How to figure out how much unemployment I will get from Washington ESD

Thanks! So if I made $13,000 in my highest quarter, that would be about $500 per week? That seems higher than I expected.

Yes, that math looks right. $13,000 × 0.0385 = $500.50. Just remember there are taxes to consider if you choose to have them withheld.

It's not exactly half - that's a common misconception. The calculation is more complex and depends on your quarterly earnings pattern, not just your weekly pay.

oh ok that makes sense why it wasnt exactly half then

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get through to Washington ESD agents without waiting on hold forever. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Game changer for actually talking to someone about benefit calculations.

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

They basically handle the calling process for you and connect you directly to an agent when one becomes available. No more sitting on hold for hours or getting disconnected.

Actually, Washington ESD doesn't have a public benefit calculator. You have to file your claim to see your monetary determination, which shows your exact weekly benefit amount.

Oh wow, I must have been thinking of a different state's website then. That's frustrating!

What kind of issues could reduce the amount? I was laid off due to lack of work, so it wasn't my fault.

If it's a legitimate layoff you should be fine. The main issues are when people quit or get fired for misconduct. Just make sure you have documentation about the layoff.

This is super helpful! Where did you find this specific formula?

It's in the Washington Administrative Code, section WAC 192-150-010. The percentage and maximum amounts get updated annually.

Thank you for citing the actual regulation! So many people just guess at this stuff.

Yes, all wages reported to Washington ESD count, including overtime, bonuses, and commissions. It's based on your total quarterly earnings from covered employment.

Awesome, that should help my benefit amount then since I had some really high quarters with OT.

What do you mean about the base year not being recent earnings?

The base year is the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. So if you file in January 2025, your base year would be January 2024 through December 2024, not including the quarter you're currently in.

Exactly right. This trips up a lot of people who had recent pay raises or job changes.

I feel your frustration but they need to verify your earnings with employers first. That's why you get the monetary determination after filing.

I guess that makes sense but it's still annoying when you're trying to plan your finances.

That's the gross amount before taxes. You can choose to have federal and state taxes withheld (10% federal, 2% state) when you file your weekly claims.

Good to know, thanks! I'll definitely have taxes withheld to avoid a big bill next year.

Did you account for any quarters where you might have had lower earnings? They have to use your actual reported wages, and sometimes there are adjustments for things like tips or commission timing.

That might be it. I had a few slow months last spring that probably affected my quarterly totals.

How much did that cost? Seems like it might be worth it to get accurate info upfront.

I'd rather not discuss pricing here, but it was definitely worth it for the peace of mind. You can check their site for current rates.

Yeah I've heard about that. Do you have to report the contacts when you file your weekly claim?

Yes, you log them in the system when you file your weekly claim. Keep detailed records because they can audit your job search activities.

All my work was W-2 employment so I should be good there.

You should be fine then. Just wanted to mention it since a lot of people have mixed employment types these days.

That's reassuring. I was worried it would take forever to find out the amount.

The monetary determination comes fast - it's the actual approval and first payment that can take longer if there are any adjudication issues.

This happened to me! I forgot about a Christmas bonus that pushed my highest quarter up significantly.

Exactly! The system will use all your reported wages, even ones you might not remember.

How long does the appeal process take?

Mine took about 6 weeks total, but they did backpay the difference once it was approved. You have 30 days from the determination date to file the appeal.

Thanks everyone! This has been super helpful. I feel much more confident about filing now.

Good luck with your claim! The whole process is less scary once you understand how it works.

Agreed. The time saved alone makes it worthwhile when you need specific information about your claim or benefit calculation.