How much is unemployment in Washington ESD - weekly benefit amount calculation?

Thanks! So if my highest quarter was around $13,000, that would be $500 per week divided by 26? That doesn't sound right...

No, you divide your highest quarter by 26 first, then multiply by about 0.0385. So $13,000 ÷ 26 = $500, then $500 × 0.0385 = roughly $19 per week. But there's a minimum benefit amount too.

I tried the calculator but it's asking for quarters and I only know my annual salary. How do I figure out what my quarterly earnings were?

Check your pay stubs or W-2 forms. You can also look at your Social Security statement online which breaks down earnings by year. Washington ESD will have your wage records from your employer too.

Yeah I've heard their phone lines are impossible. Have you had luck calling at certain times?

I actually found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to Washington ESD when I was stuck in adjudication. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

The maximum goes up slightly each year based on the state's average weekly wage. Most people don't get the maximum unless they were earning over $130k annually.

ok that makes more sense. i was worried i calculated something wrong lol

What counts as a qualifying dependent? I have a 16-year-old stepson who lives with us half the time.

Dependents must be under 18 and you must be providing more than half their support. Part-time custody situations can be tricky - you'd need to check with Washington ESD about your specific situation.

What other programs are there besides regular unemployment?

There's standby benefits if you're temporarily laid off, SharedWork if your hours are reduced, and disaster unemployment in certain situations. Regular UI is the most common though.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr - spent weeks trying to get answers about my benefit calculation. Once I got through to an actual agent they fixed it in like 10 minutes.

How much does that service cost? Seems like it might be worth it if it actually works.

It was worth it for me, especially since I was losing money every day my claim wasn't resolved properly. Way better than calling hundreds of times and getting hung up on.

Should I have taxes withheld or just pay them at the end of the year?

Most people choose to have taxes withheld so they don't get hit with a big tax bill later. Unemployment benefits are fully taxable as income.

Good point! I've been working steadily for 2 years so I should be fine on that front.

The quarterly system is designed to account for seasonal workers and people with varying income. It's more complex but it's supposed to be more fair overall.

i guess that makes sense but its still annoying when youre trying to budget

So I could potentially get less than 26 weeks of benefits? How does that calculation work?

If your total benefit amount (weekly amount x 26) would be more than 30% of your total base year wages, then you get the full 26 weeks. Otherwise you get less. It's another way they prevent people from getting more in benefits than they paid in.

That's reassuring! I was worried I'd have to dig up old pay stubs and stuff.

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

Usually within a week or two of filing your initial claim, assuming there are no issues that require adjudication.

I've only worked in Washington so that shouldn't apply to me, but good to know!

Yeah I've been reading about the job search requirements. Sounds like you need to do 3 job search activities per week?

That's right, and you have to log them in WorkSourceWA. Make sure you understand what counts as a valid job search activity before you start claiming.

That's good to know! Makes me feel better about paying into the system all these years.

I'm fully unemployed right now, but that's good information for others who might see this thread.

Exactly why services like Claimyr exist. Sometimes paying a little to get through to an actual Washington ESD agent is worth it versus spending days trying to figure things out on your own.

True, I wish I had known about options like that when I was going through it the first time.

Hopefully I won't need to worry about that! Planning to find a new job as quickly as possible.

That's the right attitude! The unemployment benefits are there as a safety net while you search. Good luck with your job hunt!