started working.

That's probably the most practical advice! I've been overthinking this whole thing.

agreed, the application process itself is pretty straightforward even if understanding all the details beforehand is confusing

I haven't lost my job yet, just trying to understand my options in case it happens. Good to know about the voluntary quit thing though.

There are some exceptions for good cause like unsafe working conditions or harassment, but you'd need to prove it. Better to get laid off if possible.

How long does it usually take to get that letter after you apply?

Usually within a week or two if there are no issues with your claim. If they need to verify employment or wages it might take longer.

I feel you but the complexity is partly to prevent fraud and make sure benefits are based on actual work history. Still frustrating though.

I guess that makes sense but it definitely makes it intimidating for people who really need help

That seems to be the consensus! I'll definitely keep that in mind if I need to call them for anything.

Honestly surprised more people don't know about it. The regular Washington ESD phone system is absolutely broken.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! Feeling much more prepared now if I ever need to file a claim.

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

Applying for jobs, networking events, job fairs, informational interviews, updating your resume with a professional, etc. They have a list on the Washington ESD website.

Yeah Washington has some of the higher unemployment benefits in the country. Some states max out at like $400-500 per week.

Exactly. We're lucky to be in Washington for unemployment benefits, even if the system can be frustrating to navigate.

That's good to know! So timing of when you file could potentially matter depending on your earning history.

Exactly. If you know you had a really good earning quarter recently, it might be worth waiting if possible so that quarter gets included in your base period calculation.

How long did it take them to get you connected to Washington ESD?

It was pretty quick actually, maybe 15-20 minutes total. Way better than the hours I spent trying to call myself with no success.

Good point. I was laid off due to company downsizing so I think I should be fine on that front.

Yeah layoffs due to lack of work are typically straightforward for qualification. It's when there are performance issues or misconduct that things get complicated.

I tried that but the estimate seemed really vague. It just gave me a range rather than a specific amount.

Yeah the online calculator is pretty basic. You really need to talk to someone or file the actual claim to get your exact weekly benefit amount.

Thanks for the recommendation! Sounds like several people have had good experiences with them.

I might try them too. I've been trying to reach Washington ESD for two weeks about my claim and getting nowhere.