How much pay unemployment benefits in Washington ESD weekly amounts?

Thanks! So they look at my best quarter, not my average? That's helpful to know.

Yeah the base period is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed. They pick your highest earning quarter from that timeframe.

It's not quite that simple - it's based on quarterly earnings divided by 13, then multiplied by the benefit ratio. The 60% thing is a rough estimate some people use but not the actual formula.

oh ok thanks for the correction. the math is confusing lol

Interesting, I've never heard of that. Does it actually work for getting through to Washington ESD?

Yeah it worked for me! Much better than sitting on hold for hours or getting disconnected. They basically handle the calling process so you don't have to deal with the busy signals.

Hmm sounds too good to be true but might be worth checking out if the regular phone lines are that bad

Wait, $37,000 in one quarter? That seems really high for hitting the maximum.

Sorry, I meant annually. For quarterly, you'd need about $9,250 in your highest quarter to get close to the max weekly benefit.

Yeah that math makes more sense. $9,250 in a quarter is like $35k+ per year which would definitely qualify for higher benefits.

I looked but couldn't find a calculator on their site. Do you have a direct link?

I don't have the exact URL saved but try searching for 'benefit calculator' on esd.wa.gov. It might be under the 'File a Claim' section.

Good point! I heard about the job search thing but wasn't sure on the details. 3 activities per week seems doable.

Yeah it's pretty reasonable. Applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking activities all count. Just keep good records in your WorkSource account.

Adjudication? What's that about?

Adjudication is when they need to review something about your claim before approving benefits. Could be about your job separation, wages, availability for work, etc. Usually takes 2-6 weeks.

mine took almost 2 months! apparently they had to verify my employment with my old job. super frustrating when you need the money

That range sounds about right for what I was hoping. I was getting pretty consistent 35-40 hours most weeks.

Yeah with those hours you should be in decent shape for benefits. Just make sure all your wages were properly reported by your employer.

Oh wow, how do you check if they reported everything correctly?

You can request your wage records from Washington ESD or check your Social Security earnings record. Compare it to your pay stubs to make sure it all matches up.

Good reminder! I totally forgot about the tax implications.

Yeah you can elect to have 10% federal tax withheld when you file your claim or during your weekly certifications. Saves you from a big tax bill later.

That's the second mention of Claimyr. It really works that well for getting through to ESD?

Yeah it's been a lifesaver for me. They handle all the calling hassle and get you connected to an actual agent who can answer questions about your specific claim.

Wow that's a lot more than I expected for the total amount. How long does a claim period last?

Standard claim period is 26 weeks, but your total benefit amount depends on your wages during the base period. Not everyone gets the full 26 weeks worth.

Definitely planning to be completely honest. Not worth the risk of fraud charges over unemployment benefits.

Smart approach. Washington ESD has access to all wage records anyway, so there's no hiding anything. Better to be accurate from the start.

Hope you don't get laid off! But good to know the info just in case.

Thanks! Yeah company is struggling so trying to be prepared. This thread has been really helpful.

I only had the one job during the base period, so hopefully that keeps things simple.

Yeah that should make it pretty straightforward. Single employer claims usually process faster too.

A week isn't too bad compared to what some people are saying about adjudication taking months.

True, but when you're counting on that first payment to pay rent, even a week feels like forever.

Glad we could help! Feel free to ask if you have more questions when you actually file.

Same here, this thread answered way more questions than I expected. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to explain everything.

Good to know! What day of the week do you have to file?

You get assigned a day based on your Social Security number. Usually Sunday or Monday. They'll tell you when you file your initial claim.

Seems like Claimyr is pretty popular here! I'll keep it in mind if I run into issues.

Yeah it's really worth it when you need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD. Saves so much time and frustration.

Perfect summary! Thanks again everyone for all the help and advice.

No problem! Hope your claim goes smoothly when you file it.