How much unemployment pay can I expect from Washington ESD?

Thanks! That's actually higher than I expected. Do you know if overtime hours count toward the calculation?

Yes, overtime counts as regular wages for benefit calculations. Make sure all your W-2 earnings are included in their system.

Thanks! So they look at my best 3-month period? That would probably be last summer when I was working overtime almost every week.

Yeah exactly. If you made good money during your highest quarter you should get a decent weekly amount. Just remember you have to file your weekly claims every week to keep getting paid.

Thanks! So if I made like $8,000 in my best quarter, that would be around $300 divided by 26 times 0.6 or something like that?

Not quite - you divide the $8,000 by 26 first to get about $307, then they calculate your benefit from that weekly amount. The exact formula is a bit more complex but you're in the right ballpark.

Oh wow, I didn't realize it was that far back. I did get a raise about 8 months ago so that might not count then.

The base year thing is confusing but it's to prevent people from working a few high-paying weeks just to boost their UI benefits.

That's really helpful, thank you! I think my highest quarter was around $7,500 so that would put me around $220 a week. That's not great but better than nothing I guess.

Don't forget you can work part-time while on unemployment and still collect benefits as long as you report your earnings. Just make sure to report everything accurately on your weekly claims.

I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. It saved me hours of calling and getting nowhere.

Interesting, I'll check that out. I'm desperate at this point because I think there's an error in my wage calculation and I can't get anyone to look at it.

You should also be able to see your wage history in your SecureAccess Washington account. That might help you verify if the calculation is correct before you spend time trying to reach someone.

Good point about taxes. I definitely don't want to owe a bunch at tax time. Can you set up withholding when you file?

Yes, you can choose to have 10% withheld for federal taxes when you file your initial claim or weekly claims.

Three weeks?? That seems like a really long time. Did you have any issues with your application or was it just normal processing time?

no issues on my end, just said 'adjudication in progress' the whole time. finally got approved but never got an explanation for the delay

How much does something like that cost? Seems like it would be expensive.

It's worth checking out their site for details. For me it was way better than spending entire days trying to get through on my own.

I've heard about services like this but wasn't sure if they were legit. Good to know it actually worked for someone.

I didn't know there was an estimator! I'll definitely check that out before I file my claim.

The estimator is helpful but remember it's just an estimate. Your actual benefit amount might be slightly different based on how they verify your earnings.

That's really helpful, thank you! Is there anywhere on the Washington ESD website where I can get an exact estimate before I apply?

Yes, there's a benefit calculator tool on their website. You'll need your wage information from the past 18 months to get an accurate estimate.

That gives me hope! How long did it take for your claim to get approved? I just filed mine yesterday.

took about 2 weeks but I didn't have any issues with my claim. if you have any complications or they need to verify something it can take longer.

Good point! Do you recommend having taxes taken out or just paying at the end of the year?

I'd have them take it out honestly. Otherwise you might owe a chunk at tax time and not have the money saved up for it.

You can have 10% federal tax withheld from your benefits. It's optional but definitely worth considering if you don't want a surprise tax bill later.

Yeah but everything else has gone up way more than unemployment benefits have. $999 a week sounds like a lot but that's only about $52k a year if you were on it full time.

True, and most people don't get anywhere near the maximum anyway. The average weekly benefit in Washington is probably around $400-500.

No, overtime is just part of your total wages. They look at your gross wages for each quarter, so overtime pay gets included in that calculation just like regular hours.

OK good, that's what I was hoping. I put in so much overtime last year that it better count toward my benefits!

Wait really? That seems unfair. What if you got a big raise at your new job before getting laid off again?

Yeah it's one of those bureaucratic things that doesn't always make sense. You'd have to wait until you can file a new claim with updated wages.

That's correct. Your benefit amount is locked in based on the wages from when you first established your claim. It's frustrating but that's how the system works.

26 weeks should give me enough time to find something decent. Hopefully won't need all of it though.

Don't count on finding something quick in this job market. Better to assume you'll need most of those weeks.

Exactly. It's better to be pleasantly surprised than caught off guard when benefits run out.

Never heard of Claimyr before. Is it some kind of calling service or what?

Yeah it's basically a service that handles the calling process for you so you don't have to sit on hold or keep redialing. Seems like it could be worth it if you really need to talk to someone at Washington ESD.

Honestly anything that helps get through to ESD sounds good to me. I've wasted so many hours trying to call them about my weekly claims.

So they don't just look at your most recent job? They go back a full year?

Exactly - they use a full base year period, not just your last job. That's why if you had a better paying job earlier in that timeframe, it could actually increase your benefit amount.

I think they do it this way to account for people who had irregular work schedules or seasonal employment. It's supposed to be more fair but yeah, it's definitely not intuitive.

i guess that makes sense but its still frustrating when you just want to know what to expect

Yes, any wages reported on your W-2 count toward your unemployment calculation. So bonuses, commissions, tips that were reported - all of that gets included in your quarterly wage totals.

Awesome! That bonus might actually help me out then. Thanks for the info.

How much do you need to have earned to qualify? I'm worried I might not have worked long enough since I was only at my job for 18 months.

18 months should be plenty if you were working steady hours. I think you need at least $1,000 in your highest quarter and total wages of at least 1.5 times your highest quarter amount, but double check that.

I think it's complicated because they have to verify everything with employers and make sure people actually qualify. But yeah, it's definitely not user-friendly.

The whole system is designed to discourage people from applying. Half the people who qualify probably give up because of the paperwork.

I had a similar issue and used Claimyr to get connected to an agent who could explain the calculation. Much easier than trying to call directly - you should check it out at claimyr.com.

I might have to try that. This is driving me crazy not knowing if there's an error or if I'm just calculating it wrong.

Good to know, thanks! Did you have any trouble with the application process or was it pretty straightforward?

The online application was fine, but I did have to call them once to clarify something about my work history. That's when I learned how impossible it is to reach anyone by phone at Washington ESD.

They round down to the nearest dollar. So $234.67 would become $234 per week.

Figures they'd round down instead of up! Oh well, every little bit helps I guess.

Good advice! I made sure to gather all my pay stubs and employment records before filing. Definitely made it easier.

Yes! And keep copies of everything you submit. You never know when you might need to reference it later if there are any issues with your claim.

Oh wow, I didn't think about taxes. How much do they typically withhold if you choose that option?

I think it's 10% federal withholding if you elect it. Better to have it taken out automatically than get hit with a big tax bill later.

That's reassuring. I was worried the amount might change week to week or something.

Nope, it stays the same unless your employment situation changes or you start working part-time while collecting.

Exactly! And you have to do it by the deadline each week or you could lose that week's payment. I almost missed my first weekly claim because I didn't realize how strict they are about timing.

Good to know! When are the weekly claims due? Is it the same day every week?

You file for the week that just ended, and you have to do it by 11:59 PM on Saturday night after that week ends. So if the week ends on Saturday, you have until that Saturday night to file the claim.

I feel your frustration but once you understand the formula it's actually pretty straightforward. The problem is they don't explain it clearly anywhere on their website.

At least Washington's system is better than some other states. I moved here from another state and their unemployment system was even worse to navigate.

That's exactly the range I was hoping for. Should be enough to cover rent and basic expenses while I look for another job.

Yeah, it's not luxury living but it helps bridge the gap. Just make sure you're actively job searching because they do have work search requirements now.

Good to know! I might try to pick up some gig work while I'm looking for full-time.

Just make sure you report all earnings honestly. They cross-check with employers and tax records, so it's not worth trying to hide anything.

Absolutely. The penalties for not reporting income are severe and can affect future claims too.

How long did it take them to connect you? I've been trying to reach ESD for over a week about my pending claim.

They got me through same day. Check out their demo video to see how it works - it's at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Way better than the endless busy signals.

26 weeks should hopefully be enough time to find something new. I'm already applying to jobs so I'm hoping it won't take that long.

Just make sure you're keeping track of your job search activities because Washington ESD requires you to be actively looking for work. They can ask for proof of your job search at any time.

What counts as a job search contact? Just applying online or do I need to do other things too?

Applying for jobs, contacting employers directly, attending job fairs, networking events, even some training activities can count. Check the WorkSourceWA website for the full list.

They're pretty strict about this requirement. I know someone who had to pay back benefits because they couldn't prove their job search activities.

Definitely doing direct deposit. I need that money as fast as possible to keep up with bills.

Direct deposit usually processes within 1-2 business days after they approve your weekly claim. Much faster than waiting for mail.

How does Claimyr work exactly? Do they just keep calling until they get through?

from what i understand they handle all the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when they actually reach a human agent. saves you from sitting on hold for hours or getting disconnected

How long was your delay? Trying to figure out how long I can survive on savings before the benefits kick in.

Mine took about 2.5 weeks from filing to first payment, but I've heard it can be longer if there are any complications with your claim.

Wait, so if I was making less money a year ago, my benefits would be lower even though I was making more when I got laid off?

Exactly. The base year is typically the first four of the last five completed quarters before you file. So recent wage increases might not be reflected in your benefit calculation.

Yeah, I think I'm overthinking this. I'll just file the claim and see what happens. Thanks everyone for all the helpful info!

Good plan. The uncertainty is stressful but at least you'll know for sure once you file. Good luck with your claim!

How long did the appeal process take? And did you need to provide additional documentation?

It took about 6 weeks total and yes, I had to provide pay stubs and W-2s to prove my wages. But if you think they made an error, it's definitely worth appealing.

How much does Claimyr cost? Trying to decide if it's worth it for my situation.

I'd rather not discuss pricing publicly, but I thought it was reasonable for the time and frustration it saved me. Check out their website if you're interested.

Should I contact my former employer to get this information or do I just use what I remember?

Use your most recent pay stub and any employment records you have. Washington ESD will verify the information with your employer anyway, but having accurate details upfront helps avoid delays.

That seems kind of unfair. Shouldn't steady work be rewarded more than irregular overtime?

You'd think so, but the system is based on your highest earning quarter regardless of how you earned it. It's designed to help people with seasonal or irregular work, but it can seem unfair to steady workers.

Perfect, that's exactly what I needed to know. Really appreciate everyone's help in this thread!

Glad we could help! The unemployment system is confusing but once you get through the initial filing process, it's not too bad. Good luck with everything.

That's a great point. I was going to wait until I had all my paperwork organized but maybe I should just file now.

Exactly. You can always provide additional documentation later if they need it, but you can't backdate your claim to get benefits for weeks you waited.

This is crucial advice. I waited two weeks to file and lost out on nearly $900 in benefits because of it.

I wasn't in a union but there were about 15 of us laid off at the same time. I'll check with HR to see if they have any resources.

Mass layoffs sometimes trigger additional federal or state assistance programs. Definitely worth asking about.

Your benefit amount shouldn't change unless there was an error in the initial calculation or if they discover unreported wages. As long as your wage information was accurate, you should be fine.

Mine actually went UP after they processed my claim fully. Apparently they had incomplete wage information initially and found additional wages that increased my benefit amount.

That's encouraging! Hopefully the same thing happens for me.

Thanks for the reminder! I was wondering about the tax implications. I think I'll have them withhold the 10% to be safe.

Good idea. I didn't withhold taxes my first time on unemployment and ended up owing about $1,200 at tax time. Lesson learned!

How does that work exactly? Do they just call for you or is there more to it?

They help you get connected to an actual agent instead of sitting on hold forever. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that explains it better than I can.

Might be worth it. I've wasted so many hours trying to call Washington ESD directly with no luck.

Thanks everyone for all the help! I feel much more confident about filing my claim now and have a better idea of what to expect for my weekly benefit amount.

Good luck with your claim! Make sure to file your weekly claims on time and keep looking for work. The system works but you have to stay on top of it.