How much of your paycheck do you get on unemployment in Washington ESD?

That's really helpful! So it's not just a straight percentage of your weekly paycheck then?

Exactly - it's based on quarterly earnings, not your regular weekly pay. Makes it a bit confusing to calculate on your own.

It's not quite 50% for most people. The formula Washington ESD uses typically results in somewhere between 40-50% of your average weekly wages, depending on your earnings pattern.

oh ok that makes sense. i was just guessing from what my brother told me when he was on UI

Wow, that seems like a huge difference! Did you try to get them to use more recent wages?

You can request to use more recent wages if there's a significant difference, but it requires extra paperwork and verification. I'm still waiting to hear back on my request.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to discuss wage calculations, I had success using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They helped me get connected to an actual agent to resolve my wage base issue. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

The calculator can be tricky because it depends on exactly which quarters you're using and whether you have any gaps in employment. The 3.85% figure is pretty reliable if you have consistent work history.

I gave up on that calculator too. Just filed my claim and let them figure it out. Turned out to be about 45% of what I was making weekly.

Good point! So the amount you actually get to keep is even less than the benefit amount they quote you.

Exactly. And Washington state doesn't have income tax but you'll still owe federal. Better to have them withhold it rather than get hit with a big tax bill later.

That range is really helpful, thank you! At least I have a ballpark figure to plan with if needed.

Keep in mind you also have to meet work search requirements - applying for jobs, attending workshops, etc. The money isn't just free, there are hoops to jump through.

I feel you on that. It's supposed to be temporary assistance, not full income replacement, but it's still tough when you have fixed expenses.

Yeah 'temporary' but then they make it impossible to actually get through to anyone when there are problems with your claim. Spent hours trying to call.

That's exactly why I used Claimyr when I had issues. Worth checking out if you need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD.

I'm not in a union but that's good to know for others who might be reading this.

Yeah my union covers an additional $200/week on top of state benefits. Makes a huge difference.

True, but in this job market it's taking people 6+ months to find decent work. That 35-50% has to stretch a lot longer than the system was designed for.

Absolutely agree. The benefit amounts haven't kept up with cost of living increases either.

Thanks for breaking down the actual math! That makes it much clearer than the explanations on the Washington ESD website.

The minimum is important too - even if the calculation gives you less than $295, you'll still get the minimum amount if you qualify.

That's really useful real-world data, thanks for sharing both examples!

Similar experience here. Made $52k, got $420/week which worked out to about 40% of my gross weekly pay.

Wait, so even if I get approved right away, I won't get anything for the first week?

Correct - you have to serve a one-week waiting period before benefits start. Make sure you still file that first week though, it's required.

That waiting week really catches people off guard. Plan for it financially if you think you might need to file.

How does that work exactly? Do they call for you or something?

They help you get connected to actual Washington ESD agents. Check out their demo video to see how it works - https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ

Good point about the processing delays. I'll make sure to have some savings to bridge that gap if needed.

Yeah the 'processing time' they quote is usually optimistic. Real world is often longer, especially if any issues come up with your claim.

26 weeks is about 6 months right? Hopefully that would be enough time to find something new.

Yes, 26 weeks is the standard. But if unemployment rates are high, sometimes extended benefits kick in for additional weeks.