How much unemployment will I get if I make $400 a week in Washington state?

So that would be around $200 per week? That's actually not too bad considering.

Yeah, roughly in that range. But remember there's a minimum and maximum weekly benefit amount that changes each year.

Same here! I spent like an hour trying to figure out that calculator and gave up. It asks for all these quarters and earnings that I don't have memorized.

You can find your earnings history on your Social Security statement or by calling Washington ESD, but good luck getting through to someone who can actually help explain it.

Never heard of that before. How does it work exactly?

Basically they handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when an agent picks up. Check out claimyr.com - saved me hours of frustration.

Sounds too good to be true but I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point.

Wait, so if I just started this job a few months ago, would that hurt my benefit amount?

Potentially yes. If you didn't have much income during that base period, your benefits could be lower or you might not qualify at all.

This is why the timing of when you file matters so much. I learned this the hard way.

Did you have any issues with the job search requirements while you were collecting?

Yeah, you have to do 3 job search activities per week and log them in WorkSourceWA. It's a pain but not too hard to meet.

What do you mean by waiting week?

The first week you're eligible for unemployment, you don't get paid for it. It's like a penalty week or something.

It's not really a penalty, it's just how the system works. You still have to file that first week though.

That's exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier - it was a game changer for actually talking to someone at Washington ESD without the endless hold times.

I might have to check that out because this is driving me crazy.

How does that work exactly? Do they just subtract what you earn from your benefit?

Not exactly. There's a formula where you can earn up to a certain amount before it affects your benefits. I think it's like 1/4 of your weekly benefit amount.

Be super careful about reporting those earnings correctly. Washington ESD will find out eventually and overpayments are a nightmare to deal with.

Did those gaps affect your benefit calculation?

Yeah, because they look at your highest earning quarter and mine was lower due to the gaps. It's all about that base period they use.

Good advice. Is there anything specific I should be documenting?

All your job applications, any training you do, networking events, anything that counts as a job search activity. And definitely save emails from Washington ESD.

Wow, that's way more than I'd ever get. What kind of salary would you need to get the maximum?

You'd need to be making around $65,000+ annually to max out the benefits. Most people get somewhere in the middle range.

That's true, I'm probably overthinking this. I just want to be prepared.

Better to be prepared than caught off guard. Just remember you can't collect benefits for weeks you don't file, so don't delay.

That's pretty impressive. Did it cost a lot?

I don't remember the exact cost but it was worth it to avoid the phone frustration. Much better than wasting entire days trying to get through.

I hadn't thought about that. Are there income limits for those programs?

Yeah, but unemployment benefits usually don't put you over the limits. Worth checking out DSHS website for Washington state programs.

I'm starting to see that just from trying to research this stuff online.

It's frustrating but don't let it discourage you from filing if you need to. You've paid into the system, you deserve the benefits.

Good to know. In my case it would be a layoff due to budget cuts.

That should be fine then. Just make sure your employer doesn't try to contest your claim by saying you were fired for cause.

How do you file the weekly claims? Is it online?

Yeah, through the Washington ESD website. You can also do it by phone but online is usually easier. Just don't miss the deadlines or you'll lose that week's benefits.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information. Hopefully I won't need to use it but at least I know what to expect now.

You're welcome! This stuff is confusing but there are people who can help if you need it.

I'll definitely keep that in mind if I need to talk to someone at Washington ESD.

Good luck with everything! Hopefully your job situation works out and you don't need unemployment at all.