How much will I receive unemployment benefits from Washington ESD?

Thanks! So they don't just look at my last paycheck amount? They go back further to find my highest earning quarter?

Exactly right. They look at the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed. It's called your base year period.

That's actually higher than I expected! Do you know if the part-time job I had before affects the calculation at all?

Yes, they look at all quarters in your base period. If your part-time earnings were significant, it could help boost your weekly amount. Check your eServices account to see your wage history.

Wait I'm confused about the base period thing. Is that the same as the highest quarter?

No, base period is the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters. Highest quarter is just one quarter within that base period that had your biggest earnings.

It's not quite that simple - it's based on quarterly earnings, not just your last weekly pay. The calculation can be confusing.

oh ok that makes sense why the amounts seem random then

That's helpful! Do you remember where exactly on their site? I've been looking around but there's so much information.

I think it was under the 'Before You Apply' section, but honestly their website navigation is terrible. You might have better luck just calling them directly.

Good luck getting through on the phone! I tried calling Washington ESD for three days straight and kept getting disconnected. Super frustrating when you just need basic information.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents automatically. I watched their demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ and tried it - got connected within 2 hours instead of calling all day. Check out claimyr.com, totally worth it when you need real answers about your claim.

Never heard of that but I'm desperate at this point. Did they actually help resolve your issue or just get you connected?

They got me connected to an actual person who could look at my account. The agent was able to explain exactly how my benefit amount was calculated and when my first payment would come.

I tried that but it keeps asking for specific quarter amounts and I don't have all my old pay stubs. Where do I find that info?

log into your eservices account, all your reported wages should be there under wage and potential benefits

Never heard of that service before. Does it actually work or is it just another scam?

Totally legit! I was skeptical too but it really did connect me to ESD when I couldn't get through any other way. They handle all the calling and waiting for you.

Interesting, I might try that if I can't figure out my benefit amount from the website calculator.

Wait, I thought it was just the highest quarter divided by 26? Now I'm confused which formula is right.

You're thinking of a different calculation. The two highest quarters divided by 52 is the standard method Washington ESD uses for regular unemployment benefits.

Actually, I think we might both be partially right - there are different calculation methods depending on your situation. Regular UI uses the two-quarter method.

I feel you! The whole system seems designed to be as complicated as possible.

The reason they use quarterly earnings is to prevent people from gaming the system by working extra hours right before filing. It gives a more accurate picture of your typical earnings.

I don't have any kids, so I guess that doesn't apply to me. Good to know for others though!

The dependent allowance is nice but $25 per kid doesn't go very far these days with childcare costs.

True, but every little bit helps when you're unemployed. Plus it's tax-free unlike regular wages.

That doesn't sound right. If you made $65k annually your weekly benefit should be much higher unless your earnings were very uneven across quarters. You might want to appeal if you think there's an error.

Yeah I had a big gap between jobs mid-year which screwed up my base period. Still feels unfair though.

Oh no I didn't even think about taxes. So if I get $220 a week I should expect less than that?

The $220 would be your gross benefit. If you elect tax withholding you'd get $198 deposited but won't owe taxes later. Your choice but I recommend the withholding.

Oh wow, I hadn't thought about taxes. So the amount they calculate isn't what I'll actually get in my bank account?

Right, if you choose tax withholding you'll get 90% of your calculated benefit amount. But then you won't owe as much (or anything) when you file your tax return.

If you're getting inconsistent information, ask to speak to a supervisor or request the calculation in writing. They should be able to show you exactly which quarters and wage amounts they used.

I second using Claimyr if you keep getting different answers. Sometimes you just need to talk to the right agent who actually knows what they're doing. The service connects you faster than trying to call yourself.

How can I check if my wages were reported correctly? This is all so confusing for a first-timer.

Log into eServices and look at your wage and potential benefits section. Compare it to your pay stubs to make sure everything matches up.

I feel you. The whole system seems designed to confuse people. At least once you get your first payment you know what to expect going forward.

True, though $400/week still doesn't go very far in Seattle. Better than nothing though.

Absolutely, it's not enough to live on long-term but helps bridge the gap while job searching.

Good point, I should look into that. Do you know if getting unemployment affects eligibility for other assistance programs?

It counts as income for most programs but many have income limits high enough that UI recipients still qualify. Worth applying to see what you can get.

Their IT systems are still pretty outdated. Half the time the website is down for 'maintenance' right when you need it most.

That's another reason why having a backup way to contact them is helpful, like that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier.

Wait really? So even if my claim gets approved this week I won't see money for another week after that?

Correct, and that's assuming no issues with your claim. If it goes to adjudication for any reason, could be much longer.

Did you have any issues with the job search requirements while waiting for your first payment?

Yeah you still have to do job searches during the waiting period. Keep track of everything in case they audit your search activities later.

That's a good idea! I forgot about WorkSource. Do they have walk-in hours or do you need an appointment?

Most locations have both walk-in hours and appointments available. Check their website for your local office's schedule.

Thanks for the reminder. I've been so focused on the money aspect I haven't really thought about all the other requirements.

The WorkSourceWA website has good resources for job searching and they count some of those activities toward your weekly requirement.

I think I'm going to try that. This thread has been helpful but I really need to talk to someone who can look at my specific situation.

Yeah, general info is good but every case is a bit different. An agent can tell you exactly what's in your file and when to expect payments.

That's why timing when you file can actually matter. If you wait a few weeks, a different quarter might be included in your base year.

Exactly! Though obviously you don't want to wait too long since there's that whole work search requirement once you start claiming.

Overtime counts the same as regular wages for benefit calculations. It's all just considered part of your quarterly earnings.

Sweet, that should help my benefit amount then since I had some really high earning quarters with all that OT.

Right, I've heard about having to look for jobs and report it. How many jobs do you have to apply for each week?

I think it's 3 job search activities per week, but don't quote me on that. The requirements are all listed when you do your weekly claim.

That's probably the best advice. I've been worrying about this for days when I should just apply and see what happens.

Yep, and if there are any issues with your benefit amount, you can always appeal or ask for a redetermination later.

Good point! I'll double-check that when I file. Thanks everyone for all the helpful information!

No problem! This forum has been super helpful for me too when I was dealing with unemployment stuff. Good luck with your claim!