How much is unemployment benefits in Washington - need to know payment amounts

So if I made $15,000 in my highest quarter that would be around $576 per week? That's actually more than I expected!

Yes, that sounds about right. Plus you can collect for up to 26 weeks in most cases, so it's definitely worth applying if you qualify.

You're right, I should probably just do it. Did you have any trouble with the application process?

not really, just make sure you have all your employment info ready before you start

Thanks! So they use the highest quarter not just my most recent job? That's helpful since my warehouse job pays more.

yeah but you also have to meet the minimum requirements too, like earning at least $1,014 during your base period

Thanks! That's actually helpful. My best quarter was probably last summer when we had tons of overtime. So I take that total and multiply by 3.85%?

Exactly! Just remember you also need to meet the base year earnings requirement - you need at least $3,950 in your base year to qualify for benefits at all.

Adjudication delays are really common right now. Have you tried calling the unemployment office to check on your claim status?

tried calling like 50 times, either busy signal or they hang up on me after 2 hours on hold

I had the same issue with getting through to Washington ESD by phone. Found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually got me connected to an agent in under 30 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration trying to call myself.

That's really helpful! So they don't just look at your last job salary, they look at a whole year of earnings?

Exactly. They use your base period which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters. So if you file in January 2025, they'd look at your earnings from January 2024 through September 2024.

Never heard of claimyr but might be worth checking out. I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks about my benefit calculation and can never get through.

That sounds like I should get close to the max then since I've been working full time. Do you know how long it takes to get approved?

Usually 2-3 weeks if there are no issues with your claim. Make sure you have all your employer information ready when you file.

That gives me hope! $647 would actually cover most of my expenses. How long did the verification take?

About 3 weeks total. Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even while it's pending or you'll lose those weeks.

Good point about taxes. Can you choose to have them withhold taxes or do you have to pay quarterly?

You can choose to have 10% withheld for federal taxes when you file your weekly claims. I'd recommend doing that to avoid a big tax bill later.

I didn't even know there was a calculator on their website. I'll definitely check that out first.

Where exactly is the calculator? I've looked all over their website and can't find it.

It's under 'File a Claim' then 'Before You Apply' - there's a link to the benefit calculator tool there.

How many jobs do you have to apply for each week? I've heard different numbers from different people.

You need to make at least 3 job search activities per week. Can be applications, interviews, networking events, job fairs, etc. Keep detailed records!

I thought it was 5 activities per week? The requirements keep changing...

How much does claimyr cost? And is it safe to use?

I don't remember the exact cost but it was reasonable for what you get. They connect you directly to Washington ESD agents so you're talking to the official source. Check out their demo video to see how it works.

How much does that cost? I'm already tight on money which is why I need unemployment.

It's worth it if you need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD. Way better than spending all day trying to call and getting nowhere.

this is true, i was making $45k and only get $485 weekly. still better than nothing though

Good point. I definitely wasn't making anywhere near $65k so I should probably expect something in the $400-500 range.

Oh wow I didn't know that. Should I have them withhold taxes or just save money for tax time?

I'd recommend having them withhold 10% federal taxes to be safe. You can change this setting in your SecureAccess Washington account after your claim is approved.

When do you have to file the weekly claims? Is there a specific day of the week?

you can file starting sunday morning for the previous week. I always do mine sunday morning so I don't forget

That makes sense. I worked full-time the whole year so hopefully I'll get a decent amount.

Even $400 is better than nothing! At least it helps with basic expenses while you're looking for work.

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

Job applications, networking events, career fairs, even some online training courses count. Check the WorkSourceWA website for the full list.

Good to know, I'll make sure to do that. Do you file online or by phone?

Online is way easier through the SecureAccess Washington portal. The phone system is a nightmare.

Already filed yesterday! Just anxious about the whole process and whether I'll get enough to survive on.

smart move filing quickly, the sooner you file the sooner you can start the clock on that waiting period

Wait, so there's a week where you don't get paid even after you file? That's confusing.

Yeah, the first week you're eligible is a waiting week with no payment. Then you start getting paid for subsequent weeks. It's just how the system works.

What kind of issues come up usually?

identity verification, questions about why you left your job, sometimes they need more wage info from previous employers

Glad Claimyr worked out for you! What kind of documentation do they want?

pay stubs and something called a 'separation notice' from my employer. have to mail it in apparently

That's pretty standard when there's a dispute. Make sure to send copies, not originals, and get delivery confirmation.

Can you work part-time and still collect unemployment? I thought it was all or nothing.

you can work part time but they reduce your benefits dollar for dollar after you earn more than 25% of your weekly benefit amount. so if you get $500/week you can earn up to $125 without any reduction

Actually it's more nuanced than that. They subtract your earnings minus $5 from your weekly benefit amount, but only if you earn more than 25% of your benefit. So there's some room to work part-time and still get partial benefits.

What counts as a job search activity? Just applying for jobs?

applying for jobs, networking events, career workshops, even updating your resume counts. just has to be documented in the system

agree completely, washington esd seems designed to discourage people from using it

At this point I'm just grateful there's any safety net at all. Hopefully my claim processes smoothly.

That's the third person who mentioned claimyr. Might be worth looking into if I can't get through to them directly.

I was skeptical about claimyr but honestly it saved me so much time and frustration. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.

Good call, I'll make sure to do that. How long after approval does the first payment usually come?

If you have direct deposit set up, usually 2-3 business days after you certify for that week. Paper checks can take 7-10 days.

Oh I didn't think about that. How much do they typically withhold?

I think it's 10% federal withholding if you elect it. Washington doesn't have state income tax so that's not an issue.

That's good to know. I was thinking about doing some freelance work but wasn't sure how that would affect my benefits.

Just be honest about any work or earnings. They'll calculate your partial benefit amount automatically. Better to report everything than risk an overpayment later.

how much does it cost though? if i'm already broke from being unemployed i dont want to pay more fees

It's worth checking out their website for pricing info, but for me it was definitely worth it compared to the stress and time I was wasting trying to call myself.

Will do. This is all so overwhelming but everyone's advice is really helpful.

It gets easier once you're in the routine of filing your weekly claims. The first few weeks are always the most stressful.

The amount can vary if you report any earnings from part-time work, or if there are adjustments for things like holiday weeks or processing delays.

ah that makes sense, i did some gig work a couple weeks that probably affected it

How would I know if they made an error? I don't even know what my amount should be yet.

Once you get your monetary determination notice, it will show exactly how they calculated your benefit amount. If the wages they have on file don't match your records, that's when you'd want to appeal.

Thanks for the encouragement! Definitely feeling anxious about the whole thing but these comments are making me feel more prepared.

once you get through the initial approval process it becomes much more routine. just don't miss any weekly certifications!

That's actually a good point. Maybe I should look into some online courses or certifications while I'm job hunting.

WorkSourceWA has some good resources for training programs and career development. Worth checking out while you're in the system.

That's a helpful way to think about it. 50% of my income would be tight but manageable for a few months while I find something new.

exactly, it's meant to be a bridge not a permanent solution. gives you breathing room to find the right job instead of taking the first thing that comes along

Yeah I remember hearing horror stories about people waiting months for payments back then.

My brother waited 12 weeks in 2020. Nightmare situation.

Good to know there are options if I run into issues. Hopefully everything goes smoothly though.

Better to know about it beforehand than discover you need help when you're already frustrated and stressed.

Wait really? That seems unfair when people need money right away.

Yeah it's been that way forever. Just plan for it when budgeting.

I'll double check everything. Do I need to list every job from the past year and a half?

Yeah list everything from your base period. Washington ESD will verify wages with all your employers.

What are common reasons people get disqualified?

Usually job separation issues - if Washington ESD thinks you quit without good cause or were fired for misconduct. That's why documentation is so important.

How detailed do you need to be? Like company names and specific positions?

Yes, company name, position applied for, date, method of contact, and result if you heard back. Keep it all in WorkSourceWA.

That's really helpful to know a real example. Gives me hope I'll get a decent amount too.

Just make sure you keep filing weekly even if payments are delayed. Missing a week can mess up your whole claim.

Overtime wages count the same as regular wages for benefit calculation purposes. It's all just total wages earned.

Cool, that should help my benefit amount then since I worked crazy hours last year.

Which callback service did you use? The Claimyr one people mentioned?

Yeah that's the one. Worked way better than trying to call manually. Worth it just for the time savings alone.

Good to know. So it's almost not worth working part time while collecting?

Depends on your situation. Sometimes it's worth it to keep skills sharp or maintain connections, even if the money doesn't add up to much extra.

Oh wow I didn't know that. Good thing I'm looking into it now then.

Yeah don't wait around thinking about it. The sooner you file the sooner you can start getting benefits.

What if you have a medical issue that limits what jobs you can take?

You might still qualify but you'd need medical documentation and the job search requirements might be modified. Best to discuss with Washington ESD directly.

Thanks everyone for all the advice! This has been super helpful. Going to file my claim this week.

Good luck! Hope your claim goes smoothly and you get approved quickly.

Feel free to come back here if you run into any issues. This community is pretty good at helping people navigate the Washington ESD system.

I'll definitely check out their FAQ. I want to make sure I understand everything before I apply.

Good idea. The more you understand upfront, the smoother the process will be. I wish I had done more research before I applied.

Thanks for clarifying that. I'm pretty sure I'd be filing for regular unemployment since I was laid off.

You're absolutely right. I'm going to file this weekend. Thanks everyone for all the helpful information!

Good luck with your application! The hardest part is just getting started. Once you're in the system it gets easier.