How much unemployment will I get from Washington ESD - need help calculating weekly benefit amount

So if my highest quarter was around $7,000 that would be about $270 per week? That seems low compared to what I was making.

That math sounds about right. Remember unemployment is meant to be temporary assistance, not full wage replacement. You can work part-time and still collect benefits as long as you report all earnings on your weekly claims.

Did you call Washington ESD to ask them to explain it? I'm worried mine will be calculated wrong too.

good luck getting through to them on the phone lol. ive been trying for weeks

Thanks! So if my highest quarter was around $13,000, that would be $500 per week? That seems higher than I expected.

Yes, that math looks right. The minimum weekly benefit is $295 and maximum is $999, so $500 would fall within that range.

Good point, I definitely meet those requirements since I was working full time.

Never heard of that service before. Did it actually work for you?

Yeah it did! I was able to speak with an actual Washington ESD representative within a few hours instead of calling for days myself.

I'll keep that in mind if I have trouble getting through when I file my claim.

I was planning to file this weekend - is that soon enough or should I do it today?

File today if you can! Every day counts when it comes to your claim effective date.

Your benefit amount shouldn't change week to week unless you're reporting part-time work earnings. Are you working any hours while collecting?

yeah i've been doing some gig work here and there, maybe that's why

That's exactly why! Washington ESD reduces your weekly benefit based on any earnings you report.

That's really helpful! I think my quarterly wages were pretty consistent since I was salary. So they don't look at my total annual income, just the highest quarter?

Exactly right. They only use your highest quarter from the base period, which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed.

How long did the adjudication take? I'm worried about delays since I need to start getting payments soon.

like 6 weeks total. kept calling the 800 number but could never get through. finally used this service called claimyr that helped me reach an actual person at washington esd

Never heard of that before. What is Claimyr exactly?

its a service that calls washington esd for you and gets you connected to an agent. found it at claimyr.com and they have a video demo showing how it works https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ pretty simple to use

Is that legit? Sounds too good to be true with how impossible it is to get through to Washington ESD normally.

Yeah I was skeptical too but it actually worked. The agent was able to break down exactly how they calculated my weekly benefit amount and explain why it was what it was.

How much does something like that cost though?

It's worth it when you consider how much time you save not sitting on hold for hours. Much better than the stress of trying to get through on your own.

Oh I didn't know about the two quarter requirement. I think I should be okay since I worked both jobs but that's good to know.

Where is the calculator on their website? I looked but couldn't find it.

It's under the 'File a Claim' section but honestly it's not very helpful. Gives you a rough estimate at best.

The calculator is outdated and doesn't account for all the variables. Best to just file your claim and see what they determine.

wait so if you have kids you get more money? i had no idea about the dependent thing

Yes, but they have to be under 18 or disabled adult children. You need to provide documentation when you file your initial claim.

That's really concerning. What kind of paperwork issue are you dealing with?

they said my separation reason was unclear even though i was obviously laid off. had to send in HR documents 3 times and they keep losing them or saying theyre not the right format

That sounds like you need to speak with someone directly rather than just uploading documents. Have you tried getting through to an agent to explain the situation?

3 weeks?? That's crazy long. I haven't even filed yet because I'm trying to understand everything first.

mine took almost a month to get the determination. the whole system is backed up

What kind of activities count? Just applying for jobs?

Job applications, networking events, career fairs, interviews, even some online training courses. Check the WorkSource website for the full list.

What if you get a new job that pays more? Does that affect your unemployment if you get laid off again?

No, your current benefit year calculation won't change. But if you establish a new claim later, they'll use your more recent earnings which could result in a higher weekly benefit amount.

Good to know about the 26 week limit. Are there any extended benefits available right now in Washington?

Extended benefits are triggered when unemployment rates hit certain thresholds. Not currently available in Washington but that can change based on economic conditions.

Yes, you can qualify with part-time work as long as you meet the minimum earnings requirements. It's all based on your total wages, not whether you were full or part-time.

That's a relief! I was worried I wouldn't qualify at all.

Employment gaps don't matter as long as you have sufficient earnings in your base period. They just look at what you earned, not when you earned it within that timeframe.

That's a relief. I was worried the 3 month gap would disqualify me somehow.

Oh perfect! I'll try that calculator before I file my claim.

I tried that calculator and it was way off for me. Ended up being like $150 less than it estimated.

That's weird, maybe it depends on your specific wage history or if you had gaps in employment.

3 months?! How did she survive that long without income?

had to borrow money from family and use credit cards. she finally got through to someone using that claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and they fixed her claim in like 2 days

Yes, commission earnings count as long as they were reported as wages on your W-2. Washington ESD looks at all reported earnings from covered employment.

Good to know, thanks. My commission checks were irregular so I wasn't sure how they'd handle that.

Good point, I hadn't thought about the tax implications.

I always have them withhold 10% for federal taxes. Better than getting hit with a big tax bill later.

No, your weekly benefit amount stays the same throughout your benefit year. You get up to 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits in Washington.

Thanks! I was worried it would start decreasing after a certain point.

That's exactly the kind of situation where Claimyr helped me. They got me connected to an agent who could look at my account and fix the wage calculation issue. Saved me weeks of frustration.

I might have to try that. This is driving me crazy and I need to get this resolved.

Thanks for mentioning that! I definitely want to have taxes withheld. Can I set that up when I file my initial claim?

Yes, there's an option during the application process, or you can change it later in your online account.

Depends on how your wages were distributed quarterly, but probably somewhere around $350-400 per week if your earnings were fairly consistent.

not bad, better than i thought it would be

How much does that service cost though? I'm already broke from being unemployed

i dont want to get into specific costs but it was worth it to finally get my claim resolved. way cheaper than continuing to use credit cards while waiting for washington esd

What kind of issues did you have with the calculation?

They were using the wrong base period for some reason and my benefit amount was way lower than it should have been. The agent was able to correct it once I finally got through.

I'll double-check all that information before submitting. Thanks for the tip!

Yeah verification delays are the worst. I had to wait almost a month for my first payment because of employer verification issues.

This has been super helpful! I feel much more prepared to file my claim now.

Agreed, lots of good info in this thread. Wish I had found something like this when I first filed.

I've been considering going back to school too. Do you know what the rules are?

You generally need approval for training programs, but some approved programs can extend your benefits. Best to call and ask about your specific situation.

How long did it take them to get you connected?

It was pretty quick, just a few hours. Way better than the days I spent trying to call myself.

What counts as a job search activity? Just applying for jobs or other things too?

Job applications, networking events, career fairs, informational interviews, creating/updating professional profiles. They want documentation so keep records of everything.

Reported tip income should count toward your base period earnings, but make sure it was properly reported by your employer. Sometimes there are issues with how tip income gets recorded.

I'll have to check my W-2s to make sure everything was reported correctly then.

That gives me hope that mine will be decent. Did you have any issues with the claim process?

Pretty smooth overall. Just make sure you file as soon as possible after your last day of work. The sooner you file, the sooner you start getting benefits.

I feel you but it's better than nothing. At least Washington state has some of the higher unemployment benefits compared to other states.

true i guess. just stressful when you have rent and bills to pay

Should I elect to have taxes taken out or just pay them later? I don't want to owe a bunch at tax time.

Depends on your tax situation but I'd recommend having them withheld. Easier than dealing with a big tax bill later.

How long after filing do you typically get the monetary determination letter?

Usually within 1-2 weeks if there are no issues with your claim. Could be longer if they need to verify employment or wages.

An extra $50 per week adds up fast. Maybe I should try calling them once I get my determination letter to make sure everything is calculated right.

Same here - they helped me understand why my benefit amount was lower than expected. Turned out I needed to report some additional wages from a previous job.

Good point. What happens if you forget to file a weekly claim?

You can usually file late claims but there might be delays in your payments. Better to just set a reminder and file every Sunday.

What kind of information do they ask for? I want to make sure I have everything ready.

Employer names, addresses, dates of employment, reason for separation, and your Social Security number. Having your last pay stub helps too.

Thanks for that tip. I was looking at my take-home pay which would definitely give me the wrong calculation.

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

i thought i saw one but maybe im thinking of a different states website. sorry for the confusion

Good point! I was laid off on Friday so I'll file this weekend. Better to get it started even if I don't have all the details figured out.

exactly! you can always call later to clarify details but you cant get back those lost weeks

Yeah I'm definitely going to need to cut back on expenses. At least it's something though.

better than nothing for sure. just dont expect it to cover everything you were spending before

You can request a redetermination if you think there's an error in your benefit calculation. You'll need to provide documentation of your wages though.

I tried uploading documents but their system keeps timing out. So frustrated with their website

That's when you need to speak with someone directly. The online system has a lot of technical issues that agents can work around.

When do you have to file the weekly claim? Is there a specific day?

you can file sunday through saturday for the previous week. i always do mine on sunday morning so i dont forget

That's really reassuring to hear from multiple people. I'll keep that in mind if I run into problems.

seems like everyone who actually tried it had good results. might be worth bookmarking just in case

Good point about gross vs net. I was thinking about my take-home pay but they calculate from gross wages.

exactly, so the percentage replacement of your actual spending money is lower than it first appears

that would make too much sense for a government agency lol

seriously though, other states have much clearer information available

Good luck with your claim! Feel free to post back here if you run into any issues during the process.

hope it goes smoothly for you! remember that claimyr option if you need to reach washington esd directly