How much unemployment will I get if I make $1,000 a week - Washington ESD benefit calculation help

So they don't just use my current weekly pay? That's confusing. What if I just started this job recently?

Nope, they look at your earnings history over the past 15-18 months. If you just started making $1000/week recently, your benefit might be based on lower previous earnings.

That's pretty good! How long did it take to get your first payment after filing?

About 3 weeks, but that was without any issues. Make sure you have all your employer info ready when you apply.

I couldn't find that calculator anywhere on the ESD site. Do you have a direct link?

It's buried in their tools section. Search for 'benefit estimator' on the Washington ESD site.

I tried that calculator and it gave me a totally different number than what I actually got. Those things are never accurate.

Is that legit? I've never heard of paying someone to call ESD for you.

Yeah it's real. I was skeptical too but after spending hours trying to get through to ESD myself, it was worth it to get actual answers about my specific situation.

I've heard mixed things about those calling services. Some people swear by them, others say it's a waste of money.

They use your base year earnings, which is typically the first four of the last five completed quarters before you file. So probably your lower earnings unfortunately.

that sucks! so even though I make good money now it doesn't matter?

That's correct. The system is designed to look at your work history, not just current earnings. It's meant to replace wages you've already earned and paid taxes on.

You might be right. I know they adjust it annually based on average wages. The exact amount changes each year.

I just filed last month and my benefit calculation showed the max at $999, so that's still current as of now.

It's because unemployment insurance is based on wages you've already earned and paid UI taxes on. The system isn't perfect but there's logic to using historical earnings.

Still doesn't help when you need money NOW based on your current expenses, not what you made 18 months ago.

I hear you man. The whole system feels outdated.

That would be amazing! I was worried it would be way less. Do you know how long benefits last?

Standard unemployment in Washington is up to 26 weeks, but it depends on your total base year earnings and the unemployment rate.

Good to know! I only have the one employer but I'll double check my records.

Yeah, they're really strict about having complete work history. Better to over-report than under-report.

What counts as a job search activity?

Applying for jobs, networking events, job fairs, even updating your resume counts. They have a list on the ESD website.

And you have to log everything in WorkSourceWA. Don't skip that step or they'll stop your benefits.

How much did that cost you?

I don't remember the exact amount but it was worth it to get accurate info instead of stressing about unknowns.

I might try that too. I've been calling ESD for a week straight with no luck.

I haven't been laid off yet, just trying to plan ahead. My company's been talking about possible cuts.

Smart to plan ahead. If you do get severance pay, that might affect when your unemployment benefits start.

Good luck getting through though. I spent literally hours on hold last time.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr. The phone wait times are ridiculous.

Thanks for all the advice everyone! This has been really helpful.

Hope you don't need to use any of this info, but good to be prepared!

That's really good to know! I hadn't heard about the alternate base year option. So if I understand correctly, they could potentially use a more recent period that includes more of my $1000/week earnings instead of going back to when I might have been making less? That could make a huge difference in my benefit amount. Do you know if you have to specifically request this or do they automatically consider it?

You usually have to request it specifically - they don't automatically check for alternate base year eligibility in most cases. When you apply, you can ask the agent about it or there's usually a section in the application where you can indicate if you want them to consider alternate base year calculations. It's definitely worth requesting if your recent earnings are significantly higher than your standard base year period. The alternate base year uses the most recent four completed quarters instead of the first four of the last five quarters, so it could capture more of your $1000/week earnings depending on when you file.

This is super helpful! I feel much better knowing that my 14 months of consistent earnings should work in my favor. The $600-750 range would definitely help if I do end up needing to file. I'm definitely going to ask about that alternate base year option too - seems like it could make a real difference. Thanks for breaking down the math in a way that actually makes sense!

That's really reassuring to hear from someone who went through the same situation! $687/week sounds like a solid benefit amount. I'm definitely going to start organizing my pay stubs now - I have them all saved digitally but haven't calculated the quarterly totals yet. It's good to know the application process itself isn't as bad as the website makes it seem. Did you have any issues with the weekly certifications or job search requirements once you started receiving benefits?

The weekly certifications were pretty straightforward - just had to log in every week and answer a few questions about whether I worked or earned any money that week. The job search requirement was 3 activities per week which sounds like a lot but it's really not that bad. Applying to jobs online counts, so does updating your LinkedIn profile, attending virtual job fairs, even networking calls with former colleagues. I kept a simple spreadsheet tracking what I did each week and never had any issues. The WorkSourceWA system they make you use is a bit clunky but once you get used to it, the whole process becomes pretty routine. Just make sure you don't miss your weekly certification - they're pretty strict about the deadlines!