Washington ESD unemployment how much will I actually get per week?

So if I made $15,000 in my highest quarter, that would be about $288 per week at 50%?

That's roughly right, but Washington ESD has a specific formula. You might want to use their benefit calculator online to get the exact amount.

Wait, $999 per week? That seems really high. Are you sure that's right?

Yeah, Washington state has one of the higher maximum benefit amounts compared to other states. But like I said, most people don't qualify for the maximum.

I haven't filed yet - still gathering all my paperwork. Do I need pay stubs or will they already have my wage information?

They should already have your wage info from your employer's quarterly reports, but it's good to have your pay stubs just in case there are any discrepancies.

Is that service legit? I'm always skeptical of third-party services for government stuff.

Yeah it's legitimate - they just help you get through the phone queue. I was able to talk to an actual Washington ESD representative and get my questions answered about my benefit calculation.

I worked consistently all year, so that shouldn't be an issue for me. Thanks for the info though!

The base period thing is confusing. I thought they just looked at your last year of work?

It's not exactly the last year - it's specific quarters based on when you file. That's why the timing of when you file can sometimes affect your benefit amount.

Good point. I didn't think about the tax implications. Should I have them withhold taxes or just pay later?

I always have them withhold 10% for federal taxes. It's easier than getting hit with a big tax bill later.

That's really helpful to know! Did you have to wait long for your first payment?

It took about 3 weeks from when I filed to get my first payment. Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even if you haven't been paid yet.

The phone system is definitely frustrating. I had better luck calling right when they opened at 8am.

I actually used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and it worked great. Got through to someone in about 15 minutes instead of waiting hours.

That's a different calculation than what you said before about the highest quarter divided by 26?

You're right, I misspoke earlier. It's actually the average of your two highest quarters, not just the single highest quarter. Sorry for the confusion!

Still, that's good enough for planning purposes. I'll try the calculator to get a rough estimate.

Yeah definitely use it for ballpark figures. Just don't be surprised if the actual amount is a little different.

How long can you collect unemployment in Washington? Is it still 26 weeks?

Currently it's up to 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits, but that can change depending on the unemployment rate and other factors.

That's really helpful to know the actual take-home amount. Did you have any issues with the direct deposit?

No issues with direct deposit once it was set up. Just make sure your bank info is correct when you file.

I hadn't heard of that. How do you qualify for the extra $25?

You have to be enrolled in approved training through WorkSource or a community college. It's worth looking into if you're planning to learn new skills while unemployed.

I only worked in Washington, so that shouldn't apply to me. Good to know though!

Yeah, if you only worked in Washington it makes the calculation much simpler.

How long did they say it would take to process your claim?

They said 2-3 weeks typically, but it could be longer if there are any issues that need to be resolved.

What kinds of things cause a claim to go into adjudication?

Usually it's if there are questions about why you left your job, if you had other income, or if there are discrepancies in your work history.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr. I was wasting entire days trying to get through on the phone. Now I just use their service when I need to talk to someone.

I'll have to check that out. I can't afford to waste more time sitting on hold.

That's good to know. I was thinking about my take-home pay, not my gross pay.

Yeah, it makes a difference in the calculation. Always think gross wages when estimating your unemployment benefit.

That's really low! I'm grateful to be in Washington then.

Yeah, we're lucky here. The benefits are reasonable and the maximum amount is pretty high compared to most states.

Good reminder. I'll make sure to file every week once I submit my initial claim.

Yeah, people sometimes think they don't need to file weekly claims until they get approved, but that's not true. You need to file every week you want to claim benefits for.