How to calculate unemployment benefits - Washington ESD formula confusing me

So they don't look at my total earnings, just my best quarter? That seems weird but okay. How do I find out what my quarters were?

Right, just the highest quarter. You can see your wage history in your SecureAccess Washington account under 'View Benefit Year Information' once your claim is processed.

So if my highest quarter was $15,000, I'd get about $577 per week? That seems higher than what I expected.

That's the basic formula, but there's a maximum weekly benefit amount that changes each year. For 2025 it's around $999 per week I believe.

How long did it take for your claim to get processed? I'm worried about the wait time.

took like 3 weeks but that was during busy season. yours might be faster

That sounds too good to be true. How does it actually work?

It basically handles the calling process for you so you don't have to sit on hold. When they get an agent on the line, they connect you. Super simple to use.

I've heard of services like this but wasn't sure if they were legit. Did you actually get through to ESD?

What if I worked part-time in some of those quarters? Does that affect the calculation?

Part-time work counts toward your base year earnings. It's all about the dollar amounts, not whether you were full or part-time.

Wait, I thought you needed to work full-time to qualify for UI benefits?

No, that's a common misconception. You can qualify with part-time work as long as you meet the earnings requirements.

So if my highest quarter was like $15,000, that would be about $577 per week? That seems pretty good actually.

Yeah that sounds about right, though there might be some other factors that affect it. The Washington ESD system should calculate it automatically once your claim is approved.

So they don't look at my total annual earnings? Just the highest quarter? That seems weird but I guess it makes sense for people with seasonal work.

Exactly! It's designed to help people whose income varies throughout the year. The quarterly method often works better than annual averages for calculating what you can live on weekly.

That helps! My highest quarter was actually $16,200 so that would put me around $311 per week if I'm doing the math right. My determination letter shows $298 so maybe there are some other factors?

Yeah Washington ESD has minimum and maximum amounts plus they might adjust for certain deductions. The exact formula can vary slightly based on when you worked and other factors.

Exactly! It just shows the final number but not how they got there. Did you ever figure out if yours was calculated correctly?

never did figure it out completely but it seemed close enough to what i expected so i didn't fight it

No, it's definitely based on your highest quarter only. A lot of people think it's total earnings which is why there's often surprise when the amount is calculated.

ugh that explains why mine was so low, i had some unpaid time off in my highest earning quarter

That's interesting - I've been dreading having to call Washington ESD about this. How does that service work exactly?

You just go to claimyr.com and they help you get connected to an actual person at Washington ESD instead of getting stuck in the endless phone tree. Saved me hours of frustration.

I'm always skeptical of third party services but if it actually works... Washington ESD's phone system is absolutely terrible

Oh wow, I didn't even think about taxes. What percentage do they usually withhold?

Federal tax withholding is 10% if you choose that option. No state income tax in Washington though.

It's actually more complex than that. You need to have earned wages in at least two quarters of your base period, and your total base period wages must be at least 1.5 times your highest quarter. Washington ESD has specific thresholds that change annually.

thanks for clarifying, i knew there was some kind of minimum but couldn't remember the details

I tried calling but kept getting busy signals or hung up on after waiting on hold for over an hour. It's so frustrating!

Oh man I totally feel your pain on that. I probably called 100 times before I found something called Claimyr that actually helped me get through to a real person at Washington ESD. Check out claimyr.com - they have this video demo that explains how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Basically they call for you and wait on hold so you don't have to.

Never heard of that service but honestly anything that helps with the Washington ESD phone nightmare sounds worth trying.

Wait I thought it was just the highest quarter divided by 26? Now I'm even more confused about how they calculate this stuff.

You're thinking of a different formula. Washington uses the two highest quarters method. It's (Quarter 1 + Quarter 2) ÷ 52 = weekly benefit amount.

Hmm, I've always heard it was just the highest quarter divided by 26. Maybe Washington changed their formula recently?

I've been looking for that calculator for days! Do you remember what section it was under?

I think it was under 'Calculate Benefits' or something like that but honestly their site changes so much I'm not sure if it's even still there

Is that legit? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for two weeks about my claim and can never get through.

Totally legit. I was skeptical too but it actually connected me to an agent in like 20 minutes instead of the usual 3+ hours of redialing.

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

So if I filed in January 2025, which quarters would they be looking at for my base period?

For a January 2025 filing, your base period would be July 2023 through June 2024. That's the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed.

Wait that doesn't sound right... wouldn't it be more recent quarters than that?

No, that's correct. Washington ESD uses completed quarters only, so there's always a lag. If your recent earnings were higher, you might qualify for alternate base period which uses more recent quarters.

Okay so if my highest quarter was around $13,500, that would be ($13,500 ÷ 26) × 0.04 = about $20? That can't be right.

You're missing a step - it's actually 3.85% of your highest quarter, not 4% divided by 26. So $13,500 × 0.0385 = about $520 per week.

The previous poster had the right idea but wrong math. It's quarterly wages × 0.0385 to get your weekly amount.

So with $52,000 in base year wages, I could get up to $15,600 total?

That's the maximum, but it depends on your weekly benefit amount and how long you're unemployed. If you find work sooner, you won't use the full amount.

I totally agree! It shouldn't be this complicated to figure out basic information.

Right? And then when you try to call them for help you can never get through. So frustrating.

How much does something like that cost though? I'm already stressed about money.

I thought it would be expensive too but it was actually pretty reasonable considering how much time and frustration it saved me. Plus I got accurate information instead of guessing.

I did some freelance work but it was 1099 income. Does that count?

No, 1099 income doesn't count toward UI benefits. Only W-2 employment where unemployment taxes were paid.

What about if you worked in another state during your base year?

You can combine wages from different states, but you need to file an interstate claim. It gets more complicated.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr.com - it's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. I was skeptical at first but after three weeks of failed calls, I tried it and got connected to an agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Totally worth it when you need to resolve benefit calculation issues.

That's really helpful to know! Did you have any issues with the verification process or did it go smoothly?

Pretty smooth actually. I think because all my wages were from Washington employers it was easier for them to verify. If you worked out of state recently that might complicate things.

I feel your frustration. The whole Washington ESD system seems designed to confuse people.

Right?? And good luck calling them to get clarification. I've wasted so many hours on hold.

I tried that already. Maybe I'm entering something wrong?

Make sure you're using gross wages, not net. And double-check your employment dates - those need to be exact.

I feel you on that. The whole system seems designed to confuse people and make them give up.

It really shouldn't be this hard to understand how they calculate something so important to people who just lost their jobs

I'll check that out, thanks! I hadn't looked beyond the main determination letter.

The online account definitely has more details but it's still not super clear about the actual formula they use

That sounds about right based on what I was making. Do you know if they count both my part-time jobs when calculating the base period wages?

Yes, they count all wages from all employers during your base period. So both your part-time jobs would be included in the calculation as long as those employers reported your wages to Washington ESD properly.

Make sure both employers actually reported your wages! I had an issue where one of my part-time jobs didn't submit their quarterly reports on time and it messed up my whole benefit calculation.

Oh no, that's scary! How did you finally get it fixed?

Had to file an appeal and provide all my wage statements. Took months to resolve. That's why I always tell people to verify everything Washington ESD calculates.

This is exactly why I kept detailed records of everything when I filed my claim. Washington ESD makes mistakes more often than they'd like to admit.

This is super helpful! So the minimum earnings requirement is separate from the calculation itself?

Exactly. You need the minimum total base period wages to qualify at all, then the highest quarter determines your weekly amount.

That might be the easiest approach. I'm just anxious about not knowing what to expect.

i get it but the calculation is based on your actual wage records they have on file anyway, so filing is the only way to know for sure

That's really helpful context! So even if my calculation came out higher than $999, they'd cap it there?

Exactly. And there's also a minimum amount - I think it's around $295 per week currently. So you'll get somewhere between those two numbers depending on your wages.

The maximum changes each year based on average wages in the state. It's tied to some formula but I can never remember exactly how they calculate it.

Overtime counts the same as regular wages for benefit calculation purposes. If it boosted your highest quarter, that helps your weekly amount.

sweet, that quarter was like $16k with all the OT so maybe my benefits won't suck as much as i thought

As a tax preparer, do you know if there's a way to estimate this before filing? I want to know what I'm looking at financially.

If you have your pay stubs, add up your highest earning quarter and multiply by 0.0385. That'll give you a close estimate of your weekly benefit.

Good point! I think I have most of my stubs but I should double check before filing.

Definitely do that. I had to submit wage verification for one employer and it delayed my claim by 3 weeks.

Good point! I've been so focused on the money part I almost forgot about the job search requirements.

Yeah, you need to be actively seeking work and keep records of your job search activities. It's 3 job search activities per week.

Oh that's a good point about calendar quarters vs pay periods. I was thinking about it wrong. So Q1 would be January-March wages even if I got paid in early April for March work?

Exactly! It's based on when you earned the wages, not when you received the paycheck. This trips up a lot of people, especially if you get paid biweekly or monthly.

How much does something like that cost though? I'm already strapped for cash being unemployed.

I don't remember the exact amount but it wasn't expensive, especially compared to the time and frustration it saved me. Plus getting the right info from Washington ESD quickly was worth way more than what I paid.

Oh interesting - I did get a decent bonus in my highest quarter. Maybe that's affecting the calculation somehow?

Yeah, bonuses count toward your total wages but they might calculate the weekly amount differently. The agent I spoke to was able to walk through my entire calculation line by line.

That's exactly the kind of detailed explanation you can only get by actually talking to someone at Washington ESD. The Claimyr service really does make that possible.

How much does something like that cost? I'm unemployed so I'm trying to be careful with money.

I think it's worth it when you consider how much time you'd otherwise spend trying to get through on your own. Check their website for current info.

I wasn't planning to keep working but that's good to know. Is there a limit to how much you can earn and still get partial benefits?

Yes, if you earn more than 1.5 times your weekly benefit amount, you won't qualify for any benefits that week. Below that threshold, they reduce your benefits dollar-for-dollar after the first $5 you earn.

Thanks for clarifying! So if my two highest quarters were $15,000 and $13,500, that would be $28,500 ÷ 52 = about $548 per week?

Exactly! Though remember that's before any taxes if you choose to have them withheld from your benefits.

Multiple jobs shouldn't matter - Washington ESD looks at your total wages from all employers in each quarter. As long as the wages were reported correctly, it should all be included in the calculation.

Good to know, thanks! I was worried they might only count wages from one employer or something.

How long after filing did you get that letter?

About 10 days I think? It came in the mail and also showed up in my SecureAccess Washington account online.

Oh that's good to know! I might pick up some gig work while I'm looking for full-time employment.

Yeah, just make sure you report all earnings on your weekly claims. Washington ESD will find out anyway and you don't want an overpayment issue.

That's reassuring. I was making around $52k so hopefully I'll get a decent amount.

Yeah, you should be fine. Just remember to file your weekly claims on time and keep track of your job search activities.

I only had one main employer, but I did some freelance work. Do I need to report that separately?

If you paid unemployment taxes on the freelance income (which most people don't), then it would count. Otherwise, probably not.

It's a common mistake. The quarterly system is counterintuitive compared to how we usually think about income.

Right? I always just assumed they got it right but now I'm realizing there could be errors.

It's always worth double-checking, especially if you had variable income or worked for multiple employers. Mistakes do happen.

Yeah, the lag exists because employers need time to report wages to the state. Using completed quarters ensures all the wage data is available and accurate.

Makes sense from an administrative standpoint but it's definitely not intuitive for people filing claims.

If there was an error in your favor, you should get back pay for all the weeks you were underpaid. But you'll need to get it corrected through Washington ESD first.

Good to know! Sounds like it's definitely worth checking the calculation carefully then.

Same here! At least now I have a better understanding of what to look for and how to verify it.

If you do find discrepancies, definitely consider using that Claimyr service to get through to Washington ESD quickly. Much better than spending hours on hold only to get disconnected.

That's really good to know! My salary did increase quite a bit in the last year so that might apply to my situation.

Definitely worth looking into. You usually have to request it specifically - they don't automatically calculate both options and give you the higher one.

The alternate base period uses the most recent 4 completed quarters instead of the standard base period. Can make a big difference for people whose income was rising.

Totally agree! This has been super helpful. I'm going to double-check my calculation and see if I need to contact Washington ESD about any discrepancies.

This is exactly the kind of practical information that should be easier to find on the Washington ESD website but isn't.

I know it's frustrating but the quarterly system actually protects workers better than a simple percentage. If you had one really good quarter and three bad ones, you'd get higher benefits than just averaging your whole year.

That's really helpful to know! Did you have any issues with employers not reporting wages correctly?

One employer had reported my wages to the wrong quarter initially, but Washington ESD caught it during processing and fixed it automatically. Apparently this happens pretty often.

Wait, that doesn't sound right. I thought everyone gets 26 weeks regardless of their benefit amount?

How do you know if the alternate base period would be better? Do you have to calculate both ways?

Washington ESD will usually check both for you if your standard base period doesn't qualify you or gives you a very low amount. But you can also request it specifically when filing your initial claim.

How did you manage to get through to someone? I've tried calling dozens of times and either get busy signals or get disconnected after hours on hold.

Thanks for clarifying that! So the maximum would be roughly 26 times the weekly amount in most cases?

Exactly, assuming you qualify for the full 26 weeks and don't hit the base period wage cap mentioned earlier.

This whole thread has been super helpful. I was getting overwhelmed trying to figure this out on my own but now I feel like I actually understand how the calculation works.

Good to know there's an appeal process. Hopefully I won't need it but it's reassuring that there's a way to fix errors.

The appeal deadline is pretty tight though - I think you only have 30 days from when they mail you the determination. So don't sit on it if something looks wrong.

And make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even while appealing! I made that mistake and it caused a whole other set of problems.

Good advice! I still have most of my pay stubs but I'll make sure to organize them before I submit anything.

Yeah Washington ESD loves their documentation. Better to have too much than not enough when dealing with them.

Yes, overtime counts! Washington ESD looks at your total gross wages for each quarter, which includes overtime pay, bonuses, and commissions.

Awesome, that should definitely help my benefit amount then. Thanks!

Wait, so if I file in February, they wouldn't count January wages? That seems weird.

right, if january isnt a completed quarter yet they use the previous 4 complete quarters. washington esd should explain this in your determination letter though

This happened to my friend. Her benefits got reduced after 6 weeks because Washington ESD got updated wage info from her previous employer. Really messed up her budget.

That's terrifying. Is there any way to prevent that from happening?

Not really, but if you keep good records and stay on top of any notices from Washington ESD you can catch problems early.

That's reassuring to hear! I was worried the calculation would be super complicated but it sounds pretty straightforward once you understand the formula.

The calculation itself is simple but Washington ESD's systems for processing everything can be slow and glitchy. That's usually where the real problems come in.

Yes! This is what I should have done instead of waiting so long to appeal. The redetermination process is much faster than a full appeal.

Exactly. And if the redetermination doesn't fix the issue, you can still appeal after that. But definitely try the redetermination first.

Yeah I've used them twice now and both times got through to Washington ESD way faster than calling myself. Definitely worth trying if you're stuck in phone hell.

ok im gonna check out that website. anything is better than calling 50 times a day and getting nowhere

Good point! I'll make sure to verify the current maximum when I'm doing my calculations.

The maximums are usually posted somewhere in the benefit information section of the Washington ESD site, though it can be hard to find sometimes.

I forgot about this my first time on unemployment and got hit with a big tax bill. Definitely recommend having at least some taxes withheld.

Thanks for the reminder! I'll make sure to set up tax withholding when I file my claim.

Perfect summary, thank you! This thread has been super helpful. I feel much more confident about understanding my benefits now.

Glad this helped! These unemployment calculations can be confusing but once you understand the basic formula it makes a lot more sense.

Definitely! Now I just need to get through the actual application process with Washington ESD. Hopefully that goes smoother than trying to understand the benefit calculation did.

For a December 2024 filing, your base year would be July 2023 through June 2024. They look at Q3 2023, Q4 2023, Q1 2024, and Q2 2024.

Oh that makes sense. So my most recent quarter of work wouldn't even count?

Right, Q3 2024 wouldn't be in your base year. That's why sometimes it makes sense to wait to file if you had higher earnings in a recent quarter.

I feel the same way! It's stressful enough being unemployed without having to become an expert in their benefit formulas.

This is exactly why I recommend using Claimyr to talk to an actual ESD representative. They can walk you through your specific situation and explain what your benefits would be based on your actual wage records.

How do you request that? Is it automatic?

You need to specifically request it when filing your claim. Washington ESD will automatically use it if it results in higher benefits for you.

I didn't know about this option when I filed. Can you request it after the fact?

You might be able to request a redetermination, but it's better to ask about it upfront when filing.

Exactly! That's why I'm trying to figure this out ahead of time so I know what to expect.

At least Washington doesn't have a waiting week anymore. You can get benefits for your first week of unemployment if you're eligible.

That's a great idea! I didn't know you could access that information online.

Yeah, it's in your SecureAccess Washington account under employment security services. Really helpful to verify they have accurate information.

Why would an employer contest a claim? I was laid off due to restructuring, not fired for cause.

Sometimes employers contest claims to avoid having their unemployment tax rates increase. Even for legitimate layoffs, unfortunately.

That happened to me! Had to go through a whole appeal process even though I was clearly laid off. Eventually won but it delayed my benefits by weeks.

Good point. I hope I don't have any issues, but it's good to know there are options for getting help if needed.

I should have known about this when I was dealing with my adjudication issue. Took forever to get answers from ESD.

How do you request that? Is it automatic or do you have to ask?

You usually have to request it. Washington ESD will consider it if your standard base period doesn't qualify you or gives you a very low benefit.

Any insider tips for getting through to someone when you have questions?

Call right when they open or try the online messaging system. Though honestly, calling has been a nightmare since COVID increased claim volumes.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr - the regular calling system is basically broken at this point.

That seems unfair. What if you got a big raise right before being laid off?

Unfortunately, that's how the system works. It's based on historical earnings, not your most recent pay.

Yeah, I've been reading about the job search stuff. Seems like a lot of documentation to keep track of.

It is, but it's not too bad once you get in a routine. Use WorkSourceWA to track your activities - makes it easier.

Oh good point! I hadn't even thought about the tax implications. Thanks for mentioning that.

no problem, learned that the hard way my first time on unemployment. owing $3000 in april was not fun

Glad we could help! Good luck with your job search.

You're welcome! The unemployment system is confusing enough without having to figure it out alone.