How to calculate your Washington ESD unemployment benefits - need help with the math

So if my highest quarter was $12,000 that would be about $461 per week? That seems higher than I expected.

Yes, $12,000 divided by 26 weeks equals $461.54 weekly. But remember you also need to meet the minimum earnings requirement across all qualifying quarters.

Wait I thought it was based on all four quarters combined? I've been calculating this wrong the whole time.

No, weekly benefit is just your highest single quarter divided by 26 weeks. The other quarters are used to make sure you qualify for benefits at all.

That's interesting, I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks but can never get through. How does Claimyr work exactly?

It basically handles the calling process for you so you don't have to sit on hold forever. Way better than spending hours trying to reach them yourself.

This is good to know! I had three part-time jobs last year and wasn't sure if that would hurt my benefit amount.

Nope, multiple jobs can actually increase your quarterly totals. Just make sure all employers reported your wages correctly to Washington ESD.

I agree it's frustrating, but the calculation has to account for so many different work situations. At least the monetary determination is automatic once you file.

yeah but then you find out after you already filed and wasted time if you dont qualify for enough to make it worth it

Always gross wages. They use what your employers reported to the state, which is before taxes and deductions.

Right, and that's why your W-2 box 1 might be different from what Washington ESD has on file if you had pre-tax deductions like health insurance.

You're right on the weekly calculation - $11,000 ÷ 26 = $423. For the outside quarter requirement, you need earnings equal to 1.5 times your weekly benefit amount ($423 × 1.5 = $634.50) in quarters other than your highest earning quarter.

So I need $634.50 total in my other three quarters combined? I have $8,000 + $9,500 + $7,200 = $24,700 in outside quarters so I'm good right?

Yes, you're way above the minimum requirement. You should qualify for the full $423 weekly benefit.

I didn't know other state unemployment could affect the calculation. How does that work?

If you received unemployment benefits during your base year, those payments can reduce your qualifying wages. It gets complicated fast.

How long did it take to get connected through Claimyr? I'm getting desperate trying to reach someone.

Much faster than calling directly. They handle all the waiting and callback stuff so you don't have to sit on hold for hours.

Wait so if I work 10 hours and make $200, they take away $150 from my unemployment check? That seems like a lot.

Yes, and if 75% of your weekly earnings exceed your weekly benefit amount, you get $0 in unemployment for that week. It's designed to encourage full-time job searching.

Right, the standard base year is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters. So if you file in March 2025, your base year would be Q4 2023 through Q3 2024.

Exactly! I filed in January so my December 2024 earnings didn't count, even though that was my highest earning quarter ever.

Yes, commission income is treated the same as regular wages for UI calculations. As long as your employer properly reported it and paid unemployment taxes on it.

Good to know. My commission was all over the place last year so I wasn't sure how it would affect my benefit amount.

I wish they would update those online calculators more frequently. I was planning my budget based on outdated maximum amounts.

Yeah, and the minimum wage increases also affect the qualifying requirements. It's a moving target every year.

That's exactly what I'm worried about! How did you know to check if your wages were reported correctly?

the agent pulled up my wage records and compared them to what i told her i earned. big difference in one quarter. she said it happens more than people think

What if you can't find old pay stubs? I switched jobs several times and don't have records going back that far.

You can request wage statements from your former employers, or sometimes your tax return will have enough detail to verify the amounts. Washington ESD can also do a wage investigation if needed.

Agreed! I had to read mine three times to figure out which numbers went where in the calculation.

Right? And if you want to appeal the calculation you need to understand exactly how they got their numbers. Not easy when it's all coded language.

This is important! I waited a few extra months to file hoping my base year would include some higher earnings from late 2024, and it worked out.

Exactly. Just make sure you don't wait too long if you're already unemployed, because you can't get benefits for weeks before you file your claim.

The calculation formula is the same regardless of your work pattern. Actually, seasonal workers often benefit from the highest quarter system since it captures their peak earning period.

That makes sense. My summer quarter was $18,000 so that would be about $692 weekly. Way better than averaging all four quarters together.

Thanks for the recommendation. I think I'll give it a try since I'm still confused about my calculation and can't get through by calling directly.

Yeah, it's worth it just for the peace of mind. At least you'll know exactly how they calculated your amount instead of wondering if it's correct.

How do you file a wage protest? Is that something you can do online or do you have to call?

You can file it online through your Washington ESD account, but you'll need documentation to support your protest. And it can take several weeks to process.