How much is unemployment per week - Washington ESD benefit amounts explained

That's actually higher than I expected! So it's based on quarterly earnings not just my hourly wage?

Exactly. They look at your base period which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed. Your highest earning quarter determines the calculation.

Have you tried calling Washington ESD to check on your adjudication status? I know the phone lines are terrible but sometimes they can give you updates.

Been trying for weeks. Either busy signal or I get disconnected after waiting for hours. It's so frustrating.

I had the same problem with getting through to Washington ESD. Someone on here recommended Claimyr.com and honestly it saved my sanity. They have this service that calls for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Finally got my adjudication resolved after 3 weeks of trying on my own.

Never heard of that but I'm desperate at this point. Did it actually work for you?

Good point. Can I elect to have taxes withheld when I file my weekly claims?

yeah you can change your tax withholding in your esd account settings. i think its 10% federal

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

Job applications, networking events, career fairs, informational interviews, even some online courses can count. Check the WorkSourceWA website for the full list of approved activities.

I got confused about this and missed logging some activities. Got a letter saying I might be disqualified. Scared to death right now.

That could be related to partial unemployment if you're working part-time hours. Washington ESD reduces your benefits based on earnings over $5 per week.

I'm not working at all though. Haven't had any income to report on my weekly claims.

Might be worth calling to get clarification. Could be an error in their system calculating your benefits.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already strapped for cash.

I don't want to get into specific pricing but it was reasonable considering the time and frustration it saved me. Plus getting my benefits flowing again was worth way more than what I paid.

When is the deadline for weekly claims? I haven't gotten my first payment yet but I've been filing every Sunday.

You're doing it right. The weekly claim is for the week ending on Saturday and you can file it anytime Sunday through Saturday of the following week. But don't wait too long.

It definitely is overwhelming at first. The Washington ESD website has good information but it's scattered across different pages. Takes time to piece it all together.

agree 100%. spent my first week just trying to understand all the acronyms and requirements. feels like they make it confusing on purpose sometimes

That's good to know. Hopefully I won't need that long to find something but good to understand how it works.

I had to reopen my claim last year after getting temporary work that ended. The process was much faster the second time around.

That sounds terrifying. How do you avoid that?

Just make sure you're following all the rules exactly. Report any income honestly, do your job searches, and keep good records of everything.

And if you do get an overpayment notice, you have appeal rights. Don't panic - many of them can be resolved if you have proper documentation.

Agreed! This thread has been super helpful. Feel much more confident about what to expect now.

This is exactly why I love this forum. Real people sharing real experiences instead of just bureaucratic website language.

I'm not working part-time right now but good to know for the future. Is that information somewhere on the Washington ESD site?

Yes, it's in their handbook but buried pretty deep. Basically they ignore the first $5 you earn, then deduct 75% of earnings above that from your weekly benefit amount.

That's exactly how I'm feeling right now. Like I'm going to accidentally mess something up.

You'll be fine. Just read everything carefully and when in doubt, call or ask here. This community is pretty good about helping each other out.

And if you need to call Washington ESD, seriously consider that Claimyr thing. Saved me hours of frustration. Sometimes paying a little to get actual help is worth it when you're dealing with government bureaucracy.

Yeah I'm trying to stretch my savings to cover at least a month just in case. Better safe than sorry.

Smart approach. I made the mistake of assuming I'd get paid right away and had to borrow money from family when it took 4 weeks.

Good point. I'll start a spreadsheet to track everything.

Excel template for tracking unemployment benefits is a good idea. Include dates, amounts, and any deductions so you have everything organized.