How much pay for unemployment - Washington ESD weekly benefit amount calculation?

Thanks! So it's not based on my monthly salary but on quarterly earnings? That makes more sense. I think my highest quarter last year was around $13,000 so that would put me close to $500 weekly.

Just remember there's also a minimum weekly benefit amount of $295. And if you work part time while collecting, they'll reduce your benefits based on what you earn.

I tried logging in but my claim is still being processed. It's been over a week and still says 'pending' on my account. Is that normal?

Yes, that's unfortunately normal right now. Washington ESD is taking 2-3 weeks to process initial claims. You should still file your weekly claims even if it shows pending.

Never heard of that before. Does it actually work? I'm desperate at this point.

Yeah it worked for me. I was able to talk to an agent within 20 minutes instead of calling all day. They helped me understand my benefit calculation and resolve an issue with my claim.

Yeah I figured it wouldn't be the full amount. But $380 a week is better than nothing while I job search. How long have you been collecting?

about 4 months now. you can get up to 26 weeks usually but sometimes they extend it. make sure you do your job search requirements or they'll cut you off

Good point, I didn't think about taxes. Where do I set that up in my account?

When you file your weekly claim, there's an option to have federal and state taxes withheld. You can change this setting anytime in your Washington ESD account.

I made the mistake of not having taxes withheld and owed like $1,200 at tax time. Definitely recommend setting up the withholding.

That's confusing. So they don't use my most recent earnings? I got a raise last year that wouldn't be included then.

Right, they use older earnings. If you don't qualify using the standard base year, they can use an 'alternate base year' which includes more recent quarters. This happens automatically if needed.

There's usually a one-week waiting period before your first payment. After that, payments are typically processed within 2-3 business days if you file your weekly claim on time.

I filed my weekly claims but still nothing. Maybe I should try calling them but I know how hard it is to get through.

I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and got through to an agent pretty quickly. They were able to tell me exactly why my payment was delayed - turns out there was a verification issue I didn't know about.

Thanks for breaking that down clearly. So if I had $15,000 in my highest quarter, that would be $15,000 ÷ 26 × 0.0385 = about $590 per week?

Exactly! You'd get $590 per week for up to 26 weeks, which would be a total of $15,340 in benefits for the year (assuming you don't find work before then).

That's frustrating. Did you eventually get all your back payments once it was processed?

yeah they paid me for all the weeks i was waiting but it was stressful not knowing if i was going to get anything. make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even if your account shows pending

That's helpful! I'll dig up my pay stubs and calculate it myself so I know what to expect.

You can also see your wage history on your Washington ESD account once it's set up. Shows all the quarters they have on file for you.

Good to know it's accurate. What happens if you do some freelance work while collecting? Do you have to report that too?

yeah any income has to be reported when you file your weekly claim. they'll reduce your benefits based on how much you made that week. better to be honest than get hit with an overpayment later

All my income was reported properly on W-2s so that shouldn't be an issue for me.

Same here. I was worried about some side gig income but it was all reported on 1099s so Washington ESD had it in their system.

I tried finding that calculator but couldn't locate it on their site. Do you have a direct link?

I think they removed it or moved it somewhere else. The website is pretty confusing to navigate. Your best bet is probably calling them but we all know how that goes...

This is why services like Claimyr are so helpful. Instead of spending all day trying to navigate their website or call, you can actually get through to someone who can answer your questions directly.

I worked steadily last year so hopefully that won't be an issue. Did you appeal the calculation or just accept it?

I looked into appealing but the calculation was correct based on my work history. Nothing I could really do about it. Just had to budget more carefully.

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

Applying for jobs, networking events, career fairs, updating your resume, job interviews all count. You have to log them in the WorkSourceWA system.

I got audited on my job search log and had to provide proof of all my activities. Keep good records of everything you do.

That's good to know for budgeting purposes. At least I can count on a consistent amount each week.

Yep, makes it easier to plan your finances. Just remember if you do any part-time work, that week's benefit will be reduced by the amount you earned.