Washington ESD unemployment how much will I get weekly - need calculation help

Thanks! So they look at my best 3-month period? Do you know if overtime hours count toward that calculation?

Yes, all wages including overtime count. They'll use whichever quarter had your highest total earnings during your base period.

I think you're mixing up the calculation. It's based on the single highest quarter, not an average of two quarters.

Oh you might be right, I got confused with the eligibility requirements vs the benefit calculation.

I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com - they actually get you through to Washington ESD agents. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

Really? How does that work exactly? I'm desperate at this point.

They handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when they get an agent on the line. Super easy to use and way better than sitting on hold for hours.

How did you calculate that range? Want to make sure I understand the math.

Rough estimate based on your hourly wage times hours per week. But the actual calculation uses quarterly totals so it might be different.

Is your claim still in adjudication? That's usually why payments are delayed.

Yeah it says adjudication in progress but nobody will tell me what that means or how long it takes.

Adjudication means they're reviewing something about your claim - could be job separation, work search, or identity verification. Try using Claimyr to get through and ask specifically what they need.

Check your pay stubs or W2 forms. You can also look at your Social Security statement online - it shows annual earnings that you can break down by quarter if you know when you worked.

Good idea, I'll dig up my pay stubs. Thanks for the help everyone!

That sounds about right. The percentage of your wages that you get isn't very high compared to some other states.

Yeah it's frustrating. Barely covers rent let alone everything else.

How much did it cost? I'm hesitant to pay for something I should be able to do myself.

I get that, but after wasting weeks trying to call myself, it was worth every penny just to get actual answers from a real person.

Oh wow I didn't even think about taxes. Can I set up withholding when I file my claim?

Yes, you can choose to have 10% withheld for federal taxes when you file or update your claim online.

They do have the monetary determination that shows your benefit amount, but it only comes after you file your initial claim.

Right but that's after you've already gone through the whole application process. Would be nice to know beforehand.

Thanks for mentioning that. Do I need to start the job search right away or is there a waiting period?

You need to start looking for work immediately. The job search requirement begins with your first week of claiming benefits.

And make sure to register with WorkSource Washington if you haven't already. That's a requirement too.

That's close to what I was hoping for. Did you use the online calculator or figure it out manually?

I used the calculator on the Washington ESD site once I gathered all my wage information from pay stubs.

That's interesting. Do you know if training programs affect your benefit amount or duration?

If you're approved for training, you might be able to extend your benefits and the work search requirements are different. Worth looking into.

The calculator gives estimates because it doesn't have access to your actual wage records. Your real benefit amount will be determined when Washington ESD processes your claim.

That makes sense. I was worried something was wrong with my application.

Good point. I had two jobs during my base period so I'll make sure both show up on my monetary determination.

Yeah definitely check that. You can request a wage protest if any wages are missing from your determination.

Is it only for Washington state or do they work with other unemployment offices too?

They work with unemployment offices nationwide, but I've only used them for Washington ESD and it worked great.

I filed on Monday so hopefully I'm good for this week. When do payments usually come through?

Usually 2-3 business days after you file your weekly claim, assuming there are no issues with your claim.

Thanks for all the advice everyone. This thread has been super helpful for understanding how unemployment benefits work in Washington!

No problem! Good luck with your claim and hope you find work soon.