How much will I get for unemployment benefits in Washington?

That would actually help a lot! I was worried it might be way less than that. Do you know how they calculate the exact amount?

They take your highest quarter earnings, divide by 26, then multiply by 0.0385. There's also a minimum and maximum weekly amount that changes each year.

So they look at my best quarter? That would probably be last holiday season when I worked overtime. How do I know what quarters they're using?

Yes, exactly! You can see your base period wages when you file your claim online through SecureAccess Washington. The system will show you the exact quarters and amounts they're using for your calculation.

I had the same problem trying to reach them! Spent literally hours on hold. Actually found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. It was a lifesaver for getting my benefit questions answered.

That's actually more than I was expecting! I thought it would be way less. Do I get this amount every week until I find a job?

You get it for up to 26 weeks as long as you meet the weekly requirements - filing your weekly claim, being available for work, and doing your job search activities. You need to log at least 3 job search activities per week.

Yes, Washington state adjusts the maximum benefit amount annually. For 2025 it's $999 per week maximum, up from the previous year.

I tried that but got confused about which quarters to use. Is it the last four quarters or something different?

It's your base period which is usually the first four of the last five completed quarters before you file. So if you file now, it would be roughly October 2023 through September 2024.

Never heard of that service. Is it legit? I'm always skeptical of third-party services for government stuff.

Yeah it's real - claimyr.com. They basically help you get through the phone queue to talk to actual Washington ESD staff. Saved me hours of trying to call.

I was skeptical too but ended up trying it when I was stuck on hold for 3 hours. Worth it just to get real answers about my claim.

Variable hours actually work in your favor for the calculation. Washington ESD looks at your total earnings for each quarter, not your hourly wage. So if you had some high-earning quarters with lots of hours, that's what they'll base your benefit on.

That makes sense. I definitely had some good quarters during busy seasons. Guess I should file soon and see what happens.

Good to know! I got laid off this past Friday so I should file this week then?

Yes, definitely file this week. You want to file during the week you become unemployed, not wait until the following week.

26 weeks should hopefully be enough time to find something decent. The $999 max seems really high though - who qualifies for that much?

You'd need to be making serious money in your highest quarter. Like $65,000+ annually. Most retail workers end up in the $300-500 range.

What about severance pay? My employer gave me 2 weeks severance - does that count as income?

Yes, severance pay is considered income and will affect your benefits. You'll need to report it when you file your weekly claims. The weeks covered by severance might make you ineligible for benefits during that period.

That's awesome! I might try that if I have questions after I file. Did they charge you a lot for the service?

they dont really talk about pricing upfront but honestly it was worth it just to avoid the phone hell. saved me so much time and frustration

That's actually really helpful to know! Did your approval come through pretty quickly?

took about 2 weeks but no issues with my claim. make sure you have all your employer info ready when you file

They only look at your base period which is those specific four quarters. Gig work usually doesn't count unless you were paying into the system, but regular W-2 employment during that time period definitely counts.

That's a relief. I had steady work during most of that time period so I should be okay.

Oh wow, I didn't even think about taxes. Can I set that up when I file my claim?

Yes, there's an option to have 10% withheld for federal taxes when you set up your claim. I always recommend doing that so you don't get hit with a big tax bill later.

Wait, really? So I don't get paid for the first week at all?

Correct. It's been that way for years in Washington. You file weekly claims but the first one is unpaid.

Actually that changed during COVID but I think they brought it back. Really annoying when you're already stressed about money.

Is that something I do right away or can I wait until after I file?

You should do it right away. Washington ESD requires you to register within a certain timeframe after filing your claim. It's all connected to your job search requirements.

Good point! I didn't even think about taxes. Is it better to have them withheld or pay later?

Depends on your situation but I usually recommend having them withheld so you don't get surprised with a big tax bill.

Yeah I've been trying to read through their FAQ but it's written in such bureaucratic language. Like what does 'base period wages' even mean in plain English?

Base period wages are basically what you earned during those four specific quarters they look at. It's the foundation for calculating your weekly benefit amount.

Ugh, that's exactly what I was afraid of. Did you try calling to find out what's holding it up?

I've tried calling dozens of times. Either can't get through or get disconnected. Thinking about trying that Claimyr service people mentioned to actually talk to someone.

Definitely worth trying Claimyr if you've been stuck that long. Pending claims usually need agent intervention to get resolved.

Yes, they count all your covered employment during the base period. So wages from both jobs would be included in your benefit calculation, which should give you a higher weekly amount.

What counts as other income? Like if I do a few hours of freelance work or sell stuff online?

Any work income needs to be reported. Selling personal items usually doesn't count but freelance work definitely does.

That's good to know. I was worried about missing out on benefits if there are delays.

Thanks for the tip! I'll gather all that before I start the application.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr. Saved me so much frustration trying to get through their busy phone lines.

might have to check that out if i run into issues. thanks for the tip

How many jobs do I need to apply to each week? I've heard different numbers.

It's generally 3 job search activities per week, but they can be applications, networking, job fairs, etc. Not just applications.

And they do audit people randomly so keep good records of your job search activities. I learned that the hard way.

Same here! I was putting off filing because I was so confused but now I feel like I can actually do it.

The sooner you file the better. You can't get benefits for weeks before you file, so don't wait if you're eligible.

That makes sense. I think I'm definitely eligible since I was laid off through no fault of my own. Better to try than wonder what if.