How much unemployment can I get from Washington ESD - need to calculate my weekly benefit

Thanks! So if my highest quarter was around $15,000, I'd get about $577 per week? That seems pretty good actually.

Yes, that sounds about right. Just make sure you're looking at gross earnings, not take-home pay when calculating.

I filed my claim but it's still showing as 'pending' on the website. How long did it take for yours to be approved?

About 10 days for me, but that was without any issues. If they need to verify anything it can take longer.

Interesting, I haven't heard of that before. Is it legit? I'm hesitant to use third-party services for government stuff.

Yeah it's legitimate. They don't ask for any personal info or login details, they just call Washington ESD and conference you in when they get through. Really helpful when you can't spend all day trying to call.

I used Claimyr last month when my claim got stuck in adjudication. Worth it to actually talk to someone instead of waiting weeks for a callback that never comes.

I don't have kids so that won't apply to me, but good to know for others reading this.

Actually I think the dependent allowance is more than $25 now. When I filed last year it was around $35 per child.

Oh wow, I didn't think about taxes. How do I request withholding?

You can set it up in your Washington ESD account under payment preferences. I think they withhold 10% for federal taxes.

Yeah definitely set up tax withholding. Getting a big tax bill later is not fun when you're already dealing with unemployment.

Yes, if you earn more than your weekly benefit amount minus $5, they'll reduce your unemployment payment. You need to report all earnings when you file your weekly claim.

so if i get $500 in benefits and make $300 freelancing, do i still get something?

You'd get $500 minus ($300 - $5) = $205 in unemployment benefits that week. The formula is your weekly benefit amount minus (earnings - $5).

I agree, their website is pretty confusing. That's why I'm asking here instead of trying to navigate their FAQ pages.

I actually called and spoke to someone at Washington ESD who walked me through the calculation. It's much clearer when someone explains it directly.

What happens if you don't meet those requirements?

Then you'd be ineligible for regular unemployment benefits. But there might be other programs available depending on your situation.

They might also look at an alternate base period if you don't qualify with the standard one. It uses more recent earnings.

Yeah the waiting is the worst part. I keep checking my account every day to see if there's an update.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr - couldn't stand waiting around not knowing what was happening with my claim. Being able to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD made a huge difference.

What counts as a job search activity?

Applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, informational interviews. You have to log them all in WorkSourceWA.

The job search requirement can be waived in certain situations though, like if you're on standby with your employer.

You can appeal the benefit calculation if you think it's wrong. There's a form you can file with Washington ESD to request a redetermination.

How long does that process take? I'm already struggling to make ends meet with what they're giving me.

Appeals can take several weeks unfortunately. But if they determine you were underpaid, you'll get back pay for the difference.

How long can you collect unemployment benefits?

Usually 26 weeks, but it can be extended during high unemployment periods. Right now I think it's still just the standard 26 weeks in Washington.

Yeah 26 weeks is the norm. Sometimes there are federal extensions during recessions but we're not in one of those periods right now.

Did you have any earnings to report that week? Even small amounts can reduce your payment. Or did you request tax withholding?

oh yeah i did set up tax withholding, that's probably it. forgot about that

I tried using that but I'm not sure I have all the right wage information. My paystubs don't break it down by quarter.

Your W-2 from last year should have quarterly breakdowns, or you can request a wage statement from Washington ESD that shows all your reported earnings.

That's reassuring to hear. I'm worried it won't be enough to cover all my expenses.

You might need to cut back on some things but it definitely helps bridge the gap. The key is finding work before the benefits run out.

I might have to try that if my claim doesn't update soon. The waiting and uncertainty is really stressful.

Same here, I used Claimyr when I had questions about my benefit calculation. Much easier than playing phone tag with Washington ESD.