How much unemployment will I get if I make $800 a week - Washington ESD calculation help

Thanks! So they don't just use my current salary? They actually look back at previous quarters?

Exactly. They use what's called your 'base period' which is the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. So if you file in 2025, they'd look at Q1 2024 through Q4 2024.

Thanks! So it's not just half of what I was making weekly? That's better than I thought.

It's actually more complicated than that. They take your highest quarter wages, divide by 26, then multiply by 0.0385. So if your highest quarter was $10,400 (13 weeks × $800), your weekly benefit would be around $400.

Wait, so if I made $10,400 in my best quarter ($800 x 13 weeks), that would be about $400 per week in benefits?

That's about right! $10,400 x 0.0385 = $400.40 per week. Pretty close to what you calculated.

What caused the adjudication delay? I'm worried about that happening to me.

they said it was routine but i think they just get backed up. calling them was impossible until i found this service called claimyr that helped me get through

That's really helpful, thanks for the exact formula. Is there a minimum amount too?

Yes, the minimum is $295 per week in 2025. You'll definitely qualify for more than that with your wages.

Oh no, really? I heard their phone system was bad but didn't realize it was that difficult.

Yeah, you'll get busy signals or be on hold for hours just to get disconnected. I ended up using a service called Claimyr that helped me get through. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

What counts as a job search activity? Just applying for jobs?

Applying for jobs, networking events, job fairs, updating your resume, even informational interviews. Check the WorkSourceWA website for the full list.

I had the same problem until someone told me about Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ

never heard of that but anything is better than sitting on hold for hours just to get disconnected

Good point, I didn't think about taxes. Can I change the withholding amount later if I need to?

Yes, you can adjust your tax withholding through your Washington ESD account at any time.

When do I file the weekly claims? Is it the same day every week?

You can file starting Sunday for the previous week. Most people do it Sunday morning to get it out of the way.

How long did adjudication take for you? I'm worried about delays if I have to file.

took like 6 weeks for them to approve mine. they had to verify my employment history or something. was stressful waiting

So I need to plan for being without income for at least 2-3 weeks while everything processes?

Yeah, that's about right. Sometimes longer if there are issues with your claim.

What happens if you worked different jobs during those quarters? Do they combine all the wages?

Yes, Washington ESD combines wages from all employers during your base period. As long as your employers reported your wages correctly, it should all be included automatically.

That's helpful to know! How was the application process for you?

The online application was straightforward, but I had issues with my account getting locked and couldn't reach anyone by phone for help. Took me 3 tries to get it submitted properly.

What counts as job search activities? Is it just applying for jobs?

Applying counts, but so does networking, attending job fairs, updating your resume, even taking relevant online courses. They're pretty flexible about what qualifies.

Have you tried using Claimyr? A friend of mine was in a similar situation and they helped her get through to someone who actually resolved the issue within a few days.

what's claimyr? is it free?

It's a service that helps you reach Washington ESD agents. Not free but way cheaper than losing weeks of benefits. Check claimyr.com for details.

I don't have kids but good to know for others reading this.

How much can I work before it affects my benefits?

i think you can earn up to like $200 or something before it starts reducing your benefits but don't quote me on that

So if my WBA is around $400, I could earn up to $100 without reduction?

That's right, but anything over that gets deducted from your benefits dollar for dollar.

Is that separate from the Washington ESD website?

Yes, WorkSourceWA is the state's job search website. You need to create a profile there within a certain timeframe of filing your claim.

That seems to match what others are saying. Did you have any issues getting approved?

nope, pretty straightforward since i was laid off. just make sure you have your employer info ready when you file

Good to know, hopefully I won't need to worry about that.

26 weeks should be enough time to find something new. Thanks everyone for all the help!

Thanks! This thread has been super helpful, I feel much more prepared now.

I feel your pain. Have you tried calling right when they open at 8 AM? Sometimes that helps.

I've tried everything - calling at 8 AM, during lunch, late afternoon. Nothing works. This system is broken and they don't care about people who need help.

Is this legit? I'm desperate at this point but don't want to get scammed.

It's legitimate. They have a demo video that explains exactly how it works - https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Helped me resolve a payment issue that I couldn't get answered through normal channels.

Good point! I didn't think about the tax implications. Do they withhold 10% like federal taxes?

You can choose to have 10% federal tax withheld. Washington state doesn't have income tax so no state withholding needed here.

That's reassuring to hear. I was worried they might make errors in calculating benefits.

nah the calculation is automated based on your wage history in their system. the delays are usually in adjudication or identity verification, not the math part

How do you access that wage history? I want to make sure everything looks correct.

Log into secure.esd.wa.gov with your SAW account and look for 'View Wage and Tax Information' or similar. It shows all reported wages by quarter and employer.

Hang in there! Adjudication can take 4-6 weeks unfortunately. Are you checking your online account regularly for any requests for additional information?

Yes, I check daily but there's nothing showing that I need to provide. It just says 'adjudication in progress' with no other details.

Really? They could actually get you information about your specific case?

Yes, the agent was able to look up my claim and see notes about what documents they were waiting for. Turned out I needed to provide additional proof of my separation reason.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! Sounds like I'd be looking at around $400-450 per week if I need to file. Hopefully I won't need to but good to know what to expect.

Yeah, and remember you can collect for up to 26 weeks in Washington (or longer if there are federal extensions), so it's decent coverage if you need time to find a new job.

Good advice! I made the mistake of not tracking my job search properly and had to reconstruct it later when they asked for documentation.

Exactly. Keep detailed records of every application, networking contact, and job search activity. Better to have too much documentation than not enough.

Yes, overtime is included in your total wages for benefit calculation purposes. Washington ESD looks at all wages reported by your employer, including overtime, bonuses, and commissions.

That's good to know! So the higher quarters with overtime would actually help my benefit amount.

That's a crucial tip! I would have assumed you wait until approval to start filing weekly claims.

Nope, you need to file for every week you want to claim benefits, starting from your first week of unemployment. The weekly filing deadline is very strict - you can't file late or make up missed weeks.

Yeah, the benefit formula itself is reasonable. It's just getting through to them when you have questions or problems that's the nightmare.

exactly. at least now i know about that claimyr thing if i run into phone issues. seems like a lot of people here have had success with it

What's the difference in requirements for standby status?

With standby, you don't have to do the 3 weekly job search activities since you're expected to return to your employer. But you need documentation from your employer confirming the temporary layoff and expected return date.

This is such a helpful summary! I've been following this thread as someone who might need to file soon too. The $400-450 range seems to be the consensus for someone making $800/week. One thing I'm still confused about though - do they use your actual weekly wages or do they calculate everything based on quarterly totals? Like if I had some weeks with overtime that pushed me over $800, would that help my benefit amount?