How much unemployment benefit will I actually get from Washington ESD?

Thanks! So they look at all my jobs during that time period, not just my most recent one?

Correct - they'll count wages from all employers during your base period as long as the employers paid into the unemployment system.

That sounds about right based on what the other person said - roughly 4% of your quarterly earnings

How much does that service cost? Seems like something that should be free from the state

Yeah it would be nice if Washington ESD had better phone access, but this actually got me through to someone who could explain my specific situation in detail

I've heard of this too - my coworker used it when her claim got stuck in adjudication

Good point - I definitely worked enough to meet that requirement

The online calculator can be confusing because it doesn't always pull your wage history correctly. That's why talking to an agent is usually the most reliable way to get your exact amount.

This is exactly why I used that Claimyr thing someone mentioned - I couldn't waste a whole day trying to call

That's exactly the kind of situation where Claimyr helps - it keeps calling for you so you don't have to sit there waiting

yeah the phone system is terrible, i gave up calling and just filed online then waited to see what happened

That seems low compared to what I was making... is that really how little unemployment pays?

Yeah unemployment typically replaces about 50% of your average weekly wage, and there are caps. It's meant to be temporary assistance, not full wage replacement.

Plus you have to factor in taxes if you choose to have them withheld, which I recommend

Good to know - I might pick up some part-time work while looking for something full-time

You can earn up to your weekly benefit amount minus $5 before they start reducing your payment. So if your benefit is $185, you could earn up to $180 that week and still get your full payment.

How many weeks can you collect unemployment in Washington?

Up to 26 weeks typically, but it depends on your earnings history and the unemployment rate

This is probably the most practical advice here. The system will calculate it automatically when you file.

That's encouraging! I had a brief temp job I almost forgot about that might help my calculation

Yeah they get wage reports from all employers so even jobs you forgot about count toward your base period earnings

I got laid off two weeks ago but haven't filed yet - should I file immediately?

Yes, file as soon as possible. You can't get benefits for weeks before you file your initial claim, so you're losing money by waiting.

I tried that but wasn't sure if I was entering the information correctly

Yeah it's confusing because you have to know which quarters they're asking about. That's why talking to someone is usually better.

The waiting week is still eliminated in Washington. You can receive benefits for your first week of unemployment as long as you're eligible.

Oh good, thanks for the correction! That saves a week of no income.

Good to know! This whole system is more complicated than I expected but everyone's been really helpful explaining it.

Yeah unemployment is confusing at first but once you understand the basics it makes more sense. Good luck with your claim!