How much is unemployment weekly benefit amount in Washington ESD?

So if I made $12,600 in my highest quarter, that would be around $484 per week? That seems low compared to what I was earning.

Yes, that's about right. UI benefits are designed to replace about 50% of your average wages, not your full salary. It's meant to be temporary assistance while you search for work.

It's actually calculated differently than a straight percentage. Washington ESD uses a formula based on your base year wages. You can use their benefit calculator on the website to get an estimate before filing.

oh ok that makes sense why the numbers seemed weird when i tried to calculate it myself

Thanks! So if I made like $8,000 in my best quarter that would be around $307 per week?

Exactly right! That calculation looks correct.

How long did it take you to get someone on the phone? I've been trying for days.

like 3 hours of calling over and over. so frustrating

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get through to Washington ESD agents without all the wait times and busy signals. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustration.

That sounds too good to be true. How does it actually work? Do they charge you to make phone calls?

It's legit - they basically handle the calling and waiting part for you, then connect you when they get an agent on the line. Way better than sitting on hold for hours or getting that busy signal over and over.

I understand the frustration, but the adjudication process can take time especially if there are any issues with your work history or wages. Have you checked your account online to see if there are any outstanding issues you need to resolve?

Yes I've checked everything! My account just says 'in progress' with no other information. It's ridiculous.

Same situation here. Filed 5 weeks ago and still nothing. The system is completely overwhelmed.

What if someone worked part-time or had irregular hours? Does that affect the calculation?

Yes, if you had low wages or didn't work enough hours, you might not qualify for the maximum benefit amount. You need to have earned at least $7,425 in your base year to qualify for any benefits.

That's helpful info. I was wondering why my friend got such a different amount than me even though we both got laid off.

What are wage credits? This is all so confusing.

Wage credits are basically your reported earnings from employers. Washington ESD uses these to determine both your benefit amount and how many weeks you can collect. You need credits in at least 2 quarters of your base year.

The $999 is just the regular Washington state unemployment benefit. There are no additional federal supplements currently active like there were during the pandemic (PUA, PEUC, etc.).

Got it, thanks for clarifying. I was hoping there might still be some extra help available.

Yes, unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld from your weekly payments or pay them when you file your tax return. Most people choose to have 10% withheld.

Thanks! That's important to know. So if I get $500/week, I should probably have $50 withheld for taxes.

Is that legit? Sounds too good to be true honestly.

I was skeptical too but it actually worked. Got connected to a real Washington ESD rep in under 20 minutes.

Good to know about that service, thanks for sharing!

Have you tried using Claimyr? A coworker told me about it and it actually worked. You don't have to sit on hold - they call for you and connect you when they reach an agent. Made all the difference for me.

That's reassuring to hear. I'm going to try the calculation myself before I file my claim.

Just remember to use your gross wages, not net. And make sure you're looking at the right quarters for your base year.

What counts as a job search activity? I've been applying to jobs but I'm not sure if I'm doing enough.

Applications, networking events, job fairs, interviews - they all count. You need to log them in your WorkSource account. The important thing is documenting everything.

What's standby status? I'm in a union but I've never heard of this.

It's for union members who expect to be called back to work within a certain timeframe. You don't have to do job search activities but you have to be available if your employer calls you back.

Wait, they tax unemployment? That's ridiculous, you're already struggling financially!

Yeah unfortunately it counts as income. You can have taxes withheld or pay at tax time.

You can work part-time but they'll reduce your weekly benefit based on how much you earn. Generally you can earn about 1/3 of your weekly benefit without any reduction.

That's helpful, so if I get $400/week I could earn around $133 without affecting it?

Yes, that's approximately correct. Just make sure to report all earnings on your weekly claim.

True, but you still have to file your weekly claims and meet all the requirements. It's not automatic money.

yeah obviously you have to keep filing weekly claims. i just meant once you know your benefit amount it stays the same unless something changes

It depends on the unemployment rate but typically ranges from 12-26 weeks. Right now with lower unemployment it's closer to the minimum.

I thought it was always 26 weeks? This is confusing.

No, it's tied to the state unemployment rate. When unemployment is low, you get fewer weeks of benefits.

I feel you on that. The job search requirements are ridiculous too.

at least once you figure it out the weekly claims are pretty straightforward

That's a good benefit amount. Must have had pretty good wages to qualify for that much.

Yeah I was making decent money before the layoff. The calculation is pretty straightforward once you understand how they determine your base year wages.

Good to know! I'll use it as a rough estimate then.

Same here, the calculator was off for me too. Better to expect less than more I guess.

What counts as a job contact? Does applying online count?

Yes, online applications count. You just need to keep a log with employer name, date, position, and how you contacted them.

They actually check those logs? I've never been asked for mine.

Each state sets their own benefit amounts based on their wage base and cost of living.

Yeah but our cost of living in Seattle is higher than most places in Oregon so that doesn't make sense.

How much does something like that cost though?

I don't want to get into specifics about pricing, but it was worth it to get my benefits flowing again after being stuck for over a month.

Seasonal workers are eligible for regular unemployment benefits just like anyone else, as long as you meet the wage requirements.

Good to know, I always wondered about that.

There's no waiting week in Washington. You can get paid for your first week if you're eligible.

That's good, I remember my dad had to wait a week back in the day.

When are weekly claims due? I want to make sure I don't miss anything.

You file for the previous week, usually Sunday through Saturday. Most people file on Sunday or Monday for the week that just ended.

Yeah the base period calculation can be tricky if you had gaps in employment.

Thanks everyone for all the info. This has been really helpful!

How do they define suitable? Like same pay as before?

It's based on your skills, experience, and local wage levels. Generally starts at around 80% of your previous wage but can go lower over time.

You can work part-time but you have to report all earnings on your weekly claim. Washington ESD will reduce your benefit amount based on how much you earn. Generally, you can earn up to 1.5 times your weekly benefit amount before your benefits are completely reduced to zero.

That's helpful. So if I get $500/week in benefits, I could earn up to $750 and still get some unemployment money?

Exactly, but they'll reduce your benefit amount proportionally. The exact calculation depends on your specific situation, but yes, you can work part-time and still collect partial benefits.

I had success with Claimyr when I needed to talk to someone about my claim. They handle the calling hassle and you just wait for them to connect you with an agent. Much better than trying to call yourself.

How do you check your wage history? I worked for a few different employers last year and want to make sure everything is correct.

Log into your Washington ESD account and look for the wage and benefit information section. It should show all reported wages by quarter and employer. If something looks wrong, you can contact them to request a correction.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information. This gives me a much better understanding of how the benefit calculation works and what to expect if I file a claim.

Good luck with your claim! The process can be frustrating but the benefits do help bridge the gap while you're job searching.