Washington ESD unemployment how much do i get - benefit amount confusion

The weekly benefit amount on your determination letter is before taxes. Washington ESD will automatically deduct federal taxes if you choose that option when you file your weekly claims. You can also choose to have no taxes taken out and just pay them at the end of the year.

Your weekly benefit amount is calculated based on your highest earning quarter from the past year. In Washington it's roughly 3.85% of your total wages in that quarter, but there's a minimum and maximum. The max weekly benefit right now is around $999 per week.

I had so much trouble getting through to Washington ESD when I had questions about my benefit amount. Spent hours on hold multiple times. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent who explained everything. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made the whole process way less stressful.

dont forget you have to file your weekly claims every week to actually get paid!! I learned this the hard way and missed my first week because I thought it was automatic

THE WASHINGTON ESD SYSTEM IS SO CONFUSING! Why can't they just tell you in plain English how much money you'll actually receive? All these calculations and percentages and base periods... it shouldn't be this complicated to figure out basic information!

Check your benefit year dates too. Your claim is only good for one year from when you filed. After that you'd need to reapply if you're still unemployed.

Also remember there's a waiting week in Washington. Your first week of unemployment you won't get paid for, but after that you should get payments for every week you file as long as you're eligible.

Make sure you're meeting the job search requirements too. In Washington you need to be actively looking for work and keep a log of your job search activities. This can affect your payments if you're not compliant.

I just went through this whole process last year. The amount they calculate is pretty accurate for what you'll actually get. Just make sure you understand the tax situation and don't spend it all thinking you won't owe anything come tax time.

Pro tip - set up direct deposit if you haven't already. Paper checks take forever to arrive and can get lost in the mail. Direct deposit usually processes within 2-3 business days after you file your weekly claim.

If you ever need to call Washington ESD about your payments or have questions, I'd definitely recommend using Claimyr again. The regular phone lines are impossible to get through on, especially when there are payment issues. Much easier to let them handle the calling.

been getting unemployment for 3 months now and the amount has been consistent every week as long as I file on time. Washington ESD is actually pretty reliable once you get into the routine

One more thing - if you work part-time while collecting unemployment, they'll reduce your benefit amount based on how much you earn. There's a formula for this but basically any earnings over a certain threshold will reduce your weekly payment.

The determination letter should have all the details about your benefit calculation. If it doesn't make sense, definitely call and ask for clarification. Better to understand it now than be confused later.

I still think the whole system could be way more user-friendly. Why should people have to call just to understand their own benefits? But at least there are services like what others mentioned to help navigate it.

Bottom line - the amount on your determination letter is what you'll get before taxes. File your weekly claims on time, meet the job search requirements, and you should get consistent payments. Don't overthink it too much.

Good luck with your job search! Hopefully you won't need the unemployment benefits for too long.

Just remembered - if you ever need to speak with someone at Washington ESD about benefit calculations or payment issues, Claimyr really is the way to go. Saved me so much frustration compared to trying to call on my own.

Make sure you keep all your documentation too - the determination letter, any correspondence from Washington ESD, records of your weekly claims. You never know when you might need them.

Final reminder - your weekly benefit amount stays the same throughout your benefit year unless you have part-time earnings or other changes. So once you know what to expect, it should be consistent week to week.