How to get more money on unemployment - Washington ESD weekly benefit amount

That makes sense I guess. I was working part-time for most of 2023 before getting the full-time manager position. So there's really no way to get more?

Unfortunately no, the weekly benefit amount is locked in when your claim is established. However, you might qualify for other assistance programs like SNAP or housing assistance.

I didn't know about the training bonus! How do I find approved training programs?

Check WorkSourceWA website or call your local WorkSource office. They have a list of approved training programs that qualify for the additional $25/week.

That sounds too good to be true. How much does this Claimyr thing cost?

It's worth checking out the demo video first. The extra $25 per week from training more than covers it, plus I learned valuable skills that helped me get a better job.

I used Claimyr too when I couldn't reach Washington ESD about my adjudication issue. It actually works and saved me tons of time trying to call.

I did some catering gigs on weekends but I'm not sure if those were reported correctly. How would I request a recalculation?

You'd need to contact Washington ESD with documentation of those earnings. They can review your base period wages and potentially recalculate your weekly benefit amount if there were unreported earnings.

It's based on your previous earnings. Higher earners get higher weekly benefits, up to the maximum of $999. Lower earners get proportionally less.

Oh that makes sense. So if I made minimum wage I'd get way less than someone who made $60K a year?

Yeah I've been doing that. It's actually helped me find some leads, though nothing concrete yet.

Good! Make sure you're using WorkSourceWA too, they have resources that might help you find higher-paying positions.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr - I was spending hours every day trying to call and getting nowhere. Now I'm enrolled in training and getting the extra money.

I might have to try that. This is ridiculous that we can't get basic information about our own benefits.

Those pandemic programs ended in 2021. There aren't any federal extensions available right now.

Oh I didn't realize they were gone. That's too bad.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll definitely look into food assistance programs. Every little bit helps right now.

Absolutely. And don't feel ashamed about using these programs - that's what they're there for. We've all paid into the system.

I'm not working at all right now, but good to know. I've been tempted to do some cash gigs but I don't want to mess up my benefits.

Smart thinking. Any work needs to be reported when you file your weekly claim, even if it's just a few hours.

That sounds perfect. I've been interested in learning new skills anyway. How did you find out about approved programs?

I worked with a counselor at WorkSource. They have a list of approved training providers and can help you figure out what programs might work for your career goals.

How would I check that? I worked for a small restaurant group and I'm not sure if they always did everything by the books.

You can request a wage transcript from Washington ESD to see what employers reported. If there are discrepancies, you can dispute them.

Definitely not trying to cheat! I just want to make sure I'm getting everything I'm entitled to legally.

Good attitude. The legitimate programs like training allowances and proper wage reporting are your best bet for maximizing benefits.

I'll definitely do that. I'm in King County so hopefully they have some programs available.

King County has several programs. Check their website or call 2-1-1 for information about available assistance.

That's inspiring! How long was the training program?

It was a 16-week program. Intensive but totally worth it. The extra $25/week helped cover gas and parking for classes too.

I hadn't thought about tax implications. Is unemployment income taxable?

Yes, unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld or pay when you file. But EITC and other credits might offset some of that.

It sounds like a lot of people have had success with that. I might need to try it if I can't get through about the training programs.

Yeah, I spent 3 weeks trying to call on my own and got nowhere. Sometimes you just need to cut through the red tape.

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I'm going to look into training programs and see about getting my wage history reviewed. This has been really helpful!

Good luck! The training programs are really the best way to both increase your weekly benefits and improve your job prospects.