Washington ESD unemployment benefits - how much is unemployment 2024 weekly payment amounts?

That's helpful! So if I made around $52k last year, what would that roughly translate to per week?

With $52k annual, you're probably looking at somewhere between $650-750 per week depending on how your earnings were distributed across quarters. The exact amount depends on your specific wage history in Washington ESD's system.

How long did it take for your first payment to come through? I filed 2 weeks ago and still haven't seen anything.

Mine took about 3 weeks because they had to verify my employment. If yours is taking longer you might want to call Washington ESD to check on the status.

I've been trying to call for days but can never get through! The phone lines are always busy.

Is that legit? I'm getting desperate to talk to someone about my claim status.

Yeah it's real, I was skeptical too but it actually worked. They handle the calling and waiting so you don't have to sit there hitting redial all day.

Good point about taxes! I forgot unemployment benefits count as income. Should I have them withhold taxes or just pay at the end of the year?

You can elect to have 10% federal taxes withheld when you file your weekly claims. Easier than getting hit with a big bill at tax time.

Yes that's correct for 2024. The maximum is for people who had very high earnings. Most people get somewhere in the $400-700 range depending on their work history.

ok good to know thanks

What counts as a valid job contact? Just applying online or do you need to actually talk to someone?

Online applications count, but you need to keep detailed records. Date, employer name, position, how you applied. I keep a spreadsheet to be safe.

I got in trouble for not logging my job searches properly. They made me go to a WorkSourceWA workshop before they'd release my benefits again.

Tell me about it! I've been dealing with an overpayment notice for 2 months and can't get anyone on the phone to explain it.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr - couldn't waste any more time trying to get through on my own. Sometimes you just need to talk to an actual person at Washington ESD.

That's really helpful context! I was wondering why they needed such old wage information.

What if you didn't work during that base period? Like if you were in school or something?

Then you probably wouldn't qualify for regular UI benefits. You need sufficient work history and earnings during the base period to establish a claim.

How does standby work exactly? My retail job doesn't have a union but wondering if there's something similar.

Standby is usually for union workers or people with a definite return-to-work date. Since your store is closing permanently, you'd probably file regular UI and need to do the job search requirements.

Yes! I thought it was just my internet but apparently it's a widespread issue. Really frustrating when you're trying to certify by the deadline.

I usually file mine super early in the week to avoid the weekend rush. Sunday mornings seem to work better than Sunday evenings.

That's exactly what I needed! I'll check that out before I file next month.

The calculator is pretty accurate. Mine was within $20 of what I actually got approved for.

Wait, so I have to wait two weeks total before getting my first payment? One week waiting period plus one week processing?

Kind of - you file for the waiting week but don't get paid for it. Then you file for week 2 and if everything's approved, you get paid for week 2. The waiting week payment comes at the end of your claim period.

Actually I think they might have eliminated the waiting week during covid and never brought it back? I got paid for my first week when I filed in 2024.

Good to know! What if I do some freelance work while collecting? Do I need to report that too?

Yes, any income needs to be reported. They'll reduce your weekly benefit based on how much you earned, but it's better than getting hit with an overpayment later.

How did you prove it was a layoff and not misconduct? That's one of my worries about filing.

I had emails and documentation showing the store closure was a business decision, not related to my performance. Keep any paperwork about your termination - you might need it.

That's exactly the situation where Claimyr helped me out. Was able to get through to Washington ESD and find out my adjudication was stuck because they needed additional documentation I didn't know about.

Really? Maybe I should try that. This waiting is killing me financially.

Yeah, I'm definitely not planning to rely on it long-term. Just need something to bridge the gap while I find another management position.

Smart approach. The longer you're out of work, the harder it gets to find something at the same level. Use the unemployment time to network and keep your skills sharp.