Washington ESD unemployment how much do you get weekly benefit amount?

Thanks! So they look at my best quarter, not my annual salary? That makes more sense.

Yeah and don't forget you can get benefits for up to 26 weeks if you qualify, longer in some cases.

Did you have trouble reaching them to confirm your benefit amount? I've been trying to call but keep getting busy signals.

Oh yeah, calling Washington ESD is nearly impossible. I found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to an agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Interesting, I'll check that out. I really need to talk to someone about my specific situation.

That's a common misconception. Washington ESD doesn't use a simple percentage of your salary. It's based on your highest quarter earnings divided by 26, with caps on the maximum amount.

oh wow that's way more complicated than i thought

I feel you on the phone thing. It's like they don't want people to actually get help.

At least you got approved quickly. My claim has been in adjudication for 6 weeks now.

That's awful. Have you tried using one of those callback services? I heard they can actually get you through to Washington ESD.

Good point, I hadn't thought about the tax implications. Do most people have taxes taken out or pay at the end of the year?

I always have them take it out. Better to get less each week than owe a big chunk at tax time.

That seems like it could really hurt people who just got a raise or promotion recently.

Exactly. There's an alternate base period you can request if the regular one doesn't work in your favor, but you have to know to ask for it.

Adjudication can take anywhere from 2-8 weeks depending on the complexity of your case. If there are any issues with your work history or reason for separation, it takes longer.

That's when calling can really help speed things up. I used Claimyr to get through and the agent was able to tell me exactly what was holding up my claim.

I might have to try that service you mentioned. This waiting is killing me financially.

Yeah I've heard about the job search requirements. Do they actually check up on those applications?

They can audit your job search log at any time. I know someone who got disqualified for not having proper documentation. Don't mess around with that part.

Good point. The calculation is based on gross wages, but don't expect to replace your take-home pay.

Yes, all wages including overtime count toward your benefit calculation. If you had a high-earning quarter due to overtime, that should help your weekly benefit amount.

That's great news! I put in so many extra hours, at least it might pay off now.

That's good to know about partial benefits. I might be able to pick up some contract work while I'm looking for something permanent.

Just make sure to report ALL earnings, even small amounts. Washington ESD takes that very seriously and you can get in big trouble for not reporting.

That's why services like Claimyr exist. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person to get clarity on your specific situation.

True, there are definitely times when you need that human interaction to resolve issues.

I was laid off due to company downsizing, so hopefully that won't be an issue for me.

Layoffs are usually straightforward. It's when people quit or get fired for cause that things get complicated.

Yeah and those weekly claims ask about your job search activities, any work you did, and if you were able and available for work. Don't skip questions.

Someone mentioned that earlier - I'll definitely have them withhold federal taxes. Thanks for the reminder!

Smart move. A lot of people get surprised by a big tax bill if they don't plan for it.