How much of your salary do you get for unemployment benefits in Washington ESD?

So if I made $13,000 in my best quarter, what would that work out to weekly?

It's roughly 3.85% of your highest quarter earnings, so around $500 per week in your case. But there are other factors too.

That's actually pretty decent! I was worried it would be way less.

Keep in mind you still have to pay taxes on unemployment benefits, so budget accordingly.

I found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to a real person at Washington ESD in like 10 minutes. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Really? That sounds too good to be true. How does it work exactly?

They basically call Washington ESD for you and wait on hold, then conference you in when they get an agent. Saved me hours of trying to call myself.

That actually sounds about right for $18k in your highest quarter. The formula caps out at different levels.

ok thats good to know i thought i was getting screwed over

What are the job search requirements? I haven't looked into that part yet.

You need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log. They can audit you anytime.

I got audited and had to provide all my job search documentation. Make sure you keep good records!

The system is designed to replace a percentage of your income, not your full salary. It's meant to be temporary assistance.

Still doesn't make it any less frustrating when you're trying to pay bills.

Where is the calculator on their website? I couldn't find it when I looked.

It's under the 'Before You Apply' section, but honestly it's pretty buried in their site navigation.

Good to know! I'm hoping I won't need to file but better to be prepared.

Yeah and make sure you file your weekly claims every week even if you're still waiting for approval. You can't go back and claim those weeks later.

That's actually reassuring to hear. I was worried it would be way less than that.

How much does Claimyr cost? I'm hesitant to pay for something that should be free.

It's way cheaper than taking time off work to call during business hours. Plus my time is worth something too.

I might get 2 weeks severance if I get laid off. Does that mean I have to wait 2 weeks to file?

No, you can file right away, but the severance might delay when you start receiving benefits. It depends on how it's structured.

I know right? The whole system seems designed to confuse people. At least the weekly filing is pretty straightforward once you get started.

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

I don't have kids but good to know for others. Every little bit helps when you're unemployed.

It's actually $24 per dependent child under 18, up to 5 dependents maximum.

You can appeal the benefit amount if you think it's wrong. You need to do it within 30 days of getting your monetary determination.

Thanks, I'll look into that. I might need to use that Claimyr thing to actually talk to someone about it.

Good reminder! I definitely don't want to get hit with a big tax bill next year.

Yeah, learned that the hard way my first time on unemployment. Always have them withhold the taxes.

That's a helpful summary. Hopefully I won't need it but at least now I have realistic expectations.

Exactly. It's meant to be temporary assistance, not a replacement for working. The key is to use the time to find a new job as quickly as possible.

I should probably gather that info now just in case. Better to be prepared.

Smart thinking. Having all your documentation ready makes the application process much smoother.