How to calculate how much unemployment I will get from Washington ESD

So if my highest quarter was like $15,000, I'd get around $577 per week? That seems pretty good actually.

Yes, but there's also a maximum weekly benefit amount that changes each year. For 2025 I think it's around $999 per week max.

I definitely meet those requirements with my earnings from both jobs combined.

Make sure both employers reported your wages correctly to Washington ESD. Sometimes there are discrepancies that can affect your benefit calculation.

That's exactly what happened to me! I tried calling Washington ESD like 20 times over two weeks. Finally found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually got me through to an agent. They have this demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration.

Really? How does that work exactly? Is it legit?

Yeah it's totally legitimate. They basically handle the calling for you and get you connected to an actual Washington ESD representative. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.

How do they calculate the duration? Is there a minimum you need to work?

You need earnings in at least two quarters of your base year, and your total base year wages need to be at least 30 times your weekly benefit amount for maximum duration.

What's an alternate base year?

It's the last 4 completed quarters instead of the first 4 of the last 5. Sometimes this gives you higher earnings if you worked more recently.

Washington ESD will automatically check both base years and use whichever one gives you a higher benefit amount.

Good point, I forgot about taxes. So the weekly amount isn't what I'll actually receive.

right, and you'll get a 1099-G at the end of the year for tax purposes

What if there's an error on the monetary determination?

You can file an appeal within 30 days if you disagree with their calculation. Usually it's because they're missing wage information from one of your employers.

This happened to my friend last year. Her part-time job wages weren't showing up and it lowered her benefit amount by like $150 per week until she appealed.

What's standby status?

It's when your employer temporarily lays you off but expects to call you back within a specific timeframe. You don't have to do job searches but you have to be available to return to work immediately.

What counts as a job search activity?

Applying for jobs, going to job fairs, networking events, even some online training courses. You have to keep a log of everything.

The job search requirements are no joke. They audit people and if you can't prove your activities they'll make you pay back benefits.

That sounds really helpful. I might try that if I run into issues with my claim.

Claimyr worked for me too. The Washington ESD phone system is just impossible to get through otherwise.

I did get a small severance. How does that work exactly?

They'll calculate how many weeks the severance covers based on your previous weekly wage and delay your benefits by that amount of time.

Yeah I'm hoping it's straightforward since I had regular W-2 employment.

W-2 employment is definitely easier than if you had 1099 income or were self-employed. Those situations get really complicated.

So if my weekly amount is $500 and I can collect for 26 weeks, my maximum would be $13,000 total?

Exactly. But you can only collect as long as you remain eligible and continue filing weekly claims.

And remember you have to certify that you're able and available for work each week when you file your weekly claim.