How much unemployment will I get from Washington ESD - benefit calculation help

Thanks! So if my highest quarter was around $13,000, I'd get about $250 per week?

That sounds about right, but Washington ESD has specific formulas they use. You can check the exact calculation on their website.

Good luck getting through to them on the phone! I've been trying for weeks to get answers about my claim.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service 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.

Is that legit? Sounds too good to be true.

That's helpful to know! Did you have any gaps in employment during your base period?

Nope, I worked consistently for the past 3 years at the same company.

That's not necessarily true. If you meet the requirements and file correctly, the process usually works as intended.

maybe for some people but ive been dealing with them for months and its been a nightmare

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

Exactly! They use whichever quarter had your highest total wages. If you were getting overtime, that could definitely boost your benefit amount.

That's great! Make sure you file your claim as soon as possible since there's a waiting week.

Will do! Planning to file online tomorrow morning.

Good point - I need to start keeping track of my applications right away.

Yes, keep detailed records. Washington ESD can audit your job search activities at any time.

I definitely worked way more than 680 hours in the past year, so I should be good on that requirement.

yeah the hour requirement is pretty easy to meet if you worked full time for over a year

Exactly. It's more complex than people think. The monetary determination letter you get will break down exactly how they calculated your benefit.

When do I get that letter?

Usually within a week or two of filing your initial claim, depending on how busy Washington ESD is.

That's really helpful! I'm worried about getting through to them if I have questions about my claim. Did Claimyr actually work for you?

Yeah it saved me so much time and frustration. Instead of calling hundreds of times, they got me connected to someone who could actually help with my claim.

Never heard of that service before but might be worth trying if the phone lines are still as bad as they were during covid

That's really frustrating! The calculation should be the same regardless of who you talk to. It sounds like there might be some confusion about which wages are being counted in your base year.

I think part of the problem is I had two different jobs last year and they're not counting all my wages properly. This whole system is broken.

Multiple employers can definitely complicate things. Make sure all your employers are showing up in your wage record when you log into your ESD account.

That's good to know! At $22/hour I should be well above the minimum anyway.

yeah with warehouse work you usually make enough to get a decent benefit amount

You might still qualify, but your benefit amount would be based on your part-time wages from the coffee shop plus your 6 months of full-time work. The key is meeting those minimum wage and hour requirements.

Should I apply anyway just to see? I'm worried about wasting time if I don't qualify.

Definitely apply! The worst they can say is no, and you might be surprised. Sometimes people think they don't qualify but actually do.

How much does it cost?

They focus on getting you connected rather than the cost. The value is in actually reaching someone when you need help.

Thanks for clarifying that! I was looking at my take-home pay.

yeah thats a common mistake. always use the gross amount from your paystubs

That math looks correct! $15,000 ÷ 26 = $576.92, so you'd probably get $576 or $577 per week depending on how they round it.

Yep, that's how the calculation works. You'll find out the exact amount when you file your claim and they process it.

thats a pretty good benefit amount, should help with bills while you look for another job

What counts as a job search activity? Is it just applying for jobs or other things too?

Applying for jobs, networking events, job fairs, even some online training courses can count. The WorkSource website has a full list of approved activities.

The job search requirements are pretty manageable once you get into a routine. I set aside time every week to apply for jobs and log my activities.

I didn't think about taxes! Should I have them withheld?

It's usually easier to have them withheld so you don't owe a big tax bill later. You can set this up when you file your weekly claims.

I made the mistake of not withholding and owed $800 in taxes. Definitely recommend having it withheld.

How do they determine the duration?

It's based on your total base period wages. The monetary determination will show your maximum benefit amount and how many weeks you're eligible for.

I only had one full-time job, so that should make it simpler.

Yes, that definitely makes the calculation more straightforward.

How long did it take for your first payment to come through after filing?

It took about 2 weeks for my claim to process and then I got my first payment. Some people have to wait longer if their claim goes into adjudication.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr. They handle all the calling and waiting for you. Made such a difference in getting my questions answered quickly.

Same here! The call volume is just too high to get through on your own most of the time.

So I need to plan for that gap in income. Thanks for the reminder!

Exactly. Make sure you have enough savings to cover that first week.

That's reassuring! I got $280 from the calculator so hopefully that's close to what I'll actually receive.

The calculator uses the same formulas they use for actual claims, so it should be very close.

Good point! I was laid off on Friday, so I'll file my claim this weekend.

Perfect timing. File online at esd.wa.gov - it's much faster than trying to call in your claim.

The online application is pretty straightforward. Just have your employment history and wage information ready.

Oh wow, I didn't think about taxes. Is it better to have them withheld or pay later?

I'd recommend having them withheld so you don't get hit with a big tax bill. It's 10% federal withholding if you choose that option.

Several people have mentioned Claimyr now. Seems like getting through to ESD is a real problem for a lot of people.

The phone system at ESD is definitely overloaded. Claimyr just makes it possible to actually reach someone without spending your whole day on hold.

That's reassuring! I was worried about some stuff from a previous job too.

Yeah, as long as your most recent job loss wasn't for misconduct, you should be fine. Being laid off definitely qualifies you.

Thanks everyone! This has been incredibly helpful. I feel much more confident about filing my claim now.

Good luck with your claim! The process is usually pretty smooth for straightforward layoff situations like yours.

I got two weeks of severance - will that delay my benefits?

It might push back when you can start collecting. You'll need to report it when you file your claim and Washington ESD will determine how it affects your benefits.

This thread has been super helpful! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and advice.

Good luck with your claim! The process gets easier once you understand how it works.

I'll double-check everything before submitting. Don't want any unnecessary delays!

Smart approach. It's much easier to get it right the first time than to fix errors later.