How to figure unemployment benefit amount in Washington ESD system?

That helps explain it! So they're not looking at my hourly wage at all, just my actual earnings from the best quarter?

Exactly right. It's all based on reported wages, not hourly rates. Your employers report your earnings quarterly to Washington ESD.

I do have the letter but the numbers still seem high compared to what I thought I made. Maybe I'm underestimating my quarterly earnings.

Check your wage history in the system - sometimes people forget about overtime or bonuses that got included in their quarterly totals.

Never heard of that service before. Is it legit or just another scam?

It's legitimate - they just help you get through to ESD agents when the phone lines are swamped. Saved me literally hours of calling and getting disconnected.

Might have to try that if I can't figure this out. The ESD phone system is absolutely terrible.

Good to know about the part-time work rules. I might pick up some gig work while I'm looking for full-time employment.

Just make sure you report ALL earnings on your weekly claims, even small amounts. ESD will find out eventually and you don't want an overpayment notice.

Every state has different formulas. Washington's is actually pretty straightforward once you understand the base period concept.

maybe for you but ive been trying to figure this out for weeks and still dont get it

How do I know if I should use the alternate base period? My most recent quarter was actually my highest earning.

You'd need to contact ESD to request the alternate base period calculation. They'll determine if it results in a higher benefit amount for you.

This is exactly the kind of question where Claimyr would be helpful - getting through to ask about alternate base periods can take forever on your own.

How would I know if wages were unreported? Would that show up in my wage history?

Compare your pay stubs to what shows in your ESD wage history. If there are discrepancies, you can request a wage investigation.

Wait, that math doesn't seem right. $130,000 in a quarter for part-time work? That would be like $10,000 per month!

You're right, I made an error. Let me recalculate: $387 ÷ 0.0385 = $10,052, then × 13 = $130,676 annually. That's definitely too high for your situation.

The math is wrong. It should be: $387 ÷ 0.0385 = $10,052 for the quarterly amount, not annual. So their highest quarter was about $10,052 which is reasonable.

Good idea. I can check that online at the SSA website right?

yep create an account at ssa.gov and you can see all your earnings history

The online calculator is pretty basic and doesn't account for all the variables. Better to look at your actual monetary determination.

That's what I figured. The determination letter is more accurate than their generic calculator.

I wish I had kept better records. I have some pay stubs but not all of them from last year.

You can usually request copies from your former employers if you need them for verification purposes.

While there can be errors, most monetary determinations are calculated correctly. The appeals process exists for legitimate disputes.

maybe but when you cant even get someone on the phone to explain the calculation theres definitely a problem

Oh that's a good point! I was thinking about my take-home pay, not gross. That probably explains why the amount seemed higher than expected.

Exactly. Gross wages include all your pre-tax deductions, so the quarterly amounts are higher than what you actually took home.

A few people have mentioned Claimyr now. Might be worth trying if I can't figure this out on my own.

I was skeptical at first but it actually worked. Got through to someone at ESD in like 20 minutes instead of calling for hours.

Right, I think my maximum total is around $10,000 for the year. Is that calculated the same way?

The maximum total is usually 26 times your weekly benefit amount, so 26 × $387 = $10,062 in your case.

It's good to understand your benefit calculation in case there are any issues or changes to your claim status.

true but honestly the whole system is too complicated for normal people to figure out

Good to hear from someone with a similar situation. When do you usually file your weekly claims?

I file mine every Sunday morning. You can file starting Sunday for the previous week and have until Saturday to get it in.

Thanks, you're probably right. I should focus on finding work instead of obsessing over the math.

Definitely keep looking for work, but it's still good to understand your benefits in case any issues come up with your claim.

I can see both employers listed in my wage history, so I think they're both included. Thanks for all the help everyone!

You're welcome! Feel free to ask if you run into any other issues with your unemployment claim.