Washington ESD unemployment benefits - how much does unemployment pay weekly?

Thanks! So if I made around $50k last year, what would that roughly come out to weekly?

Hard to say without knowing your quarter breakdown, but probably somewhere in the $600-750 range per week if your earnings were consistent.

Did it take long to get approved and start receiving payments?

took about 3 weeks for my first payment after filing. no issues with my claim though

Never heard of Claimyr before - is that like a service that helps you reach Washington ESD?

Yeah exactly. They basically call Washington ESD for you and get you connected to a real person. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me so much time and frustration.

Thanks! That's actually higher than I expected. Do you know if that amount gets taxed?

Yes, unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld or pay them when you file your return.

That gives me hope! Did it take long for Washington ESD to calculate your amount?

About 2 weeks after I filed my initial claim. Just make sure you have all your employer info ready when you apply.

Oh no! How do you figure out the best time to file?

Generally you want to file as soon as you're unemployed, but if you just started a high-paying job recently, sometimes waiting until the next quarter starts can help. It's complicated - definitely worth talking to Washington ESD about your specific situation.

Actually, you should almost always file immediately when you become unemployed. The benefit year timing issue is pretty rare and only applies in very specific circumstances.

Never heard of Claimyr but getting hung up on by Washington ESD is so frustrating. Does it actually work?

Yeah it worked for me. I was trying to get my claim status updated and couldn't get through for days. With Claimyr I got a callback within a few hours and talked to a real Washington ESD person.

I'm skeptical of third-party services but honestly anything is better than sitting on hold for 3 hours just to get disconnected.

Oh no, what's adjudication? Is that something I need to worry about?

Adjudication happens when Washington ESD needs to verify something about your claim - like if you quit vs. were laid off, or if there's a question about your work history. Most claims don't go to adjudication.

mine went to adjudication because my employer is claiming i was fired for cause which is total BS. now i have to prove i wasnt fired for misconduct

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr - got tired of wasting hours trying to get through to Washington ESD. Much easier to just have them handle the calling part.

might have to look into that. this whole process is exhausting

Good point about taxes! Can you have taxes withheld from the payments or do you have to pay quarterly?

You can elect to have 10% federal tax withheld when you file your weekly claims. Washington doesn't have state income tax so that's not a concern.

That's reassuring! How long did the whole process take from filing to getting your first payment?

Filed on a Tuesday, got approved the following Monday, first payment hit my account that Friday. Pretty quick actually.

Good point about the job search requirement. How many jobs do you have to apply to each week?

You need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep detailed records. Washington ESD can audit your job search log at any time.

I've been doing 5-6 applications per week just to be safe. Better to exceed the minimum than risk getting your benefits cut off.

I might try to pick up some freelance work, so that's good to know. Do they take it dollar for dollar?

No, there's a formula. You can earn up to your weekly benefit amount minus $5 before they start reducing your unemployment payment.

Wait, so if I get a better paying job for a few months then get laid off again, I can't refile for higher benefits?

not unless your benefit year has ended. then you can file a new claim with your updated wage history

This is correct. Your benefit year runs for 52 weeks from when you first file, regardless of whether you're actively claiming benefits the whole time.

Yes, there is a minimum weekly benefit amount, though I'd need to check the current 2025 amount to be sure of the exact figure.

You're probably right. I keep putting it off but I should just do it.

yeah just get it started. worst case scenario you dont qualify but at least youll know for sure

I'll definitely keep that in mind if I run into problems. Thanks for all the help everyone!

Seconding Claimyr - used it twice now when I had questions about my weekly claims. Worth it just for the peace of mind.

Honestly, I'd recommend just using Claimyr instead of trying to time the calls. I wasted so many mornings trying to call right when they opened at 8am and still couldn't get through.

tuesday and wednesday mornings seem to be less busy than mondays but it's still hit or miss

The key is calling exactly at 8:00am when they open. Set multiple alarms and hit redial immediately if you get a busy signal. Still took me like 20 tries but I eventually got through.

What counts as a job search activity? Just applying for jobs?

applying for jobs, networking events, job fairs, informational interviews, even some online training courses. washington esd has a list of approved activities on their website

What do you mean by adjudication? Is that when they're reviewing your claim?

Yeah, it's when Washington ESD needs to investigate something about your claim - like if there's a question about why you left your job or if you're eligible. Can take weeks to resolve if you don't stay on top of it.

That's another situation where Claimyr really helps - getting through to check on adjudication status instead of just waiting and wondering what's happening with your claim.

Standby benefits are the same amount as regular UI benefits. The difference is you don't have to do job search activities while on standby status since you're expecting to return to your job.

oh good! that makes the whole process much easier

Great advice! I'll gather all that stuff before I start the application.

Also keep copies of everything you submit. The system sometimes loses documents and you'll want backups.

Wait, there's an unpaid waiting week? That's not mentioned anywhere obvious.

Yes, the first compensable week you're unemployed serves as your waiting week. You file for it but don't get paid for it. It's been that way for years.

exactly. so if you file this week you wont see money for probably 3 weeks minimum

I mean, unemployment insurance is supposed to be temporary assistance while you find new work. The requirements make sense.

Sure, but when you're stressed about paying rent and feeding your family, jumping through hoops for benefits you paid into through payroll taxes feels pretty cruel.

I get both perspectives. The system definitely has room for improvement but it did help me when I needed it most.

So if I get $700/week and choose tax withholding, I'd receive $630/week deposited?

Exactly. 10% federal withholding would leave you with $630 deposited, but you'd get credit for the $70 withheld when you file your taxes.

That's so frustrating! Have you tried using a service like Claimyr to get consistent access to the same agents? Sometimes helps to work with someone who knows your case.

never heard of that but at this point i'm willing to try anything. washington esd is impossible to deal with

It really depends on how that $52k was distributed across quarters and when they file. If most of their earnings were recent, they should get a decent weekly benefit amount.

Makes sense. I guess I'll find out when I file my own claim next week.

That's reassuring to hear from someone with experience. I think I'm overthinking this.

Definitely overthinking it. The hardest part is just starting the process. Once you get going it's mostly just filing your weekly claims and doing your job search.

Good call! I definitely want to avoid any delays in getting payments.

Yes! And sign up for text alerts too so you know when payments are processed.

I didn't know you could reopen a claim! That's actually really helpful information.

Yeah, a lot of people don't realize that. As long as you're still in your benefit year and haven't used up all 26 weeks, you can reopen if you become unemployed again.

Can you explain the difference? I thought looking for work covered both requirements.

Able and' available means'you re physically and mentally capable of working and available to start immediately if offered a 'job. Actively seeking' work means'you re actually applying for jobs and networking. You needboth.

Good distinction. If you're sick or on vacation, you might not be 'available' even if you're still applying for jobs.

Good to know! I only worked in Washington so hopefully my situation is straightforward.

That's a good point that often gets overlooked. The 70% rule can sometimes result in a lower benefit amount than the standard calculation.

That's probably good advice. Better to get the process started and fix issues later than miss out on benefits entirely.

exactly! and if you do need to appeal or have questions, at least you'll have a claim number to reference when you call

Great advice! I'll make sure to stay organized from the start. Thanks everyone for all the helpful info!

You're welcome! Feel free to post back here if you run into any issues with your claim. This community is pretty good about helping each other navigate the Washington ESD system.