How much you get paid for unemployment in Washington - confused about weekly benefit amounts

So if my highest quarter was around $16,000, I'd get about $615 per week? That seems like a lot compared to what I expected.

That sounds about right for your income level. Remember you'll need to pay taxes on unemployment benefits, so set aside about 10-20% for that.

Yeah the phone lines are impossible. I found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to a real person at Washington ESD in like 20 minutes. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

That sounds too good to be true but I'm desperate at this point. Did they charge you a fortune?

It was worth every penny to actually talk to someone who could explain my benefit calculation. Way better than calling 200 times and getting hung up on.

Wait, so if I just started this job 8 months ago, do they use wages from my previous job too?

Yes, they use all covered employment during your base period. So if you worked somewhere else before your current job, those wages count too.

It's not half your paycheck. The benefit formula is designed to replace about 50% of your average weekly wage, but it's calculated using quarterly earnings divided by 26 weeks.

ok but like what if you worked overtime alot? does that count as regular wages?

Yes, overtime counts as regular wages for benefit calculation purposes. Washington ESD looks at your total gross wages reported by your employer.

How long did it take for them to determine your benefit amount? I filed two weeks ago and still don't have a final determination.

Mine took about 10 days. If you're not seeing anything after 2 weeks, there might be an issue with your wage records or identity verification.

Damn, I wish I made that much! I'm probably looking at like $400-500 per week based on my wages.

That's still decent money while you're job searching. Just remember to keep filing your weekly claims and doing your job search activities.

That does seem low for your income level. You should request a redetermination or appeal if you think there's an error in your wage records.

I've been trying to call them for weeks but can never get through! This is ridiculous.

Try that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier. It's specifically designed to help people get through to Washington ESD when the regular phone lines are jammed.

I have two kids. How much extra would that be?

It's $32 per week for each dependent child, up to 5 children. So you could get an extra $64 per week added to your benefit amount.

How long can you collect unemployment in Washington?

Standard is 26 weeks, but your maximum benefit amount might run out before then if your weekly benefit is high. It's based on your total base period wages.

Did you have to report both jobs when you filed your claim?

Yes, you need to list all employers from the past 18 months. Washington ESD will verify the wages with each employer automatically.

Online calculators are just estimates. Washington ESD uses your actual reported wages from employers, which might be different from what you think you earned.

That makes sense. I probably wasn't accounting for pre-tax deductions and stuff like that.

How much were you making before if you don't mind me asking?

was bringing home about $800 per week after taxes so unemployment is definitely less but its keeping me afloat

That's exactly my situation! I got promoted 3 months ago but I bet they're using my old wages.

Unfortunately yes. The base period lag means recent wage increases often don't count. It's one of the frustrating things about the system.

I tried that but couldn't figure out how to enter my wage information correctly. The quarters thing is confusing.

Yeah the quarter system is weird. You basically need to know your gross wages for each 3-month period going back over a year.

I only worked in Washington so that doesn't apply to me, but good to know for others.

Right, just mentioning it because a lot of people move around for work and don't realize this option exists.

What do you mean by able and available? I thought if you're collecting unemployment you're automatically considered available.

You have to be physically able to work and available for full-time work during normal business hours. If you have restrictions, it can affect your benefits.

Wow that's a great benefit amount! Were you worried about the taxes on that much unemployment income?

Yeah I'm having taxes withheld from each payment. You can set that up when you file your initial claim or change it later.

I keep seeing people mention Claimyr. Is it really that much better than just calling directly?

For me it was night and day. Actually got through to someone who could access my account and explain the calculation step by step. Worth checking out their demo video to see how it works.

How long do employers have to report wage information to Washington ESD?

Employers report quarterly, so there can be delays. If you filed right after a quarter ended, it might take a few weeks for all your wages to be in the system.

Thanks everyone for all the info! This has been super helpful in understanding how the benefit calculation works.

Good luck with your job search! Remember to keep filing your weekly claims and documenting your work search activities.