Washington ESD max unemployment benefit amount - how much can I get?

Thanks! So if I made $65k last year, do you think I'd qualify for close to the max? I had pretty steady income throughout the year.

With $65k annually, you'd likely qualify for a good portion of the maximum, probably around $700-800 per week depending on how your earnings were distributed across quarters.

Thanks! So if I made $65k last year, would I qualify for the max amount?

It depends on how your earnings were distributed across quarters in your base period. Washington ESD looks at your highest quarter, not your annual total.

Your benefit amount is based on your specific earnings history. $844 suggests your highest quarter earnings were around $22k, which is good but not at the level needed for maximum benefits.

Oh I see, so the max is there but most people don't actually get it unless they had really high earnings.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that calls Washington ESD for you and gets you connected to an actual person. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustration.

26 weeks sounds like a decent safety net. What are the job search requirements exactly?

You need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a detailed log. You also need to register with WorkSource Washington.

So it's not just my most recent job that matters? It's looking back further than that?

Exactly. It's all covered employment in your base period, not just your most recent employer. This sometimes confuses people who think it's based on their last paycheck.

Wow that's a lot per quarter. No wonder most people don't get the max.

Yeah, it's designed for people with pretty high salaries. But even at lower amounts, the benefits can still be substantial compared to other states.

The $999 is just the regular Washington state unemployment insurance. There's no additional federal supplement right now - those pandemic programs ended in 2021.

Got it, thanks for clarifying. I wasn't sure if there were still any federal add-ons.

Is that one of those paid services? I'm already worried about money so I don't want to spend more if I don't have to.

It's worth checking out their site for details. When you're dealing with thousands of dollars in potential benefits, sometimes getting accurate info quickly is worth it.

It's based on gross wages reported by your employers to Washington ESD. So before taxes and deductions.

That makes sense. I was worried they were using take-home pay which would be much lower.

Wait, I thought it was more complicated than that? Don't they look at multiple quarters?

They look at all quarters to determine if you're eligible, but the weekly amount is based on your highest single quarter.

This is helpful! I can probably estimate my amount before I even apply then.

True, but the cost of living here is also higher than most places. $999 a week sounds like a lot but rent alone can eat up most of that.

Good to know it's not too complicated. I was worried about messing something up.

Make sure you have your employment history ready, including exact dates and employer addresses. That's what takes the longest.

Oh wow, I didn't even think about taxes. Is it better to have them withheld or pay later?

I'd recommend having them withheld so you don't get hit with a big tax bill. It's 10% federal withholding if you choose it.

Washington doesn't have state income tax, so you only worry about federal taxes on UI benefits.

I haven't gotten that letter yet. How long after filing did you receive it?

It came within about a week of my initial claim. If you haven't seen it, check your secure messages in your Washington ESD account online.

That's exactly when I used Claimyr - when my claim was stuck in adjudication. They helped me get through to someone who could explain what was happening.

I might have to try that. I've called the regular number like 50 times and either get a busy signal or get disconnected.

Same here! The phone system is absolutely terrible. I've been trying to reach them for two weeks about my job search log.

Good to know. I don't have dependents so that doesn't affect me, but useful info.

Yes, commission counts as long as your employer reported it as wages and paid unemployment taxes on it. It should show up in your wage record.

Great, that's a relief. My commissions were pretty good last year so that should help my benefit amount.

That's really helpful to know! I was at my job for 2 years so hopefully I'll get something similar.

The base period is what matters most. If you had a good earning quarter in that timeframe, you should be fine.

I didn't know about the waiting week. I'll apply tomorrow then.

Actually, Washington eliminated the waiting week in 2021. You can get benefits starting from your first week of unemployment now.

Oh really? That's good news then! I filed mine back in 2020 so things have changed.

Perfect! I'll be able to see right away if it's worth pursuing then.

Good advice! I'll definitely set up a recurring reminder.

Yeah, I missed one week early on and couldn't get it back. The system is pretty strict about deadlines.

That's good to know. I might pick up some freelance work to help make ends meet.

Just be honest about reporting earnings. They cross-reference with tax records anyway, so it's not worth trying to hide income.

If you have questions about how part-time work affects your benefits, that's another good reason to talk to an actual ESD agent through a service like Claimyr.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! I feel much more confident about applying now.

Which callback service did you use? I've been having the same problem getting through to them.

It was Claimyr - really simple to use and way better than sitting on hold for hours. They have all the info on their website.

The maximum weekly benefit amount is the same regardless of whether you're on regular UI or standby. But with partial unemployment, your benefit gets reduced based on any wages you earn that week.

Ah okay, so the cap is consistent but the actual amount you receive can vary based on your situation.

Agree completely. Their website is not user-friendly at all. Half the links don't work properly.

And good luck getting anyone on the phone to explain it. The whole system seems designed to make you give up.

I tried that calculator but it seemed way off compared to what I actually got approved for.

Yeah it's just an estimate. The actual determination depends on your specific wage record which might have details the calculator doesn't account for.

Right, the high benefit amount doesn't exempt you from any of the ongoing eligibility requirements.

Good point. I was so focused on the dollar amount I almost forgot about all the other hoops you have to jump through.

How long did the wage correction take? I think I might have a similar issue.

It took about 3 weeks after I submitted the documentation. They recalculated everything and issued back pay for the difference.

Standard duration is up to 26 weeks, but the actual number of weeks you can collect depends on your base period wages. Some people qualify for fewer weeks.

Thanks for the clarification. I wasn't sure if the recent changes affected the duration.

How long do you have to appeal?

Generally 30 days from when you receive the determination notice. Don't let it slide if you think there's an error.

Same here! Much clearer now than trying to decipher the Washington ESD website.

Agreed, got way better info here than anywhere else I looked.