How much money do you get on unemployment in Washington state?

Thanks! So if I made $55k last year, what would that work out to roughly?

It depends on how your earnings were distributed across quarters. If you made around $13,750 in your highest quarter, you'd get about $204 per week. But you should check your actual wage history on the Washington ESD website to see your quarterly earnings.

That's way less than I was hoping for. $250 won't even cover half my rent. Is there any way to get more?

Unfortunately no, that's just how Washington ESD calculates it. The formula is set by state law and they can't make exceptions.

How long does it usually take to get approved and start receiving payments?

If everything goes smoothly, about 2-3 weeks. But if your claim goes into adjudication for any reason, it can take longer.

Yeah exactly. If you were making $4200/month consistently, you should qualify for a decent amount. Have you tried the benefit calculator on the Washington ESD website?

I tried but got frustrated with all the quarter stuff. Don't even remember exactly what I made each quarter.

That's actually more encouraging. $400-500 would at least help me survive while job hunting. How long does it take to get approved?

If your claim is straightforward, usually 2-3 weeks for first payment. But if there are any issues like job separation disputes, it could go into adjudication and take much longer.

Mine took 6 weeks because of adjudication hell. Washington ESD is so slow with everything. Good luck getting them on the phone too - I must have called 200 times.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents automatically. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Interesting, I'll have to look into that. Getting through their phone system is impossible otherwise.

Wait, is this 3 contacts every single week? Even during holidays?

Yes, every week you claim benefits. Though there are some exceptions for certain training programs or if you're on standby with your employer.

The job search requirements are pretty strict. I got a warning letter because I wasn't logging my activities properly in the system.

Is that legit? Sounds too good to be true. How much does it cost?

Yeah it's real. I was skeptical too but it actually worked. I'd rather not say what I paid but it was worth it to finally talk to someone at Washington ESD about my claim issues.

I used them too after being stuck in adjudication for a month. Got connected within an hour instead of spending all day redialing. Definitely legitimate.

3 per week? That doesn't seem like much. I was planning to apply to way more than that anyway.

That's just the minimum. More is always better. Keep detailed records in WorkSource too - they audit job search logs sometimes.

Good point about the waiting week. I'll file today then. Do I need any special documents to apply?

You'll need your Social Security number, employment history for the past 18 months, and reason for separation. If you were laid off that makes it easier than if you quit or were fired.

Also have your bank info ready for direct deposit. Paper checks take forever.

Same here. Spent literally 8 hours one day just hitting redial. The phone system is a joke.

That's exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier. I was in the same boat before I found them. Sometimes you just need to talk to an actual person to sort things out.

Good point, I hadn't thought about taxes. Is it better to have them withhold it or pay later?

Depends on your situation. If you think you'll owe taxes anyway, having it withheld is easier. But if you're not sure, you can always change it later.

That probably means you're in adjudication. Did you have any issues with your employment history or reasons for separation?

Not that I know of. I was laid off due to company downsizing. No performance issues or anything like that.

Sometimes adjudication happens for random reasons. I used Claimyr to get through to an agent who could explain what was holding up my claim. Turned out to be a simple verification issue.

Ugh, didn't even think about taxes. So the $400-500 would be even less after taxes?

Well, they don't automatically withhold unless you elect it. But yeah, you'll owe taxes on whatever you receive. I'd recommend having them withhold 10% just to be safe.

How far back do they look at your earnings? I had a gap in employment last year.

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

This is important! I missed filing for 2 weeks thinking I'd wait until my claim was approved and I lost those weeks of benefits.

Yeah, the weekly claims have to be filed every Sunday. You can do it online through your SecureAccess Washington account.

How would I know if my wages were reported wrong?

You can check your wage records in your Washington ESD account once you file. If something looks off, you can submit wage protests with pay stubs as proof.

But most people don't get the maximum. You'd need to be making really good money to qualify for that much.

True, but even at lower amounts it's still helpful. I got $430/week which was enough to cover my basic expenses while job hunting.

Easy to say when you're not the one trying to pay bills on $300 a week.

I've been there too. It's tough but better than zero income. Every bit helps while you're looking.

Since I was laid off due to downsizing, that should be pretty straightforward right?

Yeah, layoffs are usually the easiest type of claim to process. Just have documentation ready in case they need it.

What kind of issues should I watch for?

Things like identity verification requests, separation disputes with your employer, or if your claim gets stuck in adjudication. Address them immediately.

This is where having a way to actually reach Washington ESD becomes crucial. That Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier really helped me when I had adjudication issues.

That range makes sense based on what everyone's been saying. Guess I'll find out exactly where I fall once I apply.

The uncertainty is the worst part. At least once you file you'll know exactly what to expect each week.

Good point. Never thought I'd need assistance but losing your job changes everything quickly.

Exactly. These programs exist for exactly this situation. Take advantage of what's available.

How do overpayments usually happen? I want to make sure I don't accidentally do something wrong.

Usually from not reporting work or earnings properly, or if there's an issue with your separation from your employer that comes up later during adjudication.

That's exactly what I was looking for! I'll check that out before I file my claim.

Just remember the calculator is just an estimate. Your actual benefit amount might be different depending on how your wages are distributed across quarters.

How did you know your benefit amount was wrong? Did you calculate it yourself?

I compared my quarterly earnings from my tax records to what Washington ESD had on file and noticed they were missing a whole quarter of wages from a second job I had.

That's reassuring. I keep putting off applying because the whole process seems so complicated.

The sooner you apply, the sooner you can start receiving benefits. Even if it takes a few weeks to process, you'll get backpay to your filing date if you're approved.