How to calculate unemployment payment amount in Washington ESD system?

That's helpful but I'm still confused about which quarters count as my base period. Do they use calendar quarters or something else?

Yes, calendar quarters. So if you file in January 2025, your base period would be January-December 2024. The formula I mentioned should give you a close estimate.

Oh man, I feel your pain. I tried calling Washington ESD like 50 times last month and kept getting busy signals or hung up on after waiting forever.

Have you tried using Claimyr? I discovered it when I was having the same issue getting through to Washington ESD. It's a service that helps you actually reach an agent - claimyr.com. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

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

Good point about the maximum. I doubt I'll hit that limit but it's good to know there's a cap.

Yeah the max changes every year based on the state average wage. Washington ESD publishes the new amounts usually in January.

Oh wow, I didn't know about that second requirement. That could be an issue if someone only worked one good job during their base period.

Exactly. It's designed to make sure you had some work stability. If you don't meet the standard base period requirements, Washington ESD might use an alternate base period.

I know it seems complicated but the formula is actually designed to be fair across different earning patterns. The 0.0385 factor comes out to roughly 50% of your average weekly wage in your highest quarter.

ok that makes more sense when you put it that way

How much does something like that cost? I'm already worried about money if I'm filing for unemployment.

It's reasonable considering the time you save and the stress you avoid. Way better than spending entire days trying to get through on your own.

So even if I qualify for the full 26 weeks, I might run out of benefits before then?

Yes, your maximum benefit amount is typically 30% of your total base period wages. So if that's less than 26 times your weekly benefit amount, you'll exhaust benefits early.

There are some unofficial calculators online but I'd be careful about relying on them. The official Washington ESD calculation is what matters for your actual claim.

True, but at least they give you a ballpark figure to work with for budgeting purposes.

That's a good point. How would I know if there are discrepancies in what was reported?

You should be able to see your wage history when you file your claim, or you can request a wage statement from Washington ESD. If something looks wrong, you can provide pay stubs to correct it.

I hear you on that. The whole UI system feels like it was designed in the 90s and never updated.

At least it's better than it was during the pandemic when the whole system was crashing constantly.

Did you use it specifically for benefit calculation questions or other issues too?

I used it when my claim was stuck in adjudication, but the agent was able to answer my benefit amount questions while I had them on the line. Two birds with one stone.

Good reminder! I did have a part-time job for a few months last year that I almost forgot about.

Exactly. Even small amounts can add up and potentially increase your weekly benefit amount.

I understand the frustration, but the formula is actually pretty straightforward once you understand the components. It's just not well explained on their website.

Maybe for you, but for regular people who just need help while they're unemployed, it shouldn't be this complicated.

Oh right, I totally forgot about taxes. Can they withhold federal and state taxes automatically?

Yes, you can elect to have 10% withheld for federal taxes when you file your weekly claims. For state taxes, Washington doesn't have income tax so you don't need to worry about that part.

That would be so much better! At least then you'd know if it's even worth going through the whole application process.

This is another reason why being able to actually talk to a Washington ESD agent is valuable. They can give you that estimate over the phone if you can get through to them. Claimyr makes that possible without the usual headache.